Milan, the iconic fashion capital of Italy, is facing an unwelcome accessory: smog. Residents are raising their voices as pollution levels soar, impacting their health and daily lives.
Pietro De Luca, a father of three living in the city's eastern Città Studi district, is considering a drastic move. \"It stinks! I smell a constant stench of smog, I cough, I feel my throat burning,\" he shared. The air quality has become so unbearable that even stepping outside feels like a challenge.
The situation isn't unique to Pietro. Data from the European Union's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service and environmental group Legambiente reveal that Milan's levels of fine particulates and other pollutants rank among the highest in Europe. Some residents have taken to wearing face masks outdoors to shield themselves from the dirty air.
Roberto Lorenzutti, who once called Milan home, breathed a sigh of relief—literally—when he relocated to the island of Sardinia during the COVID-19 pandemic. \"In Milan, you have to try and survive in this swamp for five days a week and get yourself out for the weekend to get a breath of fresh air,\" he said.
In response to the escalating crisis, Milan and surrounding cities in Lombardy activated measures to limit the use of the most polluting vehicles during peak hours starting Tuesday. However, many feel it's too little, too late.
Milan's location in the densely populated Po Valley doesn't help. Housing nearly a third of Italy's population, the valley's geography traps air, exacerbating pollution caused by intense agricultural and industrial activity. The World Health Organization's guidelines for pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, and nitrogen dioxide were all breached in Milan last year.
Valentina Bosetti, an environmental economics professor at Bocconi University, explains that the problem is both environmental and geographical. Meanwhile, Giorgio Maione, Lombardy's regional councillor for the environment, claims there has been progress, citing reductions in pollutant concentrations over the past two decades.
Yet, Milan's environment councillor, Elena Eva Maria Grandi, remains concerned. With the city set to co-host the Winter Olympics in 2026, she emphasizes the need for urgent action. \"We are very worried, it is evident,\" she stated, calling for closer cooperation between municipal and regional authorities.
As Milan battles its pollution crisis, residents are left wondering if clean air will ever become a part of their city's legacy. For now, the smoggy skyline casts a hazy shadow over the future.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
