Navigating Complexity: Italy's Environmental (Im)mobility in the Precautionary Dilemma

This contribution delves into the intricacies of decision-making amidst uncertainty and discerns between 'danger' and 'risk' within the context of climate degradation, particularly focusing on its impact on population mobility, especially in rural regions. In Italy, the political dimension of decision-making intertwines with economic imperatives, notably evident in civil protection strategies for responding to emergencies. By scrutinizing evacuation plans and emergency decrees issued by the Department of Civil Protection in Italy, this paper explores displacement and resettlement from a philosophical- geographical standpoint. Critically examining the reductionistic approach of the precautionary principle, the study underscores its oversight of social costs and the imperative to prepare for multi- hazards. It sheds light on the socio-environmental vulnerability of exposed populations, contextualizing it within the European Union's adoption of the precautionary principle. Furthermore, by assessing both slow-onset degradation and sudden catastrophes, the paper underscores determinants such as vulnerability and social capital. It extends its analysis to seismic and volcanic disasters, interrogating the role of mobility and civil protection models as preventive or post-disaster measures. While refraining from delving into individual agency and labor force dynamics, the paper focuses on contradictions within the preventive and post-event measures mandated by Civil Protection in Italy. Through the 'mobility paradigm', it unravels the complexities in decision-making, acknowledging that displacement may not always culminate in the relocation of affected individuals.