environment

The Veneto Regional Administrative Court ruled yesterday on the serious PFAS contamination in the provinces of Vicenza, Padua and Verona.He did so by sanctioning that even the Japanese giant Mitsubishi Corporation - which at the end of the 1980s established Miteni, of which it has held between 49 and 90% of the share capital over the years - will have to bear the costs for the cleanup of the poisons spread near the former Miteni of Trissino (Vicenza).Based on what emerged from surveys and investigations, in fact, in first instance administrative proceedings the judges have framed as responsible for pollution all the companies that have successively controlled the Vicenza plant.In 2009 Miteni was sold to ICI and then, five years after the outbreak of the PFAS scandal in 2013, it was declared bankrupt. Although Mitsubishi opposed it with a series of arguments, including the attribution to Miteni of "autonomous choices and entrepreneurial strategies", the absence of "legal...

In Turin, an order from the civil judge accepted the urgent appeal made by numerous citizens regarding the tree-lined Corso Belgio, who have been fighting for months against a redevelopment project decided by the Municipality aimed at replacing 240 maples with smaller trees .While stating that the cutting of trees will still continue, the ordinance established that the fellings they must not be carried out within the 18 month limit originally established by the Municipality and that the cuts can be spread over agreed lots in order to reduce the impact on the neighborhood "within the time frame of 5 years" and within the annual quota of 20%.Furthermore, the felled trees will have to be replaced with sized plants considerably greater than originally expected.The real novelty, however, lies in the fact that the ordinance establishes two fundamental principles.The first is the active legitimation for the citizen to turn to the ordinary judge for the protection of his right to hea...

In Italy, last April, renewable energies satisfied more than half of the national electricity demand.Exceeding the overall contribution of fossil sources, clean sources have satisfied 51.2% of energy needs, against 34.2% coming from non-renewable sources, while the foreign balance took over to satisfy the remaining needs.To make it known the relationship Terna monthly.In particular, the photovoltaic source alone satisfied 30.8% of the total renewable electricity generation, followed by hydroelectric (37.7%) and wind (17.4%).Geothermal and biomass heat, however, are stable. Compared to the same month of 2023, the production of electricity from renewable sources thus recorded a +43,8%, while the renewable capacity in operation increased by 45%, recording a growth of 2,356 MW.In particular, there has been a notable increase renewable hydroelectric production (+197.5%), while the photovoltaic one is increasing by almost 20%.Broadening our gaze, according to what is reported in the report,...

The factory farming industry, following the lessons of fossil fuel companies, has lobbied significantly for EU climate policies to be weakened.To date, already a third of European measures to reduce emissions has been compromised by the industry.To make it known, a relationship of the independent expert group InfluenceMap, which examined the lobbying campaigns conducted in the EU over the last three years by 10 companies and 5 trade associations relating to the meat and dairy industry.The focus was in particular on 6 key ecological policies, such as the industrial emissions directive or the Farm to Fork strategy.Companies involved in breeding and meat production - such as Arla, Danish Crown, Tonnies group, FrieslandCampina, Vion food group - have specifically promoted the most critical and influential positions.The report also suggested that some meat industry giants have used their trade associations to advance their interests, thus protecting themselves from unwanted controversy. Inf...

The trial has officially begun before the Gup of the Court of Alessandria which sees the chemical giant Solvay in the dock for culpable environmental disaster.In fact, the industrial site of the company which produces, among other things, the toxic and persistent PFAS substances is located in the Piedmontese city.Last May 6, at the preliminary hearing, over 250 civil parties appeared before the judge, including environmental associations and institutions.There is talk of a very broad investigation, which specifically targeted two former Solvay managers, Stefano Bigini, plant director from 2008 until December 2018, and Andrea Diotto, director of the fluid and fluid production unit from 1 January 2013. from 1 September 2018 plant manager.The defense will file their briefs by 6 July, while an initial calendar of the hearings which will take place in the autumn has already been drawn up.Below the production center, the aquifer is the most contaminated in Europe by PFAS and recently the fir...