Can western Europe’s most polluted place reach net zero by 2050?

Italy’s Industrial Heartland Struggles to Achieve Zero Air Pollution

Italy’s industrial heartland has a long way to go to reach the EU’s goal of zero air pollution.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
2. Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
3. Goal 13: Climate Action

The Situation in Italy’s Po Valley

Sitting at her kitchen table in Modena in Italy’s Emilia Romagna province, Valentina goes through the medical history of her and her husband’s family.

Cancer has been common on both sides, with Valentina (54) beating breast cancer several years ago and her husband Andrea (55) in recent remission for bone marrow cancer.

“It would be probable that this situation is exacerbated by the pollution,” Valentina tells Euronews Green.

The Po Valley where the couple live is one of the most polluted places in Europe in terms of air quality. Major cities such as Milan in Lombardy and Turin in Piedmont suffer heavy pollutants from traffic and indoor heating from wood burning, as well as industries like farming, engineering, and ceramics.

“Our family is touched by this situation. Probably if we lived in another county without this industrial distribution, it might be different.”

The Links Between Air Pollution and Poor Health

Nitrous dioxide, ozone, and inhalable particulate matter (PM) – especially PM10 and PM2.5 – are among the most harmful products in the atmosphere. They are causing serious health risks to the more than 16 million Italians living in the Po Valley.

According to datasets released by the European Environment Agency (EEA), Italy had 11,282 premature deaths due to nitrogen dioxide exposure in 2021, the highest in Europe.

Cancer is also the second leading cause of death in the country, with lung cancer accounting for the highest number of deaths for men and women.

Even though the north is economically richer, better in diet, has fewer smokers and less overweight people than the country’s south, the Po region shows a higher mortality rate for cancer, a report from the University of Bologna highlighted.

“All the studies state in a clear unequivocal way that there is a direct connection between living in a highly polluted area and high risks of health degeneration,” says Professor Signorelli, president of the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER).

Urban centres are particularly at risk, with the city of Cremona in the Lombardy region having the fourth highest concentration of PM2.5 in Europe according to the EEA.

Cities such as Verona, Padova, and Vicenza also showed an increase in PM2.5 between 2018 and 2022, a report by the European Data Journalism Network found.

An Uphill Struggle for the Regions of the Po

The geography that allowed Italy to industrialize its north is the same that has caused the degradation in its air quality. Its plainlands provide 35 per cent of the country’s agricultural production and are home to factories producing roof tiles and bricks.

Surrounded by the Alps to its north and the Apennine Mountain range to its south, atmospheric pollutants get trapped in the valley. An unhealthy concentration builds up in its densely populated cities.

“The Po Valley is characterized by high levels of urbanization with meteorological conditions that are generally unfavorable to the pollutants’ dispersion,” explains Secondo Barbero, general director of Regional Agency for Environmental Protection (ARPA) of Piedmont.

This is especially true during the winter when there is little wind and cooler, more dense air moves slower, trapping pollutants in the atmosphere. This increased stagnation also means that people are exposed to these pollutants for a longer time than in summer.

“So, reducing pollution levels below the limits set by EU legislation requires in the Po Valley a much greater effort than in other areas,” says Barbero.

There has been some improvement in the last 20 years, however. A shift away from fossil fuels in transport and home heating systems has seen a slight drop in pollutants in the valley’s atmosphere.

‘A Better Information Campaign is Needed’

Like many, Beatrice Bos wants to see change. A team leader of the organization Our Youth 4 Climate Milano, she educates young people on environmental issues across Milan and Lombardy.

“Milan is a city with great pollution problems, but no one is truly aware of the critical state of it, especially compared to other zones in Europe,” she explains.

The importance of the region cannot be understated. With one-third of Italy’s population and nearly half of the GDP generated there, it’s little wonder that national institutions and private companies are not eager to highlight how harmful this productivity can be for the populace of the Po.

But climate action demands change. According to a report by a commission of Italy’s Ministry of Sustainable Infrastructure and Mobility, an additional investment of 16 billion euros is needed to cut emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.

“Certainly, the majority of the population is aware of the dangers of this pollution,” says Barbara Meggetto, President of Legambiente Lombardia branch.

Legambiente is the largest environmental non-profit in Italy, funding research and promoting more ambitious environmental policies within regional and national government.

“Institutional communication has always avoided confronting citizens with the causes, precisely to avoid affecting purchasing behavior and mobility habits,” she claims, “effectively providing a sort of institutional alibi with respect to the need to develop more sustainable mobility of people and goods.”

Secretariat of Legambiente’s Emilia Romagna branch, Paola Fagioli, agreed that “a better information campaign is needed.”

Following the passing of the Ambient Air Quality Directive in February by the European Environmental Bureau, the EU now aims to reduce air pollution as much as possible, to net zero by 2050.

Italy’s Po Valley is fighting against its geological, meteorological, political, and economic constraints to get there.

In Modena, Valentina kisses Andrea who has been working as an electrical engineer for most of his life and has recently come out of two years of hospital visits for his cancer.

“It’s difficult to demonstrate the connection between pollution and our cancer. If they demonstrate this connection they would have to close down a lot of the area,” she says.

Valentina shrugs with a half smile, “There’s not enough research.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The article discusses the connection between air pollution and health issues such as cancer. It highlights the high number of premature deaths due to nitrogen dioxide exposure in Italy, making it relevant to SDG 3.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article focuses on the air pollution problems in major cities in Italy, such as Milan and Turin, and the adverse impact on the environment. This aligns with SDG 11, which aims to improve the environmental impact of cities.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The article mentions the need for additional investment to cut emissions and reach net zero by 2050. This relates to SDG 13, which focuses on climate action and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination

The article highlights the high number of premature deaths in Italy due to nitrogen dioxide exposure, indicating a need to reduce deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution.

Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management

The article discusses the air pollution problems in major cities in Italy, emphasizing the need to address air quality issues and reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities.

Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

The article mentions the need for investment to cut emissions and reach net zero by 2050, indicating a focus on strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Premature deaths due to nitrogen dioxide exposure: This indicator can be used to track progress towards reducing deaths and illnesses from air pollution (Target 3.9).
• Concentration of PM2.5 in cities: This indicator can be used to assess the air quality in urban areas and measure progress towards reducing the adverse environmental impact of cities (Target 11.6).
• Increase or decrease in PM2.5 levels over time: This indicator can be used to monitor changes in air pollution levels and evaluate efforts to improve air quality in cities (Target 11.6).
• Investment needed to cut emissions and reach net zero by 2050: This indicator can be used to track progress towards strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change (Target 13.1).

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: euronews.com

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.