Environmental News from Europe:
Drought conditions are rapidly spreading through Italy, with rivers and reservoirs drying up and the forecast of higher temperatures likely to make things worse, the country’s irrigation authority warned on Thursday.
Several Italian regions have already declared a state of emergency, looking to free up funds to counter the growing water crisis, while farming associations say the agricultural output is set to plunge this year in key growing areas.
“A combination of the worst drought in recent years and temperatures … touching 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) at the end of June, are leading Italy towards a dramatic environmental and economic situation,” the ANBI irrigation body said.
Italy’s longest river, the Po, which crosses the major northern regions and accounts for around a third of the country’s agricultural production, is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years.
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Source: Reuters