General Assembly on the Environment in Apulia

Focus on one of the most pressing topics in environmental policy: the efficient and sustainable management of water, a vital resource for maintaining ecosystem balance, community well-being, and, crucially, the stability of entire sectors of the economy—starting with agri-food industries. Today, our most precious resource is also the one most threatened by the many crises of our time, from overexploitation to pollution, all within the context of a changing climate that is also altering water availability—too much all at once or far too little. In this era of ‘polycrisis,’ it is essential to safeguard water for its many intended uses, as recently emphasized by European Commissioner for Circular Economy Jessika Roswall, who announced the upcoming launch of a European Strategy for Water Resilience. This strategy will call on all member states to step up their efforts, urging them to prioritize efficiency, circularity, and digitalization. This shift must begin at the local level, particularly in regions with a complex relationship with water, such as Apulia, which again this year is bracing for a season marked by critical challenges—especially in the agricultural sector.