Meloni, journalists and the climate of unjustified absence

To look to the future, to understand what awaits us in this 2024 which has just begun, I believe it is necessary to return for a moment to what Giorgia Meloni said about climate change on January 4th. The occasion was the famous end-of-year press conference, which was then postponed to the beginning of the year due to the prime minister’s health problem. In short, it was the most important moment of political communication, a bit like the message of the President of the Republic on 31 December. Only in this case there is no reading of a speech, but the journalists ask the questions and the Prime Minister answers. So, what fundamental thing did Giorgia Meloni say about climate change? Nothing. Not even a word. Never mentioned. In over three hours of press conference the topic which according to the United Nations, but also the Pope and the scientific community should be at the top of the agenda of all world leaders, was ignored. Here we are beyond climate denialism, we are about to cancel a theme. The truth, however, is that Meloni was simply not reticent no journalist asked her a question about it. Which shows that, apart from when catastrophes occur, this topic does not exist in newspaper editorial offices and the political world perceives this indifference and adapts to it. But if a true leader deems an issue urgent, he has a thousand ways to bring it to the attention of public opinion. In short, Giorgia Meloni could and should have had her say on the historic Cop28 agreement with the commitment, signed by almost two hundred countries, to start doing without fossil fuels and to triple the production of renewable energy by 2030; it could have clarified the Italian position on nuclear power and given a boost to the energy communities that are finally starting up and can help eliminate the costs on the bills of many families. He could have talked about the fundamentals Climate adaptation plan, launched by his government during the holidays, but looking for money to carry out the many interventions necessary to protect families and businesses from increasingly extreme weather events. And yet nothing. She could and should have talked about it, but we could and should have pressed her too. But no, better a little controversy with Schlein or Ferragni than talking about our future.