Climate change impacts Italian agriculture and drives EU carbon capture investment

Climate change is significantly altering the agricultural landscape in Italy. Experts predict that by 2050, traditional crop geographies will shift. Vineyards may move to higher altitudes in the Alps, such as South Tyrol, where temperatures are rising. Olive cultivation is expected to expand into northern regions that previously experienced winters too harsh for the trees. Conversely, southern crops like tomatoes face increasing risks due to extreme summer heat and water scarcity.

In response to the climate crisis, the European Union is investing in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology. This process involves using liquids to chemically remove CO2 from production processes, compressing it, and either storing it deep underground or transforming it into construction materials or synthetic fuels. While the EU views these investments as strategic, critics point to the technology's current limited impact; as of early 2026, active projects were estimated to remove only 0.2% of global emissions recorded in 2025.