Environmental Policies
#14Key Findings
With a good renewable-energy record, Italy falls into the upper-middle ranks (rank 14) with regard to environmental policies. Its score on this measure has improved by 1.6 points relative to 2014.
Significant hydroelectric-, wind- and solar-based power generation has driven the country to a renewable-energy share of nearly 35%. The country’s performance with regard to CO2 emissions per unit of GDP is above average, and strong incentives are provided for sustainable house construction and renovation.
Water efficiency and waste management remain serious problems, particularly in the south. However, recycling rates have increased significantly, most recently even in southern Italy, which has traditionally lagged. The country has among the highest number of cars per capita in the world, and smog, particulate matter, poor air quality and traffic jams increasingly undermine the quality of life.
The Draghi government significantly increased goals for the environmental transition, and earmarked a considerable share of EU COVID-19 recovery funds for environmental purposes. The government has recently played a strong role in promoting ambitious environmental goals internationally.
Significant hydroelectric-, wind- and solar-based power generation has driven the country to a renewable-energy share of nearly 35%. The country’s performance with regard to CO2 emissions per unit of GDP is above average, and strong incentives are provided for sustainable house construction and renovation.
Water efficiency and waste management remain serious problems, particularly in the south. However, recycling rates have increased significantly, most recently even in southern Italy, which has traditionally lagged. The country has among the highest number of cars per capita in the world, and smog, particulate matter, poor air quality and traffic jams increasingly undermine the quality of life.
The Draghi government significantly increased goals for the environmental transition, and earmarked a considerable share of EU COVID-19 recovery funds for environmental purposes. The government has recently played a strong role in promoting ambitious environmental goals internationally.
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How effectively does environmental policy in your country protect and preserve the sustainability of natural resources and environmental quality?
10
9
9
Environmental policy goals are ambitious and effectively implemented as well as monitored within and across most relevant policy sectors that account for the largest share of resource use and emissions.
8
7
6
7
6
Environmental policy goals are mainly ambitious and effectively implemented and are monitored within and across some of the relevant policy sectors that account for the largest share of resource use and emissions.
5
4
3
4
3
Environmental policy goals are neither particularly ambitious nor are they effectively implemented and coordinated across relevant policy sectors.
2
1
1
Environmental concerns have been largely abandoned.
Italy was not an early mover in the field of environmental policies compared to other European and OECD countries, but in a number of aspects its environmental record has significantly improved. For instance, Italy ranks above average in its performances for CO2 emissions in comparison to GDP. In the field of renewable energies, where Italy traditionally fared reasonably well thanks to its large hydroelectric (and geothermic) plants, the promotion of new sources (e.g., solar or wind energy) has been very effective in recent years thanks to generous incentives. The transition toward renewable energy has gained momentum and renewable energy sources now supply between 32% and 35% of total electricity demand (data from GSE). Strong fiscal incentives for sustainable house building and renovations have been in place over the last few years.
Forest areas have been growing significantly in recent years and biodiversity is above the European average.
In other dimensions, such as water efficiency, Italy fares less well. Disparities between northern or central Italy, and southern Italy remain significant. Some waste emergencies (e.g., in Rome, Naples, Palermo and other places in southern regions) have demonstrated in recent years the lower performance of some local and regional authorities in environmental matters. The absence or inadequacies of purification plants still affects parts of the coastline and rivers. As with other oceans, the Mediterranean is polluted by microplastics.
Recycling rates have increased very significantly in central and northern Italy. According to Reuters, Italy ranks very highly in Europe for recycling. Recent ISPRA data also indicates significant improvements in southern Italy where recycling rates had traditionally lagged behind.
Erosion, flood and earthquake prevention should be a high priority for the government, as the geology of the Italian peninsula means that the country is very exposed to natural disasters. After the recent 2016 earthquakes, the government is launching a long-term investment policy to promote public and private rebuilding.
Climate change has and will have a huge impact on Italy. The country has among the highest numbers of cars per capita in the world, and this combines with poor short-, medium- and long-haul public transport to make life in cities difficult. It also compromises the transport of goods and persons across Italy. Smog, particulate matter, poor air quality and traffic jams undermine the quality of life significantly, especially in large cities.
The Draghi government has set ambitious goals for and assigned a large proportion resources from the PNRR to an environmental transition.
Citations:
on renewable electricity sources see: https://www.gse.it/dati-e-scenari/monitoraggio-fer/monitoraggio-nazionale/settore-elettrico (accessed 2 January 2022)
http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/archivio/notizie-e-novita-normative/notizie-ispra/2015/05/produzione-rifiuti-e-differenziata-i-dati-di-tutti-i-comuni-italiani-sono-online
http://www.asvis.it/rapporto-2017/
https://it.reuters.com/article/topNews/idITKBN1CE1D5-OITTP
Forest areas have been growing significantly in recent years and biodiversity is above the European average.
