Security Threatened: Cohesive and incisive actions are needed

Security is an issue often ridden by politics, in some cases disruptive in electoral terms. It is a problem that is more often than not tackled with simplistic solutions, but it must be tackled in its entirety, because it does not only have to do with migration policies.

Many examples could be given. The most striking case is that of the resolution on 30 km/h speed limits passed by the municipality of Bologna. For weeks, a political controversy was animated, resulting in an incomprehensible decree-law limiting the use of speed cameras. According to the municipality, however, in the first six months since it came into force, accidents have fallen by 11 per cent, the most serious by 38 per cent, injuries by 10 per cent and deaths by 33 per cent. With this revolution, also adopted by municipalities with centre-right administrations like Treviso, the roads are becoming safer. In a normal country, actions that go in the right direction should be unifying. In Italy, unfortunately, this is not the case.

We are surrounded by problems that threaten the safety of our citizens, but we pretend they do not exist. This is the case with poor air quality: according to the European Environment Agency, Italy has 52,000 premature deaths due to PM2.5, out of a European total of 238,000. But the fight against smog does not receive the same attention.

The same applies to school buildings in the capital cities: according to our Ecosistema scuola 2024 report, only 49% have a certificate of fitness, 47% have static testing, and 56% have fire prevention certifications. We could go on with buildings constructed in areas of high hydrogeological risk or left to be built illegally and dangerously with substandard materials, never demolished; with asbestos-cement artefacts in buildings, never cleaned up; with stretches of coastline polluted by untreated sewage discharges, threatening bathers.

When will there be a decree that really deals with security? Many problems are in the hands of the municipalities, but without government support, we will get nowhere. Courageous policies and adequate economic resources are needed. Think of climate crisis adaptation, urban regeneration or building safety, which would also be an important driver for the construction sector.