Sicily’s Struggle Against Climate Change: A Farmer’s Perspective

The Struggles of Sicily: A Farmer’s Perspective

“Climate change is having a profound impact on the life of Sicily,” reflects Gerardo Diana, a dedicated farmer from the island, as he surveys his fields of wheat and beans, which have been utterly devastated by a two-year drought. His prized crop, blood oranges, faces a precarious future despite Gerardo’s relentless efforts to draw water from underground reserves and nearby lakes. “This is merely a fight for survival! Unfortunately, with the extended summer heat, we are increasingly worried about the possibility of our plants dying,” he laments.

Enduring Drought

This ongoing drought is just one manifestation of Sicily’s battle against the climate crisis, a reality that Euronews observed while traveling throughout the picturesque Italian island. Over recent years, Sicily has also suffered from devastating wildfires, sudden flash floods, and relentless heat waves. In the scorching summer of 2021, the Sicilian town of Syracuse recorded an astonishing 48.8° Celsius, marking the highest temperature ever documented in European history and underscoring the urgent reality of global warming.

The Mediterranean basin, of which Sicily is the largest island, is warming at a rate 20% faster than the global average. This region has already surpassed the crucial 1.5° Celsius increase in average temperature since the pre-industrial era—a threshold established by the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement aimed at mitigating extreme weather events. According to Christian Mulder, an ecology professor at the University of Catania, this alarming trend could affect one-third of Sicily’s territory by 2030 and two-thirds by 2050.

Decades of Desertification

Further inland, in central Sicily, the once lush fields surrounding Salvatore Morreale’s farm are now parched and exhibiting clear signs of desertification. Morreale, however, does not solely attribute this crisis to the weather conditions. He also criticizes local authorities for their lack of timely action: “When I was in school, discussions about the desertification of Sicily were already taking place. This is not a new issue. Politicians bear some responsibility, as they could have proactively addressed the problem much earlier.”

His sentiments resonate with the analysis of Giuseppe Cirelli, an agricultural hydraulics professor at the University of Catania. His research reveals that certain areas of Sicily have experienced a staggering 70% decrease in rainfall over the past year compared to the previous two decades. Despite labeling the current drought as “unprecedented,” Cirelli emphasizes that the infrastructure for irrigation and water distribution remains outdated and has not been modernized, leading to significant water loss.

Sicilians Struggling

Earlier this year, local authorities imposed water restrictions on approximately one million residents across nearly 100 municipalities. In the southern city of Gela, Euronews spoke to a family that can access water only every three days. Floriana Callea shared her frustrations, explaining that the limited water stored in tanks is inadequate to meet her family’s needs. “Together with the other residents in our neighborhood, we are all exasperated because this situation is truly frustrating and stressful,” she expressed.

The duration of this drought in Sicily remains uncertain. However, many locals believe that their island’s plight should serve as a significant wake-up call for the rest of Europe. “Some people continue to deny the reality of climate change,” remarked farmer Gerardo, adding thoughtfully, “I believe we can no longer afford to ignore this.”

Click on the video above to watch Bryan Carter’s report in full.