Around the world | Smog is choking Milan and climate change is to blame

<p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr">Arabia Weather - Some areas in Italy are witnessing an exacerbation of the problem of pollution and drought as a result of a lack of rain, and this phenomenon is attributed to rapid climate changes. This problem is clearly highlighted by the increase in <u><strong>dense smog</strong></u> surrounding the city of Milan, high levels of drought and severe water shortages on the island of Sicily, according to a report issued by Agence France-Presse.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"></p><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <u><strong>Smog suffocates Milan</strong></u></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> High-pollution cars were banned from driving in Milan and eight other cities in the Lombardy region, due to high levels of air pollution in this rich industrial region in northern Italy. As part of efforts to combat pollution, the Lombardy region, which is characterized by many pastures and intensive agricultural activities, has imposed a ban on spreading slurry on fields, which is considered a practice that causes significant nitrate pollution.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"></p><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <u><strong>Northern Italy is one of the most polluted areas in Europe</strong></u></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Northern Italy is considered one of the most polluted regions in Europe, and this is partly due to the geographical nature of the Lombardy region, as the region is located in a mountainous basin, which leads to a lack of ventilation and the accumulation of pollutants.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> However, environmental NGOs believe that the authorities often use these geographical conditions as an excuse to justify high levels of pollution in the air, without taking the necessary measures to address this problem.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"></p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Regions throughout Italy face the problem of drought or a significant lack of rainfall, and this applies in particular to mountainous regions, especially the Alps.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> According to CIMA Research, the equivalent amount of water stored in snow has decreased by 64% this month compared to the same period of the previous year.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The lack of rain exacerbates the difficult situation that began with the heat waves experienced in the country in 2023, which led to a decrease in the level of water reserves and an increase in water consumption.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"></p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <strong>The island of Sicily declared a state of natural disaster as a result of drought in early February, while farmers in Sardinia are finding it difficult to use limited amounts of water.</strong></p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> According to statistics, the level of water reserves has decreased by 23% compared to the average over the past 14 years.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The southern regions of Puglia and Basilicata are also suffering from the fallout from the lack of rain, with farmer association Coldiretti warning over the weekend that high temperatures have affected bee activity, causing thousands of bees to wake up earlier than expected.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <strong><u>This situation poses a threat to the pollination of some crops, since the spread of bees does not coincide with the flowering period of the plants from which pollen is collected.</u></strong></p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"></p><hr /><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Source: Agencies</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Photo: <a href="https://www.radiolombardia.it/2024/02/20/la-pioggia-chiudera-la-smog-wee... avvolta nello smog - foto Ipa</a></p>