Italian cities rank low in 2026 Urban Ecosystem report

The 2026 Urban Ecosystem report, produced by Legambiente and Ambiente Italia in collaboration with Il Sole 24 Ore, reveals significant environmental challenges for several Italian provincial capitals. The study evaluated 106 cities based on environmental performance indicators.

Palermo has dropped to the third-to-last position in the national ranking, with an environmental performance index of 36.74%. The city's low ranking is attributed to traffic congestion, high pollutant emissions, a heavy reliance on private vehicles, and a lack of public green spaces, which increases vulnerability to extreme heat waves.

Alessandria also shows poor results, ranking 100th out of 106 cities overall. Specifically, the city placed 98th regarding soil consumption and efficient land use. Local advocacy groups have expressed concern that these figures reflect problematic urban and infrastructural choices that threaten agricultural land, biodiversity, and hydrogeological safety.