The pollution in the Po Valley

Reportage, Riccardo Nestore. 20/12/2023

The Po Valley is a geographical area straddling northern Italian regions including Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, and Friuli-venezia-Giulia. The Po Valley in Italy is like a beautiful painting, with rolling hills and winding rivers that make you feel like you’re in a dream. But there’s an issue lurking ‘’beneath’’ this scenic beauty. It reminds me of what Victor Hugo once said: “Nature, like a loving mother, is ever trying to keep land and sea, forest and desert, mountain and valley in their places, to hush the angry winds and waves, balance the extremes of heat and cold, of rain and drought, that peace, harmony, and beauty may reign supreme.” However, this picturesque landscape hides a struggle: the fight against pollution, a harsh reality amidst nature’s beauty. Po Valley is one of the most industrialized areas of Europe, making it one of the richest as well. It has attracted specialized workers from all over Italy to work with the industries. Despite this abundance, the pollution, during the winter and humid months is pretty evident. There is a grey cloud composed of gas and fine dust above our heads that sometimes prevent people from go outside their home, so as not to contract several issues, such as lung cancer. Po Valley is among the worst in Europe for air pollution. A Guardian investigation found more than a third of the people living in the valley and surrounding areas breathed air four times the World Health Organization’s guideline limit for the most dangerous airborne particulates. I hereby attach an article of ‘’The Guardian’’ which refers to a case in Crotta d’Adda, Cremona, Lombardy. Here the inhabitants of this village have barricaded themselves inside their homes. Their life is becoming impossible between pollution from industries, cars and farm animal waste. Read more: ‘Impossible to live like this’: Italy’s Po Valley blighted by air pollution among worst in Europe | Italy | The Guardian

Within this stunning scenery, there’s a clash. The Po River, so vital to this valley, tells a story of nature’s abundance versus human impact. The beauty of nature clashes with what humans have done to it. Chemicals from farms mix with waste from factories, tarnishing the once-clear river. It’s like a painting spoiled by careless hands. This contamination threatens the river’s life, showing how we’ve upset the balance between ourselves and nature.

But this isn’t just a problem in the countryside; it reaches many important cities, especially Milan, a bustling city filled with life and progress. However, its success comes with a price. The cityscape, bustling with activity, is covered in pollution. The noises of the city mix with the exhaust gases from vehicles, creating a thick layer of smog. The city’s energy is clouded by the damage we’ve done to the air we breathe. Sometimes the pollution is so thick, that the city major issued a regulation: only half of the cars in the city can be used.

Once the po valley was clear, now shows signs of human interference. The air, once fresh and clean, is now filled with things that make it hard to breathe. The marks of human activity, factories and vehicles are everywhere. But there’s a voice rising against this, people calling for change, wanting to protect what’s left of nature’s beauty.

Yet, there’s hope amid this chaos. People are coming together, speaking up for change. They’re starting projects to make things better, to plant more trees and don’t use wood to heat the houses during the winter. And do things in a way that won’t harm the environment. Milan, despite its pollution, is also trying to find solutions. For example, I use an iron water bottle to avoid buying plastic bottles, I use a tote bag for shopping, which I always use and i try to take public transport as much as I can. The Po Valley isn’t just a sad story of pollution; it’s becoming a story of resilience. It’s like nature’s fighting back against the harm we’ve caused. Indeed, when it rains a lot, the once territories with many trees that were capable to maintain the land, now they are subjected to landslides. It’s a reminder that we can still fix things and bring back the beauty that once defined this valley. The Po Valley is more than a place; it’s a chance for us to make things right and find harmony with nature again, is a place where many work of arts encounter themselves:  beautiful cities like Venice, nature, food, wine and history.