Were Italy’s floods caused by climate change? Experts analyse what happened as 36,000 left homeless

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“If a river bank breaks, it has nothing to do with climate change. It’s a problem of maintenance,” Paride Antolini, president of the Geological Society in Emilia-Romagna, told the Italian press.

Antolini cited problems of reduced staffing in public offices resulting in a lack of river bank monitoring. He also said there was insufficient reforestation in the mountains meaning cascades of water are no longer prevented from flowing into lower lying areas.

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Exacerbated by both climate change and poor maintenance, the floods will have devastating long term effects on a region famed as Italy’s agricultural heartland.

Over 5,000 farms have been submerged by the waters destroying grain, corn and fruit production. Initial estimates have put the damage at €1.5 billion but can only be properly assessed once the waters abate.

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