Anti-smog day

| Wed, 02/24/2010 - 06:21

Sunday 28th February is “Anti-Smog Day” in Northern Italy, with over 80 towns planning to block non-emergency traffic for the day.
Many Italian cities have had anti-pollution days before but this is to be the first time that the effort has been coordinated on such a scale.

The day is the inspiration of Milan Mayor Letizia Moratti and the first to back her was the Mayor of Turin, Sergio Chiamparino. However, the timing of the event, in the middle of Milan Pret-à-porter Week, has been questioned and thousands of passes have been issued to workers involved in the fashion shows.

Of the satellite towns in the Milan hinterland, only Sesto San Giovanni and Cinisello Balsamo are taking part. The Mayor of Rho has said that it is all a “stupid idea” whilst the Mayor of Legnano says that taking emergency measures when there is no emergency is senseless.
The Provincial Councillor for Traffic, Giovanni de Nicola has protested that his department was not consulted when the day was planned. He says he is not against the idea but that he does question its true effectiveness.

However, there is support for Mayor Moratti’s initiative from the South, as the Mayor of Naples has committed his city to the project. Florence and Venice also participating.

The most polluted cities in Italy are Naples, Turin and Ancona but Milan has the most air pollution. Its air pollution statistics were above the legal limit on 108 days in 2009.

The following are towns taking part in the anti-smog day [this is not an exhaustive list]: