Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea

Sixth National Communication under the UN 

Framework Convention on Climate Change

Italy

December 2013
GENERAL SUPERVISOR:

Corrado Clini - Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS)

GENERAL COORDINATION AND EDITING

Roberto Binatti, Giulia Dramis, Mara Angeloni –Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS)

Riccardo De Lauretis, Mario Contaldi –Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA)

AUTHORS:

Chapter 1 – Executive Summary 

Chapter’s lead authors

Chapter 2 - National circumstances

Lead author: Andrea Gagna (ISPRA). Contributing authors: Antonella Bernetti (ISPRA), Antonio 

Caputo (ISPRA), Eleonora Di Cristofaro (ISPRA), Barbara Gonella (ISPRA), Ernesto Taurino 

(ISPRA), Marina Vitullo (ISPRA).

Chapter 3 – Greenhouse gas inventory

Lead authors: Daniela Romano (ISPRA) and Chiara Arcarese (ISPRA). Contributing Authors: 

Antonella Bernetti (ISPRA), Antonio Caputo (ISPRA), Mario Contaldi (ISPRA), Riccardo De Lauretis 

(ISPRA), Eleonora Di Cristofaro (ISPRA), Andrea Gagna (ISPRA), Barbara Gonella (ISPRA), Ernesto 

Taurino (ISPRA), Marina Vitullo (ISPRA).

Chapter 4 – Policies and measures

Lead author: Monica Pantaleoni (ISPRA). Contributing authors: Riccardo De Lauretis (ISPRA), 

Eleonora Di Cristofaro (ISPRA), Domenico Gaudioso (ISPRA), Barbara Gonella (ISPRA), Ernesto 

Taurino (ISPRA), Marina Vitullo (ISPRA). 

Chapter 5 – Projections and effects of policies and measures

Lead author: Antonio Caputo (ISPRA). Contributing authors: Mario Contaldi (ISPRA), Riccardo De 

Lauretis (ISPRA), Eleonora Di Cristofaro (ISPRA), Barbara Gonella (ISPRA), Monica Pantaleoni 

(ISPRA), Emanuele Peschi (ISPRA), Daniela Romano (ISPRA), Ernesto Taurino (ISPRA), Marina 

Vitullo (ISPRA).

Chapter 6 – Vulnerability assessment, climate change impacts and adaptation measures

Lead authors: Sergio Castellari (CMCC/INGV), Silvia Medri (CMCC) and Sara Venturini (CMCC).

Contributing authors: Daniela Pasella (IMELS), Luisa Pierantonelli (IMELS).

Chapter 7 – Financial resources and transfer of technology, including information under 

Articles 10 and 11 of the Kyoto Protocol

Lead authors: Emanuela Vignola (IMELS) and Alessandro Negrin (IMELS). Contributing authors: 

Giorgia Caropreso (IMELS), Alessandro Celestino (IMELS), Carmen Glorioso (IMELS), Roberta Ianna 

(IMELS), Vanessa Leonardi (IMELS), Alessandro Peru (IMELS), Federica Sprovieri, (IMELS), Fiamma 

Valentino (IMELS), Margherita Vitale (IMELS).

Chapter 8 – Research and systematic observations

Lead authors: Sergio Castellari (CMCC/INGV), Silvia Medri (CMCC) and Fabrizio Ciciulla (USAMCNMCA). Contributing authors: Vincenzo Artale (ENEA), Francesco Apadula (RSE Spa), Sandro 
Calmanti (ENEA), Paolo Cristofanelli (ISAC-CNR), Franco Desiato (ISPRA), Alcide di Sarra (ENEA), 

Nadia Pinardi (University of Bologna/INGV), Antonello Provenzale (ISAC-CNR), Mariangela Ravaioli 

(ISMAR CNR), Paolo Ruti (ENEA).

Chapter 9 – Education, training and public awareness

Lead author: Stefania Fusani (ISPRA). Contributing authors: Sandra Moscone (ISPRA), Stefania 

Calicchia (ISPRA), Daniela Antonietti (ISPRA), Fabrizio Ciocca (ISPRA), Antonella Ceccarelli

(ISPRA), Antonietta Licenziato (ISPRA), Maria Alessia Alessandro (ISPRA), Patrizia Polidori (ISPRA).

