NGO alliance challenges budget cuts in Italian Environment Ministry
A group of 18 environmental groups calls for a halt in the constant process of indiscriminate cuts to the budget of the Ministry of Environment, which has been reduced from € 1.6 billion in 2009 to just 468 million euro in 2013. At this point, the Environment Ministry is the poorest in resources, in the Government.
WWF Italy has been criticising the progressive dismantling of the Environment Ministry since 2010, on the grounds that it has resulted in reduced effectiveness in public policies relating to climate change, sustainable mobility, waste management, land reclamation, soil conservation, biodiversity conservation, parks and environmental monitoring.
On June 3, WWF Italy met with the newly appointed Environment Minister Andrea Orlando, presenting him with proposals for the recovery of a robust administrative structure for the Ministry. On July 17th WWF Italy is organising a workshop addressed to all relevant stakeholders, such as labour and professional organizations, in order to address this crisis and demand a 2014 budget of at least €700 million.
Source: WWF Italy.