honorable mention
Michele Lapini italy
title
Drought in the Po river
This drought, which commenced at the beginning of the year, has already caused extensive damage to the agricultural sector. In an area hosting one-third of the country’s population and which is responsible for 40% of country’s GDP, as well as 35% of agricultural production and more than half of hydroelectric power production.
Wheat production has been reduced by at least 15% due to drought and heat waves. Maize is suffering severely and other crops, such as sugar beet, will also be drastically impacted.
The levels and flow rates of the Po River are below the emergency thresholds, with values that have not been recorded for at least 70 years; in some areas the flow rates are below historical lows. A Po river's worker said: "The river levels were already alarming in February, when we were recording flows similar to those in summer. The autumn without rainfall and the drastic reduction of snow in the mountains have led to the current situation. Withdrawals for agriculture have been rationed and in many cases crops are suffering severe damage and reduced harvests. "
This scenario is not expected to see any positive turnaround at least until the autumn, putting at risk not only the productive sectors but also cutting down on access to drinking water for the population.
His photographic work is characterized by a deep interest in social, political and environmental issues: over the years he has reported on civil rights struggles, documented migratory flows on the borders with Eastern Europe, witnessed the environmental impact of global climate change and portrayed the dramatic aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic in Italy.
He has been collaborating with La Repubblica since 2016, both with the national and local editorial staff in Bologna. He's a co-founder of Arcipelago-19, a photographer's network born during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also collaborates with other magazines and media following the social and political issues that run through the city and Italy, looking abroad to follow international stories. In addition to his work as a photojournalist, he also exhibits and collaborates in various sectors: cinema, publishing and public art. He has been published in international and national magazines including Internazionale, Stern, El Pais, L'Espresso, The Guardian, Vice, Le Monde Diplomatique, Corriere della Sera, Repubblica, and more. He won the Environmental Photographer of the Year 2021 in the Future Landscapes category and the Italian Sustainability Photo Award 2021 for best single photograph.
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entry description
On 4 July 2022, the Italian government declared a state of emergency in five regions in northern Italy in relation to the drought that has been hitting the country in the past months. The most hit regions includes large cities such as Milan, Turin, Bologna and Venice and cover an area that extends around Italy’s longest river, the Po, which with its 650 km represents a major water resource in northern Italy.This drought, which commenced at the beginning of the year, has already caused extensive damage to the agricultural sector. In an area hosting one-third of the country’s population and which is responsible for 40% of country’s GDP, as well as 35% of agricultural production and more than half of hydroelectric power production.
Wheat production has been reduced by at least 15% due to drought and heat waves. Maize is suffering severely and other crops, such as sugar beet, will also be drastically impacted.
The levels and flow rates of the Po River are below the emergency thresholds, with values that have not been recorded for at least 70 years; in some areas the flow rates are below historical lows. A Po river's worker said: "The river levels were already alarming in February, when we were recording flows similar to those in summer. The autumn without rainfall and the drastic reduction of snow in the mountains have led to the current situation. Withdrawals for agriculture have been rationed and in many cases crops are suffering severe damage and reduced harvests. "
This scenario is not expected to see any positive turnaround at least until the autumn, putting at risk not only the productive sectors but also cutting down on access to drinking water for the population.
about the photographer
Michele Lapini (1983) is a Bologna-based Italian freelance photographer. He studied Development Economics and International Cooperation at the University of Florence and holds a Master’s Degree in Development, Cooperation and Human Rights from the University of Bologna.His photographic work is characterized by a deep interest in social, political and environmental issues: over the years he has reported on civil rights struggles, documented migratory flows on the borders with Eastern Europe, witnessed the environmental impact of global climate change and portrayed the dramatic aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic in Italy.
He has been collaborating with La Repubblica since 2016, both with the national and local editorial staff in Bologna. He's a co-founder of Arcipelago-19, a photographer's network born during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also collaborates with other magazines and media following the social and political issues that run through the city and Italy, looking abroad to follow international stories. In addition to his work as a photojournalist, he also exhibits and collaborates in various sectors: cinema, publishing and public art. He has been published in international and national magazines including Internazionale, Stern, El Pais, L'Espresso, The Guardian, Vice, Le Monde Diplomatique, Corriere della Sera, Repubblica, and more. He won the Environmental Photographer of the Year 2021 in the Future Landscapes category and the Italian Sustainability Photo Award 2021 for best single photograph.
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