Cuts to funding for air quality in the Po Valley

Legambiente has raised an alarm regarding the recent <strong cuts to air quality funding in the Pianura Padana, describing it as an irresponsible act that jeopardizes the health of 25 million citizens. The government’s decision to drastically reduce resources allocated to the “Fund for Improving Air Quality” from 2026 to 2028, with a projected decrease of 75%, comes at a crucial moment when the most affected areas by air pollution are showing signs of improvement thanks to efforts made in recent years. In particular, Veneto is reporting promising data on the reduction of PM10, while other regions such as Lombardy and Piedmont are also displaying positive trends. Legambiente emphasizes that this decision not only undermines the implementation of regional air quality plans but also exposes Italy to new European infringement procedures and potential penalties. With approximately 43,000 deaths in Italy attributed to PM2.5 exposure in 2023, the situation is considered alarming. The organization is therefore calling for an immediate restoration of funding and urges Parliament to treat air quality as a national priority, stressing that without adequate investments, the progress made so far in the fight against air pollution could be jeopardized. Italian Version