Abruzzo environmentalists warn of climate risks from gas projects

Environmental group Forum H2O has raised alarms regarding the climate crisis in Abruzzo, Italy. The association criticizes local institutions for supporting fossil fuel projects, including methane extraction in Bomba, the Sulmona compression plant, and the Snam Adriatic pipeline. They argue these projects, along with gas storage expansion in Cupello, threaten to lock the energy system into fossil fuels for decades and exacerbate extreme weather events like heatwaves and droughts. Furthermore, the group condemns excessive land consumption and urban expansion.

In other regional news, the Sena Civitas group has rejected the ASP Città di Siena's 'Siena in Tavola' project, which offers home-delivered meals to vulnerable elderly citizens at 13 euros per meal. The group argues this price deviates from pure welfare and resembles a commercial operation, noting that previous proposals aimed for cost-only pricing.

In Sicily, a 40-million-euro plan has been launched to upgrade and build sports facilities to promote social inclusion. Meanwhile, in Rimini, Confcommercio has met with Minister Adolfo Urso to propose measures such as a flat-rate tax for commercial rentals to support local neighborhood shops and prevent urban desertification.

Other cultural and social updates include the presentation of the 'Feminologica' theater festival in Bologna, a landscape school opening in Gattatico, and a national campaign in Gravina advocating for public mental health services.