Zero votes. This is the data from which to start to analyze the electoral experience of Luca Mercallia well-known meteorologist and science communicator who, on a daily basis, obtains information from the data to develop studies or reflections.
And he managed to do so on this occasion too, formulating a clear analysis of what, to a casual glance, could appear to be a crushing defeat.
“For me it’s not a failure – he commented in an interview with Fatto Quotidiano – it is an important indication of how society considers these issues and how difficult it will be in the future to emerge from the pocket of environmental indifference into which we have found ourselves. But in the end the most important elections will be determined by the climate, and that will not be voteable: when we have the flood at home, without exception, there won’t be the ballot boxes to avoid it. Ours was a program of strong resilience to climate change, to plan a sustainable future for the climate. Instead it will mean that this lesson will then come from heaven, and it will be very bad.”
Mercalli had run for municipal councilor in the municipality of Usseaux, a small town of 180 inhabitants in the Piedmont Alps, in the province of Turin. As he himself highlighted, his electoral campaign focused above all on the impact that climate transformations can cause on mountain areas and the communities that inhabit them, and on the solutions to be adopted to try to address the dynamics. “We explained the theme of the mountains in relation to climate change, the lack of snow for winter sports, drought for pasturesin short, we tried to give a high level to the program, which are all those things that are on the priority list in the European Union, the fundamental things to do for the future”.
An important choice, because the issue of climate change, as science has been calling for for years, should be placed at the center of political agendas. However, in some mountain areas, but not only, it is struggling to take root (like snow, one might add). On the other hand, the fear of transformations is an atavistic fear, and climate changes inevitably require behavioral changes (subjective and collective) that frighten, projecting many of us into the logic of rejection. It is perhaps precisely in this scenario that Mercalli’s meager harvest fits.
A disappointment which, however, does not surprise the meteorologist: “In the end – he continues in the same interview – the result is consistent with the national political data where there is a prevalence of right-wing votes and the environmental issue is not a priority”.
Upon closer inspection, however, From the results of the European elections we can see a glimmer of hope on the environmental front also thanks to candidates who, in recent months/years, have also been able to include socio-environmental dynamics concerning the highlands in their programs. To make a name, just think about Cristina Look (Avs) which managed to obtain over 32,000 preferences, several of which came from inhabitants of mountain areas.
Other young faces, who have been able to combine environmental policies with a look at mountain territories, have stood out: let’s think about Giovanni Mori (always Avs), to cite another name, an activist capable of reaching 20,000 preferences, despite the fact that the European elections were one of his first experiences in politics.
Obviously the European elections follow different trajectories compared to the municipal ones. However, young girls and boys like Guarda and Mori represent an important exception; that exception that diverts the current, thus opening the doors to alternative scenarios in a decidedly leaden present for climate action.