In other dimensions, such as water efficiency, Italy fares less well. Disparities between northern or central Italy, and southern Italy remain significant. Some waste emergencies (e.g., in Rome, Naples, Palermo and other places in southern regions) have demonstrated in recent years the lower performance of some local and regional authorities in environmental matters. The absence or inadequacies of purification plants still affects parts of the coastline and rivers. As with other oceans, the Mediterranean is polluted by microplastics.
Recycling rates have increased very significantly in central and northern Italy. According to Reuters, Italy ranks very highly in Europe for recycling. Recent ISPRA data also indicates significant improvements in southern Italy where recycling rates had traditionally lagged behind.
Erosion, flood and earthquake prevention should be a high priority for the government, as the geology of the Italian peninsula means that the country is very exposed to natural disasters. After the recent 2016 earthquakes, the government is launching a long-term investment policy to promote public and private rebuilding.
Climate change has and will have a huge impact on Italy. The country has among the highest numbers of cars per capita in the world, and this combines with poor short-, medium- and long-haul public transport to make life in cities difficult. It also compromises the transport of goods and persons across Italy. Smog, particulate matter, poor air quality and traffic jams undermine the quality of life significantly, especially in large cities.
The Draghi government has set ambitious goals for and assigned a large proportion resources from the PNRR to an environmental transition.
Citations:
on renewable electricity sources see: https://www.gse.it/dati-e-scenari/monitoraggio-fer/monitoraggio-nazionale/settore-elettrico (accessed 2 January 2022)
http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/archivio/notizie-e-novita-normative/notizie-ispra/2015/05/produzione-rifiuti-e-differenziata-i-dati-di-tutti-i-comuni-italiani-sono-online
http://www.asvis.it/rapporto-2017/
https://it.reuters.com/article/topNews/idITKBN1CE1D5-OITTP
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To what extent does the government actively contribute to the design and advancement of global environmental protection regimes?
10
9
9
The government actively contributes to international efforts to design and advance global environmental protection regimes. In most cases, it demonstrates commitment to existing regimes, contributes to their being advanced and has introduced appropriate reforms.
8
7
6
7
6
The government contributes to international efforts to strengthen global environmental protection regimes. It demonstrates commitment to existing regimes and occasionally contributes to their being advanced and/or has introduced some appropriate reforms.
5
4
3
4
3
The government demonstrates commitment to existing regimes, but does not contribute to their being advanced and has not introduced appropriate reforms.
2
1
1
The government does not contribute to international efforts to strengthen global environmental protection regimes.
The contribution of the Italian government to international efforts in the field of global environmental protection has been generally positive. Italy has been supportive of coordinated international actions, including the recent COP26 Paris conference, but in general has not played a significant leadership role. This is due to the fact that the political weight and financial resources of the Ministry of Environment have not been very high while the attention of the government and the priorities of Italy’s prime ministers have been diverted to internal matters and economic recovery.
In selected fields, however, Italian policies have been more innovative. A good example is the mechanism of the national consortium for the recycling of packaging (CONAI), which has enabled Italy to exceed European 2020 targets in this field. This relates to a considerable proportion of plastics production and offers an efficient model for other countries. With regard to the maritime environment, in 2019, Italy joined France and Spain’s proposal to create a Mediterranean emissions control area (ECA).
Under the Draghi government, Italy’s willingness to contribute to international efforts in this field has increased significantly. At the October 2021 G20 meeting, which was chaired by Italy, the prime minister and the minister of environment played an active role in promoting more ambitious environmental goals (e.g., deadlines for CO2 reduction and for preventing global warming) and affirmed Italy’s strong support for COP26. These public statements demonstrate Italy’s attitude toward sustaining global environmental policies.
Citations:
http://www.conai.org/chi-siamo/risultati/
In selected fields, however, Italian policies have been more innovative. A good example is the mechanism of the national consortium for the recycling of packaging (CONAI), which has enabled Italy to exceed European 2020 targets in this field. This relates to a considerable proportion of plastics production and offers an efficient model for other countries. With regard to the maritime environment, in 2019, Italy joined France and Spain’s proposal to create a Mediterranean emissions control area (ECA).
Under the Draghi government, Italy’s willingness to contribute to international efforts in this field has increased significantly. At the October 2021 G20 meeting, which was chaired by Italy, the prime minister and the minister of environment played an active role in promoting more ambitious environmental goals (e.g., deadlines for CO2 reduction and for preventing global warming) and affirmed Italy’s strong support for COP26. These public statements demonstrate Italy’s attitude toward sustaining global environmental policies.
Citations:
http://www.conai.org/chi-siamo/risultati/