(see related stories on heatwave, climate, extreme weather)
Green Europe co-leader and MP Angelo
Bonelli said Thursday that he would present a bill to
criminalize climate change denial, adding that he considers the
Italian government guilty of it.
"Italy has become a climate hotspot with a growing series of
extreme weather events that have caused major damage all over
the country," Bonelli said.
"Violent storms with the hail the size of tennis balls destroyed
houses, cars and crops in Veneto and Trentino, injuring 110
people, while in southern and central Italy temperatures have
hit records of over 40°".
He said "this denialist, couldn't-care-about-climate" government
should reflect on the 10 billion euros in damage caused by
extreme climate events in Italy this year, on top of the 5.6
billion the agriculture sector lost last year due to flooding
and drought.
Premier Giorgia Meloni has said that her government did not deny
the reality of climate change, but wanted a "pragmatic approach"
to achieving sustainability.
Her executive has opposed some parts of the EU Green Deal, such
as the directive on Green homes to boost energy efficiency and
the proposed end to the sale of carbon-emitting petrol and
diesel cars from 2035.
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