Most of Europe is experiencing a dramatic period of drought, according to the European Drought Observatory, and Italy is among the worst-affected countries.
In the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe, 64 per cent of land is currently affected by drought: an area comparable in size to India. To be precise, 47 per cent of the territory is in a critical condition, while 17 per cent is in an extremely critical condition.
The findings come from analyses carried out by the European Drought Observatory, a body attached to the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. The situation is particularly alarming in the United Kingdom and in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Hungary and Romania.
In south-east Britain, above-average temperatures and scarce rainfall are likely to persist until October, according to the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Southern England experienced its driest July since records began in 1836: during that same month, the United Kingdom recorded just 46.3 mm of rain, well below the average. It is little wonder, then, that fifteen million people will soon be asked to avoid wasting water on garden irrigation, filling swimming pools or washing cars, as the company Thames Water has promised to introduce this ban "in the coming weeks".
The French experienced their driest July since measurements began in 1959, with rainfall falling by 85 per cent compared to the 1991–2020 average.
In Italy, heatwaves caused a 21 per cent rise in the mortality rate during the first two weeks of July, accounting for a total of 733 deaths across the 33 cities included in the monitoring programme (among them Latina, Bari, Viterbo, Cagliari and Catanzaro). The news comes directly from the Ministry of Health.
Extreme heat and drought, consequences of global warming, are unfortunately capable of making wildfires more frequent and more destructive. In Europe, the area burned this year has already surpassed the total burned in 2021. The damage to local flora and fauna is incalculable. Also as a result of water scarcity and rising temperatures, the Joint Research Centre forecasts an 8–9 per cent decline in productivity for sunflower, maize and soya crops in the EU.
While reducing emissions is the first step in tackling climate change, it is now equally essential to adapt to its effects. Heatwaves will become ever more frequent, as will periods of drought. It is vital that governments adopt the measures necessary to protect their citizens.