Sicily is experiencing more frequent climate emergencies such as floods, wildfires, droughts, and rising sea levels. The island’s temperature has increased by over two degrees Celsius, transforming its previously mild climate into extreme conditions. In 2024, authorities declared a state of emergency after drought affected 90 towns and 800,000 residents. Experts attribute a 50 percent higher chance of droughts to human-caused warming. With nearly 70 percent of Sicily vulnerable to desertification and worsening coastal erosion, it is increasingly being seen as Europe’s potential next desert.