Government leaders in Italy face pressure over climate activism
The government led by Giorgia Meloni is grappling with a rising wave of climate activism that seeks to draw urgent attention to environmental issues. While authorities push back against disruptive protests, supporters of the movement argue that demonstrations will continue because they believe real change requires bold action. This tension reflects a broader surge of political energy around climate policy in Italian society today.
Giulio Giuli, a spokesperson for Last Generation, a group associated with new environmental activism, voiced a defiant stance. He said fines of small amounts do not deter them from continuing their campaigns, even when faced with penalties that could reach tens of thousands of euros. The comments came during discussions with international media, highlighting a resolve to press forward regardless of financial consequences.
One activist contends that the harm from protests is minor compared with the damage they perceive to monuments from pollution, a framing that underscores the controversy around methods used by the group.
Giuli explained that his party has drafted several bills aimed at curbing disruptive actions by protest groups, including measures that could impose fines up to 60,000 euros and prison sentences up to three years. Although such laws require parliamentary approval, they have already received approval from the Council of Ministers in a neighboring country, signaling a strong political appetite to curb civil disobedience in pursuit of climate policy goals.
Advocacy and civil disobedience in the European context
Ultima Generazione is among European environmental groups employing increasingly provocative tactics to push for change. The protests, launched in 2021 by former members of Extinction Rebellion who considered the Italian branch too moderate, and supported by former Fridays for Future participants, employ acts of civil disobedience. Road blockades in crowded urban centers and symbolic actions aimed at cultural landmarks have been part of their repertoire, often using materials that are not intended to cause permanent harm.
A moment that went viral featured a confrontation near a Florence landmark, drawing public attention to the protest movement
In recent demonstrations, the group has staged high-profile acts, such as temporarily affixing glue to a prominent sculpture in a Vatican museum, and pouring washable orange paint on windows of historic buildings. While a painting by Vincent van Gogh was temporarily affected during a Rome exhibition, it was not damaged. A separate action in Florence involved an orange pigment on the exterior of the Old Palace. The incident sparked widespread debate after a video of the Florence mayor capturing a tense exchange with a protester circulated online.
Responding to legal pressure, activists and their supporters argue that the legal actions against participants may be excessive. Giuli noted that roughly 80 members have faced criminal or civil charges, with several additional cases still unresolved, highlighting the ongoing legal clash surrounding protest strategies.
Public opinion and cultural concerns about climate protest
The debate in Italy mirrors a broader European conversation about balancing environmental urgency with respect for public order and cultural heritage. Some segments of the population view the protesters as vandals who deserve severe punishment, while others insist that the initial shock of disruption reveals a legitimate urgency about the climate crisis. Italy, among the European countries most affected by climate change, continues to wrestle with these competing perspectives.
Italian observers and teachers have offered perspectives that frame the protests as a response to decades of insufficient action on climate issues. Some argue that recent events reflect a failure to generate effective protest strategies in the past three decades, suggesting that the current methods, while controversial, aim to highlight serious environmental risks. The argument further contends that the environmental impact of the movement is limited relative to the scale of the climate crisis and the harm alleged to monuments and historic sites—an assertion that fuels debate about the most effective forms of advocacy.
In this context, voices from the cultural sphere have begun to defend the protesters’ approach. The art world has contributed thoughtful commentary about the clash between preservation and environmental accountability. A prominent critic proposed that climate disruption poses a greater threat to Italy’s cultural heritage than any non-permanent protest damage, endorsing the idea that bold tactics may be necessary to provoke meaningful discussion and policy responses.
As the dialogue continues, supporters and critics alike acknowledge the central issue: the climate crisis demands urgent attention, but the means of achieving progress remain a point of contention. The public conversation in Italy reflects a broader European struggle to reconcile environmental demands with the preservation of public order and cultural values, inviting ongoing scrutiny from policymakers, activists, and citizens alike.