The European Court of Human Rights condemned Italy today for failing to take adequate steps to protect the people of the ‘Terra dei fuochi’ (Land of Fires), an area between the provinces of Caserta and Naples that has been affected by decades of unlawful rubbish disposal. As per the ruling, the Italian authorities acknowledged the existence of the issue; however, they were unable to demonstrate that they had addressed the environmental emergency with the requisite urgency and attention. The Court determined that the State failed to take necessary action to protect citizens' health and safety, resulting in a violation of Articles 2 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. A group of neighbors and neighborhood associations filed the appeal, citing the negative impact of pollution on public health, such as a rise in cancer cases and groundwater contamination. The verdict forces Italy to take prompt action to mitigate environmental degradation and protect its population.