Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Killings and repression of defenders · Italy · 2012–2026

Italian courts sentence executives over Ilva steelworks and Eternit asbestos

Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.

Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
What the record lacks: 4 none on record · 1 not measured See the gaps

Italian courts convicted Stephan Schmidheiny over asbestos deaths linked to Eternit at Casale Monferrato and sentenced Riva family executives over the Ilva steelworks in Taranto. The Ilva verdict was quashed and sent for retrial, and the Eternit sentence was reduced on appeal.

What?
Italian courts sentenced executives over asbestos at Eternit's Casale Monferrato plant and over the Ilva steelworks in Taranto; the Ilva case was sent back for retrial. Il Post
Where?
Taranto (Ilva) and Casale Monferrato (Eternit), Italy
When?
2012–2026; sentences in 2021, 2023 and 2025; new Ilva trial from February 2026 Il Post
Who?
Gained
None on record
Lost
None on record
Harmed
  • People who died from asbestos exposure in Casale Monferrato — 392 deaths in the proceedings, of which 91 were recognised
Why?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
Criminal proceedings against executives; most Eternit deaths fell outside the limitation period, and the first Eternit conviction in 2014 was time-barred.
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

A Taranto court sentenced Fabio Riva to 22 years and Nicola Riva to 20 years in 2021 over the Ilva steelworks.

AGI reported on 13 September 2024 that an appeal court had quashed the ruling and moved the case to Potenza, and that advances paid to families were being sought back.

Il Post reported in February 2026 that a new Ilva trial had opened in Potenza against 18 people and three companies.

Vita Casalese reported in April 2025 that the Turin appeal court reduced Schmidheiny's sentence to 9.5 years, after a 12-year sentence in Novara in June 2023.

    In court and with insurers

    Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

    Lawsuits and rulings

    1. 2021Ongoing
      Ilva steelworks case, Taranto (Riva family executives)
      Taranto court; appeal court; Potenza court (retrial) · Criminal · Not stated in the sources reviewed → Fabio Riva and Nicola Riva

      A Taranto court sentenced Fabio Riva to 22 years and Nicola Riva to 20 years in 2021. An appeal court quashed the ruling in September 2024 and moved the case to Potenza, where a new trial of 18 people and three companies opened in February 2026. Il Post

    2. 2025-04Reduced on appeal
      Eternit asbestos case, Casale Monferrato
      Novara court; Turin appeal court · Criminal · Not stated in the sources reviewed → Stephan Schmidheiny

      The Novara court sentenced Schmidheiny to 12 years for negligence in June 2023. The Turin appeal court reduced this to 9.5 years in April 2025. Of 392 deaths, 91 were recognised; the first Eternit conviction in 2014 was time-barred.

    Insurers

    No insurer decision on record.

    What we don't know

    Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

    Nature

    • Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

    Record

    • None on record The sources reviewed do not state whether the Eternit case has reached the Court of Cassation.
    • None on record The sources reviewed do not say what the Riva family or Eternit's owners gained from the operations.
    • None on record The sources reviewed do not state the amount of advances paid to families or whether any has been repaid.
    • None on record Reported without a source link: the appeal court quashed the Ilva ruling on the ground that the Taranto judges could be considered victims.

    Did the harm stop?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Who paid?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Sources

    Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers

    Press and investigations

    Terms used on this page

    Law and courts

    Negligence and gross negligence
    Negligence is a failure to take reasonable care. Gross negligence is a serious, reckless failure; under US oil-spill law a finding of gross negligence raises the maximum penalty.
    Statute of limitations, time-barred
    The legal time limit for bringing or completing a case. A time-barred case can no longer lead to a penalty, even if guilt was found.
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