In a remote corner of the planet, just 1,000 kilometers from the North Pole and surrounded by ice, lies a kind of modern-day Noah's Ark, designed not to save animals, but to preserve the future of global agriculture. Buried beneath a mountain of ice in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, the vast global seed vault has become a silent symbol of resilience in the face of the global uncertainties of the 21st century. Designed to ensure the continuity of spices and plant-based foods in the event of a catastrophe, this biodiversity sanctuary receives samples of crops from all over the world. And now, finally, the olive tree is also part of this select group. Therefore, the future of this symbol of the Mediterranean landscape and culture is guaranteed.

Last week, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg issued a landmark ruling against Italy, condemning the country for failing to act with the necessary urgency in the face of the environmental catastrophe in the area of Campania (south of the country) known as Terra dei Fuochi, or Terra dels Focs in Catalan. The decision recognises that the population of this area has lived for more than three decades in an environment of "sufficiently serious, real and proven" risk to human health. The ECHR concluded that Italy violated the right to life and a safe environment, and requires the Italian government to develop a concrete strategy for the decontamination of the territory within two years. The measures ordered include the creation of an independent monitoring system, a public information platform and the implementation of specific actions to reduce the impact on the health of residents.