Drought in Italy

According to data from the CIMA foundation, which conducts climate research in the country, it was observed that the rate of snowfall in the Italian Alps decreased by half and there was 53 percent less snowfall compared to the average for the last few years. 10 years.

It was claimed that this situation in the Alps also directly affected the Po, the country’s largest river, which is fed by snow melt here. The water level in the bed of the Po river, which is of key importance for the country’s agricultural production, has been reported to be 61 percent lower than the average of the past 10 years.

DECREASED LIKE NEVER

In other media reports, it was claimed that the water level of Lake Garda in the north has dropped by 60 centimeters, like never before in the last 30 years. The connecting roads to the small islands in the middle of the lake were recorded as coming up to the surface of the water.

Meanwhile, although not directly related to the drought, the water level has been reported to have dropped by 50-70 centimeters in some canals in the city of Venice, which is famous for its canals due to decreased rainfall and withdrawal from the sea. In some channels of the city it was reported in the press that the gondolas were on the ground and could not be made to float.

WORRYING

Giorgio Zampetti, managing director of Legambiente, the country’s key environmental organization, said in a statement that “2023 has only just begun, but there are already alarming signs of extreme weather events and levels of drought.” saying.

Emphasizing the need to adopt a national water use strategy, Zampetti said: “Water withdrawn from sources in various sectors and for different purposes must be reduced before it reaches the point of no return.” he used the phrase.

Last year, Italy experienced the most severe drought in the last 70 years, and it was claimed that due to this drought, financial losses in the agricultural sector exceeded 3 billion euros.

Scientists draw attention to the fact that climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions causes more frequent events such as heat waves, extraordinary storms, floods and droughts. (AA)