In Milan there’s been the umpteenth staged event against smog with the Sunday without cars. A precaution that has left things exactly as they were before.
In its document called “Air Quality Guidelines” the World Health Organisation underlines how going beyond the limit for PM2.5 tiny dust particles in the air can lead to serious consequences for the organism, even death and especially for children. .
During the month of November the PM2.5 threshold has been surpassed 14 times in the first 18 days and on 16 November it reached a value of 117.
Milan is at the centre of attention for its level of atmospheric pollution. But it’s not the only city in this situation. It can however become a national point of reference for choices relating to city traffic that by now cannot be put off.
The proposals put forward up until now have found obstacles in the usual crossed vetoes and voting interests between the Region of Lombardy, the Province and the City of Milan and the government.
The idea of the entry ticket has not been accepted. The idea of alternating registration numbers has been rejected. The centre can’t be closed. The cycle tracks hardly exist. Public transport has not been strengthened and instead of electric buses we’ve got buses running on petrol.
Meanwhile, citizens get ill and die from tumours.
Italia dei Valori will make its voice known, with the help of the citizens, to adopt immediately measures to protect public health. The entry ticket and the closure of the centre of the city as soon as possible.