Climate Activists Make Bold Statement by Turning Rome's Iconic Trevi Fountain Black

On Sunday, climate activists in Italy dyed the iconic Trevi Fountain black as a symbol of warning following devastating floods that have resulted in the loss of 14 lives in the country's north-east.

Members of the Last Generation, a group opposed to climate change, entered the famous Trevi Fountain and poured a carbon liquid from vegetables into it. The police removed them from the fountain and escorted them away, as reported by The Straits Times.

Climate Activists Dump Charcoal into Italy's Trevi Fountain

(Photo : by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)
A general view taken on May 21, 2023 shows a polce car parked by the Fontana di Trevi fountain in downtown Rome as tourists walk past, after environmental activists of Last Generation (Ultima Generazione) poured black liquid made out of vegetable-based carbon into the water as part of a campaign to raise awareness about climate change.

As Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Emilia Romagna to assess the damage caused by the floods, a protest erupted. These floods are the worst in a century, with six months of rainfall occurring in 36 hours.

Over 36,000 individuals have been forced to leave their homes due to the calamity, resulting in losses worth hundreds of millions of euros.

While activists raised their voices against the use of government-funded fossil fuels, tourists gathered around the fountain in Rome's historic center, taking pictures and sharing their opinions with applause or boos. The police intervened and removed the protesters, seizing their banners.

A May report by the Bank of Italy revealed that almost a quarter of houses in Italy are in danger of flooding, which could result in an annual expense of €3 billion ($3,245,558). This was highlighted by Last Generation.

The environmental group claimed that the carbon liquid used during the protest did not cause any harm to the fountain.

However, the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, stated that the cleaning process would require much time, energy, and water since the fountain recirculates the water. He added that they would have to empty the fountain and discard around 300,000 liters of water.

Climate Change Protests in Italy

In 2022, Last Generation initiated peaceful protests in Italy to urge politicians from all political parties to prioritize climate change issues before the general election. The protests were disruptive but non-violent.

Protests are taking place in Italy, along with other parts of Europe, to draw attention to the issue of climate change. As a form of protest, activists are throwing food items like soup, cake, mashed potatoes, and washable paint at cultural and heritage sites and artworks in museums.

Climate change has become a pressing issue in Italy and across the world. Due to its geography and coastline, the country is particularly vulnerable to its effects, such as flooding. As a result, many environmental groups advocate for action from politicians and citizens alike.

The last Generation's protests have gained attention for their creative approach while maintaining non-violence. However, some people argue that there may be more effective ways to raise climate change awareness than throwing food at cultural sites or artworks.