A month ofwinter less, with the temperatures which continue to rise and fall as if on a roller coaster. Monday marks the “Earth Day” for the protection of planet and among scholars there is much apprehension about the widespread underestimation of climate change and its effects. A few months ago the fifth national congress of the Italian Association of Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (AISAM) was held in Lecce, co-organised byUniversity of Salento and from Cnr-Isac, during which expert scholars mainly coming from the area of the Mediterranean. During the conference, the topics of drought in the Mediterranean and cyclones that develop as a result of excessive heat and humidity in contrast with extreme drought were addressed.
What scientists think
«The climate has changed significantly compared to a few years ago, especially with regards to the seasons that have “shifted” in the southern and Alpine regions: the spring season is now brought forward by a month. February now has the same climate as March and March has the same climate as April and so on, losing a month of winter.” Speaking in worried tones is Davide Faranda, research director of the CNRS in Paris, coordinator of a consortium of scientists from the most important universities in the world. Climameter, a project launched last summer which makes it possible to link extreme climate events to Co2 emissions in very quick manner. Every time an extreme event occurs globally, the group of scholars, coordinated by Faranda, analyzes it by examining satellite data. «Italy and the areas of the Mediterranean – explains Faranda – are hotspots of areas that are suffering the effects of already devastating climate change. Puglia is a prime example, as are Sicily and the Alps in Italy. Puglia and Sicily are already in a situation of extreme drought already in winter. In February, when I was in Lecce, the temperatures were already above 20 degrees even though it was winter. The Alps also recorded temperature records in winter with a significant lack of snow. In 2023 we did a study on the 2022 drought with a focus on climate change: it emerged that it was the hottest summer ever. Another study shows that droughts will become increasingly intense in the Mediterranean area. We should all ask ourselves what resources we can count on in the future. There is no more water and no one talks about climate change. Nobody tries to understand what will happen in twenty years when the problems will be even more accentuated. What is happening today was already predicted 30 years ago and what will happen in twenty years is predicted today. France, Spain, Greece are moving to reduce emissions, but also to adapt the territory, we Italians are not yet. Each of us – he concludes – can do our part by demanding that there is more sustainability and more Europe in the political agenda of our administrators, both at local and national level. Furthermore, each of us can contribute by changing our lifestyle, for example eliminating meat for a day, walking more and choosing to travel more by train than by plane.”
The appointments
Meanwhile in the Apulian territory there are many events for this weekend which aim to celebrate “Earth Day” starting from today’s morning: the Free Coordination (of which Legambiente is a partner) in Taranto has planned a national initiative which will open at 10 with a visit to the photovoltaic panel treatment and recycling line at Irigom); at 11.30 the press conference at the Aragonese Castle (with initial greetings from Team Admiral Vincenzo Montanaro and speeches from Attilio Piattelli, Beppe Bratta, Dario Di Santo, Stefano Ciafani, Illuminato Bonsignore and Roberto Murano).
The “Plastic Free Odv Onlus” association, of which the University of Salento is an institutional partner, will simultaneously bring volunteers to 300 Italian sites to remove plastic waste from public spaces, between today and tomorrow. The entire community of the University of Salento is invited to participate, on a voluntary basis, in the events by connecting to the link https://www.plasticfreeonlus.it/eventi and choosing the event in which you intend to participate (click on “Participate” ).
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