Soil consumption, in 2020 more than 50sq km of land lost to overbuilding

In 2020, more than 50 square kilometers of land were covered with concrete , at a rate of 2sq meters per second. This are the figures shown in the report titled "Land consumption, territorial dynamics and ecosystem services", which the Italian Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) presented on July 14th. The phenomenon, that shows no signs of slowing down, has very significant consequences both for the environment and for production activities. From 2012 to 2021 - calculates ISPRA - overbuilding, which implies the removal of agricultural soil, has determined the loss of over 4.1 million tons of products coming from the agricultural sector and has increased the hydrogeological risk exposure of large areas of the Italian territory. Soil consumption - the Institute emphasizes - has also caused an increase in polluting emissions due to the release of carbon dioxide stored in biomass.