“Verde a metà”: la travagliata ascesa dell’ambiente nella Costituzione italiana

In February 2022, the Italian Constitution was amended in order to protect “the environment, biodiversity and ecosystems” (Article 9). Despite the strong majority (only one vote against and six abstentions) and the almost complete lack of opposing voices, the amendment is characterized by several critical aspects. This article exposes and analyses the political developments and debate that preceded the constitutional reform and the related scholarly comments. Through a comparative methodology, the article places the “new environmental sensitivity” of the Italian Constitution within the broader framework of environmental constitutionalism at a global level.