inquinamento marino

Out of 265 water samples collected this summer in 15 Italian coastal regions, 37% were found to exceed legal limits in terms of microbiological pollution.Overall, in the seas of the Bel Paese, more than one point in three is therefore polluted.The percentage, which is equivalent to one polluted point every 76 km of coast, is up compared to 36% in 2023 and 31% in 2022.This was made known by the environmentalist association Legambiente, through the Goletta verde and Goletta dei laghi 2024 campaigns.As regards lake basins, out of 129 samplings carried out in 39 lakes in 11 Regions, 33% were found to be above the legal limits, an increase compared to 23% last year.Looking at seas and lakes overall, on the almost 400 points sampled in 19 Regions, 36% was therefore “over limit". “Italian seas and lakes are not in excellent health”. As Legambiente is the title of the press release describing the latest campaigns Goletta Verde and Goletta dei Laghi.The studies were prese...

“Anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases constitute a form of pollution of the marine environment”.This is what the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Itlos), an independent body of the United Nations, established in an advisory opinion released on 21 May.The opinion is not binding, but the decision has the potential to influence case law.In other words, the decision can be used in future climate litigation at any level to force governments to improve their policies against the climate crisis.The advice comes in response to a group of small island states particularly threatened by climate change.The increase in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere means that a greater quantity reacts with sea water, causing an increase in the acidity of the oceans with absolutely non-negligible consequences on marine life and the balance of ecosystems. Such a decision comes out from a historic hearing, staged in the court in Hamburg, Germany, last September, when small...

In Italy, those who pollute the sea with inadequately treated waste can get away with simply paying a small fine of 150 euros.This was established by a recent ruling with which the Supreme Court expressed its opinion on the illicit release of wastewater into the Adriatic.In Termoli, Molise, several investigations by the judiciary have long recorded the release near the coast of untreated waste with "a contaminating load consisting of ahigh amount of Escherichia coli, a bacterial microorganism originating from civil sewerage systems that is dangerous to human health".The plant, as certified by the Supreme Court, was in fact made operational only when the Molise environmental monitoring agency carried out sampling.For the remaining time the wastewater was instead released directly into the sea without purification.Despite the seriousness of the facts, those responsible will remain unpunished:previously they had been accused of the crime of environmental pollution - which involv...

In a historic hearing, small island nations disproportionately affected by the climate crisis in a sense took on countries which release more greenhouse gas emissions.A one-of-a-kind climate justice case that took place in the court of Hamburg, Germany.The recurring nations – including Bahamas, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Antigua and Barbuda – in detail, they asked to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to determine whether carbon dioxide emissions are absorbed by the marine environment can be considered pollution.As one of the largest carbon sinks on the planet, the ocean absorbs 25% of carbon dioxide emissions, captures 90% of the heat generated by these emissions and produces half of the world's oxygen.However, the excess carbon dioxide produced by industrial activities has already caused many imbalances, including high acidification of waters and the consequent negative impact on marine biodiversity. Small island nations, gathered in the Small Island States Commissio...

The quality of the Italian sea is still there heavily compromised from illegal cement, pollution, poor purification and poaching.In 2022 alone, they are indeed well 19.530 environmental crimes recorded along the coast of Italy, 3.2% more than the previous year.This is attested by the relationship annual Legambiente, “Mare Monstrum“, which draws a clear picture of the main phenomena of attack on the natural heritage of coastal areas, recording how almost half of the environmental crimes were committed, once again, in the regions a traditional mafia settlement. The illegal cement cycle (occupations of maritime state property, illegal quarries, offenses in public works contracts, illegal construction), alone, represents 52.9% of environmental crimes (10,337) recorded in 2022.They follow various illegal phenomena – from bad purification to waste disposal – with 4,730 criminal offences.Then there is poaching, which accounts for 3,839.In addition to environmental crim...