Italy faces rising economic costs from climate crisis

Italy is facing escalating economic costs due to the climate crisis. According to an analysis by Italy for Climate using European Environment Agency data, extreme weather events caused 145 billion euros in economic losses in Italy between 1980 and 2024. While the long-term average is approximately 3 billion euros per year, the costs have accelerated sharply, exceeding 13 billion euros annually over the last three years.

Urban centers are particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures and the heat island effect. In Cagliari, urbanized soil covers 73.1 percent of the area, contributing to high surface temperatures. Meanwhile, in Oristano, local authorities are focusing on green infrastructure to combat extreme heat. Proposed measures include increasing urban shade, implementing 'depaving' projects for parking lots using draining surfaces, and enhancing ecological continuity between rural and urban areas to mitigate climate impacts.