Italy yearns to breathe polluted air

Italy’s Air Quality and EU Guidelines

The EU’s pollution problem child is throwing a tantrum.

Introduction

Italy, one of the bloc’s most polluted countries, has repeatedly failed to meet the EU’s air quality guidelines, prompting the European Commission to take it to court more than once.

Challenges in Meeting Guidelines

Now Rome is lobbying hard to stop Brussels from tightening those guidelines further, arguing that specific geographic and climate conditions — particularly in its northern, industrial regions — prevent it from meeting existing targets.

Lombardy’s Argument

That’s an argument being pushed by Lombardy, one of the country’s wealthiest and most industrialized regions — and home to one of the cities with the worst air quality in Europe.

Economic Impact

Meeting tighter guidelines could cause GDP in Lombardy and other wealthy northern regions to drop significantly, according to Giorgio Maione, Lombardy’s minister for environment and climate. He warned that there is only one consequence for all of this, which is poverty.

Coalition for Less Stringent Targets

The region has found a friendly ear in Rome, and is rallying a coalition of northern Italian as well as Dutch, Austrian and Spanish provinces to help push for less stringent overall targets — and potential regional derogations — as countries debate their position on the file.

Commission’s Proposed Guidelines

The Commission’s proposed new guidelines would lower the EU’s current maximum limits for key air pollutants such as fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide by as much as half by 2030.

Flexibility for Unique Conditions

But any effort to significantly tighten the EU’s pollution standards needs to be flexible enough to account for “unique” conditions in some regions to ensure the rules, Fratin stressed to fellow ministers.

Po Valley’s Poor Air Quality

Italy’s Po Valley — marked by strong industrialization and intensive farming and bordered on three sides by the Alps and the Apennines — is notorious for its poor air quality.

Resistance to Tighter Measures

He also argued that rather than tightening air pollution guidelines, more should be done at EU level to tackle air pollution at source from sectors like transport and industry. But Italy’s position on such files in EU negotiations has been to resist tighter measures; Rome is part of a push against new EU vehicle pollutant standards and has been against tighter legislation on industrial emissions.

Regional Alliances

Lombardy’s arguments are catching on in other regions and countries worried about stricter EU-wide air quality targets.

Conclusion

Some regions are now distancing themselves from Lombardy’s arguments. The German regional state of Baden-Württemberg argued that more ambitious EU air quality standards can help spur regional growth, even in places where they may be difficult to meet.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

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 impact of air pollution on public health, including premature deaths attributable to fine particulate matter pollution.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The article mentions cities with poor air quality and the need for measures to tackle air pollution at the city level.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – The article highlights the need to address air pollution from sectors like transport and industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – The article mentions the impact of air pollution on the environment, particularly in regions with intensive farming.

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

• SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
• SDG 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.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• SDG 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.

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

• Indicator for SDG 3.9: Number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution.
• Indicator for SDG 11.6: Air quality index or concentration of air pollutants in cities.
• Indicator for SDG 13.2: Greenhouse gas emissions from transport and industry sectors.
• Indicator for SDG 15.1: Air quality index or concentration of air pollutants in regions with intensive farming.

Table: 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: politico.eu

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