An unprecedented 2024 confirms Italy as one of the European nations most vulnerable to the climate crisis. With 351 extreme events recorded — almost six times compared to 2015 — our country has seen the intensification of phenomena such as droughts, torrential rains and heat waveswhich are redefining the natural and urban landscape. The latest report from Legambiente’s City Climate Observatory paints a worrying picture, underlining the urgency of structural interventions.
An unstoppable escalation
The comparison with the past leaves little room for interpretation: in 2015, there were 60 extreme weather events in Italy. Ten years later, the 485% increase testifies to an alarming trend, with increasingly intense and frequent phenomena. This increase is not only numerical but also qualitative: every event has devastating impacts on infrastructure, ecosystems and local communities.
The North is the most affected macro-areawith 198 events recorded, followed by the South (92) and the Center (61). However, the geography of risk is varied: Emilia-Romagna, with 52 events, confirms itself as the most vulnerable regionfollowed by Lombardy (49), Sicily (43), Veneto (41) and Piedmont (22). Among the provinces, Bologna leads with 17 extreme episodeswhile Rome and Ravenna are stuck at 13.
Drought in the South: a chronic problem
The water crisis is being felt forcefully in the South. Sicily, with 16 episodes of extreme drought, leads the sad ranking. Lake Pergusa, symbol of summer 2024, has been reduced to a puddle, an emblem of ineffective water management. Sardinia follows with 9 events, while Basilicata closes the podium with 3 episodes. The lack of rain, combined with record temperatures, brings agriculture and local communities to their knees, accentuating desertification.
Floods and overflows in the North: the other side of climate change
If the South struggles due to the lack of water, the North experiences the opposite problem. In 2024, there were 134 floods, 46 river floods and 62 wind damages. Lombardy is the region with the highest number of floods (25), followed by Emilia-Romagna (22) and Sicily (15). Bologna and Ravenna often find themselves submerged by torrential rainwhich put urban infrastructure under pressure.
A summer of record temperatures and suffering glaciers
2024 was the warmest year on record globally, exceeding the 1.5°C threshold compared to the pre-industrial era. In Piedmont, the freezing point reached 5,206 meterscoming close to the 2015 record. Alpine glaciers are retreating at an accelerated rate, while mountain ecosystems are suffering devastating impacts.
Transport in haywire: bad weather blocks the country
The damage is not limited to nature. As many as 22 extreme events have caused delays and interruptions in public transport. In Rome, the Cipro Metro A station was closed due to flooding, while in Emilia-Romagna bad weather interrupted the Rimini-Ravenna railway line. Milan was no exception, with the subway compromised by flooding from the Seveso, which paralyzed urban traffic for hours.
Criticism of the Government: lack of prevention and strategy
According to Legambiente, Italy continues to be unprepared. Stefano Ciafani, president of the association, underlines the absence of preventive measures and investments in the National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change (PNACC). This tool, which should guide the country towards a more resilient future, still remains unimplemented.
Among the urgent requests of Legambiente, three key interventions stand out: allocate funds for the priority actions of the PNACC, approve a law to stop land consumption and launch the decree on the reuse of treated waste water. These measures could reduce water waste and mitigate the impact of the climate crisis on agriculture and local communities.
2024 ends with a worrying balance sheet, but it also offers an opportunity to reflect on the future. The climate crisis is already here, and any delay in implementing sustainable policies increases the risks for Italy. The collective commitment – of governments, businesses and citizens – can no longer be postponed.
