A landslide on the southern Italian island of Ischia

Problems

• Causes of a landslide on the southern Italian island of Ischia.

  Densely populated, Ischia is a volcanic island which lies some 30 km (19 miles) from Naples. It draws visitors to its thermal baths and picturesque coastline.  
  
  Episodes of heavy rainfall are becoming more common and more intense in the light of climate change, experts say, exacerbating hydrogeological risks in many parts of Italy.
  
  Statistics show Ischia has a large number of houses that were built illegally, putting inhabitants at permanent risk from flooding and earthquakes - which have often hit the hilly island over the past years.

• Proposals of environmentalists to prevent damage from climate change.

  The environmental association Legambiente have highlighted the need to prepare for future extreme weather events.
  
  “The climate is changing, it is now a fact,” Legambiente said, “yet Italy continues to be unprepared and citizens are often left alone to deal with the impacts.”
  
  Legambiente has appealed to the Italian government to establish a “national climate adaptation plan.”
  The association has called for a law against building on areas of healthy soil and the creation of a national control room to monitor climate risks.