Milan, Italy’s bustling finance and fashion hub, is grappling with severe air pollution that’s driving residents like Pietro De Luca to consider relocating. Living in the eastern Città Studi district, De Luca shares his daily struggle: \"It stinks! I smell a constant stench of smog, I cough, I feel my throat burning.\" 😷
Recent data from the European Union's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service and Italian environmental group Legambiente reveal that Milan ranks among the most polluted cities in Europe, with alarming levels of fine particulates and nitrogen dioxide. To combat the dirty air, some locals are donning face masks when stepping outside.
Former resident Roberto Lorenzutti moved to the serene island of Sardinia during the COVID-19 pandemic and notices a stark difference: \"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.\" 🏝️
The dense population of the Po Valley, home to 17 million people, exacerbates the pollution issue. Italy was even found in breach of EU clear air directives by the EU Court of Justice in 2020. The region's heavy agricultural and industrial activities, combined with its geography that traps air pollutants, make it one of Europe's most polluted areas.
Despite a 39% reduction in PM10 and a 45% decrease in NO2 over the past two decades, Lombardy's regional councillor for the environment, Giorgio Maione, acknowledges ongoing challenges. Milan has recently activated measures to limit the use of the most polluting vehicles during peak hours, but Environment Councillor Elena Eva Maria Grandi warns that pollution levels remain dangerously high.
With Milan set to co-host the Winter Olympics in 2026, Grandi emphasizes the need for closer cooperation between municipal and regional authorities to implement emergency measures. \"We are very worried, it is evident,\" she stated.
As Milan strives to balance its vibrant urban life with the urgent need for cleaner air, residents and authorities alike hope for a breath of fresh air in the near future. 🌬️✨
