CCSC: “Structural interventions are needed to avoid the collapse of the territory.”
Extreme heat, tropical nights, drought risk and compromised air quality: the Marche region is also under climate pressure. A picture that is part of a summer 2025 already marked by extreme events in several Italian regions, with increasing damage to crops, infrastructure and water tightness of the territories. According to data released by Ecogest’s Center for Climate Change Studies (CCSC), temperatures are steadily rising and extreme weather events are becoming the norm. This has direct impacts not only on public health, but also on infrastructure safety, water supply and land resilience.
The year 2024 saw 101 tropical nights in Ancona, compared to 64 in 2008. There were 24 extreme heat days in the past year alone, accompanied by 25 heat waves.
“The situation is critical. Projections to 2050 show a sharp increase in daily temperatures and the duration of heat waves, especially in inland hilly and mountainous areas,” says Valerio Molinari, president of CCSC and shareholder of Ecogest Spa.
Air quality: improvements but with shadows
The 2023 data show that limits for PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter were met at all stations in the regional network. However, ozone exceeded safe limits at 2 out of 13 stations due to high summer temperatures. NO2 remains below threshold, but forecasts show that intensifying summer drought could increase the risk of pollutant concentrations.
Water crisis and changes in precipitation
Although average annual rainfall does not show substantial changes, there is a change in the seasonal distribution and intensity of rainfall events, with a marked increase in intense rainfall across the territory. The northern coastal and hilly areas are the most vulnerable to prolonged drought, projected to 2050.
The interventions that the Study Center suggests as necessary for the Marche region can be summarized:
- in the adoption of climate-resilient infrastructure
- in the reduction of emissions in urban areas
- In securing water and soil resources.
The importance of infrastructure maintenance
In the green infrastructure debate, maintenance is no longer enough: new tree-lined areas designed to absorb heat, retain rainwater, and protect road networks are needed.
Creating new green spaces is an effective strategy to counter the effects of climate change on highways. Green spaces such as trees, shrubs and natural lawns play a crucial role in mitigating climate risk.
“Climate change in the Marches is already underway. Only science-based policies and investments in technology and prevention can avoid its worst effects,” Molinari concludes.
The Center for Climate Change Studies reiterates the urgency of local governance up to environmental challenges, calling on institutions to integrate scientific data into urban planning and climate risk management.