The Protest

On Sunday, climate activists with the group Ultima Generazione (Last Generation) staged a protest in Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain. They dyed the water black to symbolize the deadly floods that have recently devastated northern Italy and to highlight the need to address climate change.

The activists held signs that read “We won’t pay for fossil [fuels]” and “The black future that awaits mankind.” They dumped a vegetable-based dye with charcoal into the fountain, causing the water to turn a dark black color. The protest lasted about 15 minutes before police officers arrived and dragged the activists out of the water. All eight were arrested.

The Flooding in Northern Italy

The protest was prompted by the extreme flooding that has occurred in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. The flooding has killed 14 people and left thousands homeless. For months, the region had been experiencing a severe drought. When heavy rainfall hit, the compacted soil could not absorb the water, leading to widespread flooding.

Scientists have linked the flooding to the climate crisis. As the Earth’s temperature rises, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense.

The Climate Crisis

The activists’ protest was also a call to action to address the climate crisis. They cited a recent report from the World Meteorological Organization, which predicted that the Earth is likely to temporarily exceed the critical 1.5-degree Celsius warming threshold within the next five years.

The activists argued that continued subsidies for fossil fuels are contributing to the climate crisis and that we need to transition to renewable energy sources.

Response to the Protest

Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, condemned the protest and said that the fountain would need to be emptied and the dyed water disposed of. He said that this would be a significant and costly undertaking.

Members of Ultima Generazione have made headlines recently for gluing themselves to artwork to bring attention to the climate emergency. These protests have been part of a worldwide trend of activists targeting artwork to raise awareness about the issue.

Damage to Cultural Heritage Sites

Ultima Generazione noted in its statement that culturally important sites in Emilia-Romagna, including museums, the Medieval-era Santa Maria del Monte Abbey, and a library, have been damaged as a result of the flooding.

The activists argued that the damage to these sites highlights the need to take action on climate change to protect our cultural heritage.

Safety Plan for Monuments

Luisa Regimenti, councilor for personnel, urban security, local police, and local authorities in Italy’s Lazio region, said that a safety plan is needed to protect monuments and works of art from climate activism.

She said that the black dye protest was a “serious gesture” and that it must be stopped.

Call to Action

Ultima Generazione called on people to join their movement and to demand action on climate change. They said that we cannot continue to ignore the devastating impacts of climate change and that we need to take action now to protect our planet and our future.