(see related)
Civil Protection Minister Nello
Musumeci said the deadly floods that have hit Emilia Romagna and
other recent disasters linked to extreme weather, such as last
year's landslide on the Gulf of Naples island of Ischia that
claimed 12 lives, show the need to take a new approach to adapt
to the effects of climate change.
"We need a new approach regarding the water system throughout
the country," he said.
"What happened in Emilia Romagna had already happened in Ischia
and could happen in any other area of the country.
"While we conceived the rainwater distribution network of a town
capable of absorbing 1,000 mm in 12 months, we must now envision
a water-collection system that will have to absorb 500 mm in 48
hours.
"We need a different engineering approach, nothing will be the
same as before, tropicalization has come to Italy.
"We are ready to prepare a national plan to deal with heavy
rains and long periods of drought, because we need to rethink
how we manage the territory.
"We will work with the other ministries and it will be possible
to implement it within eight months to a year".
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