It is difficult to believe that I am sitting in the same spot that I was in January. The trees have leaves and flower buds, there are more people outside, I am not wearing a coat. Spring is springing and I am happy about it. 

Like many countries, Italy is part of the Paris Agreement to limit climate change. The nationally determined contribution is to decrease climate emissions by 33% by 2030  and to be carbon-neutral by 2050. In 2018, Italy updated its legislation for forests, creating better plans for forest management, with the aim to increase the carbon sink. From 2005 to 2019, Italy reduced its carbon intensity per unit of GDP by 27%. Italy has been making real, visible improvements to carbon emissions and there are national legislations for recycling and subsidies for public transportation. Public transportation is cheaper than owning and operating a car, and the presence of fewer cars helps  the reduction of carbon emissions. It is also worth noting that there are significantly fewer trucks in Italy than in America (mainly because it would be impossible to drive them on these old medieval roads). That said, the air quality in major cities is as bad as in American cities, and in northern cities like Torino, the air is so thick with smog that you cannot see the horizon. Like all developed countries, Italy has an incredibly high carbon production and produces tonnes of waste. The actions of everyday people help, but they are not a permanent solution and without strong government reforms, Italy will continue to have negative environmental impacts on the world. 

As I write this I am in the Slovak countryside for Easter break, and it has been so wonderful to be surrounded by trees and farm animals. There is nothing quite like eating fresh bread and cheese while sitting on a centuries old wall while a sheep tries to steal your lunch!