Annex – First Biennial Report

Lead authors: Monica Pantaleoni (ISPRA), Emanuele Peschi (ISPRA), Marina Vitullo (ISPRA), 

Emanuela Vignola (IMELS), Alessandro Negrin (IMELS), Stefania Fusani (ISPRA), Antonio Caputo 

(ISPRA), Daniela Romano (ISPRA).
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Summary

1 Executive Summary............................................................................................................7

1.1 National Circumstances....................................................................................................7

1.2 Greenhouse Gas Inventory ...............................................................................................9

1.3 Policies and measures.................................................................................................... 12

1.4 Projections and effects of policies and measures................................................................ 13

1.5 Vulnerability assessment, climate change impacts and adaptation measures ........................ 14

1.6 Financial resources and transfer of technology, including information under Articles 10 and 11 of 

the Kyoto Protocol................................................................................................................... 15

1.7 Research and systematic observations............................................................................. 15

1.8 Education, training and public awareness ......................................................................... 16

2 NATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES ............................................................................................18

2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 18

2.2 Generic information....................................................................................................... 18

2.3 Sector specific information ............................................................................................. 27

3 GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY ........................................................................................38

3.1 Greenhouse gas emission trends..................................................................................... 38

3.2 National System for preparing the Italian Greenhouse Gas Inventory .................................. 46

3.3 National registry ........................................................................................................... 55

4 POLICIES AND MEASURES................................................................................................59

4.1 Policy making process.................................................................................................... 59

4.2 Main policies and measures ............................................................................................ 63

4.3 Cross Sectoral policies ................................................................................................... 63

4.4 Energy Sectors ............................................................................................................. 67

4.5 No energy sectors ......................................................................................................... 89

4.6 Summary of policies and measures ................................................................................. 95

4.7 Costs analysis............................................................................................................. 104

4.8 Minimization of adverse effects in accordance with art.2 paragraph 3 of the Kyoto Protocol .. 104

4.9 Aviation and marine bunker fuels .................................................................................. 105

5 PROJECTIONS AND EFFECTS OF POLICIES AND MEASURES.............................................108

5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 108

5.2 WM scenario............................................................................................................... 110

5.3 WAM scenario ............................................................................................................. 112

5.4 Sector emissions ......................................................................................................... 113

5.5 Emissions from energy use........................................................................................... 114

5.6 Emissions from other sectors ........................................................................................ 123

5.7 The Kyoto mechanisms ................................................................................................ 129

5.8 Energy scenarios and effects of policies and measures ..................................................... 130

5.9 Total effect of policies up to 2012.................................................................................. 134

5.10 Total effect of policies post 2012 ................................................................................... 135

5.11 Sensitivity analysis and uncertainty ............................................................................... 137

5.12 Comparisons with previous National Communications ...................................................... 138

6 VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION MEASURES .

.......................................................................................................................................141

6.1 Expected impacts of climate change and vulnerability assessment..................................... 141

6.2 Adaptation ................................................................................................................. 150

6.3 References ................................................................................................................. 161

7 FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING INFORMATION 

UNDER ARTICLES 10 AND 11 OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL .......................................................167

7.1 Provision of New and additional resources ...................................................................... 167

7.2 Multilateral cooperation on climate change ..................................................................... 167

7.3 Bilateral cooperation with developing countries ............................................................... 172

7.4 Scientific co-operation ................................................................................................. 184

8 RESEARCH AND SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATION .................................................................197
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8.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 197

8.2 General policy on research and systematic observation.................................................... 197

8.3 Observation................................................................................................................ 201

8.4 Major Italian research institutions and organisations working in the field of Climate and Climate 

Change................................................................................................................................ 201

8.5 Major funding bodies in the field of Climate Change......................................................... 202

8.6 Research.................................................................................................................... 204

8.7 Systematic observation................................................................................................ 232

9 EDUCATION, TRAINING AND PUBLIC AWARENESS.........................................................242

9.1 Education and Public awareness.................................................................................... 242

9.2 Public access to information ......................................................................................... 252

9.3 Public participation ...................................................................................................... 253

9.4 Training ..................................................................................................................... 255

9.5 International cooperation ............................................................................................. 260

ANNEX ...................................................................................................................................267
6

Foreword

I am pleased to present the Italian Sixth National Communication under the United Nations Framework 

Convention on Climate Change. The National Communication also contains information required under 

the Kyoto Protocol and the first submission of the Biennial report as an Annex.

This Communication comes after an important period of environmental policy re-thinking and re-shaping, 

hinged in the National plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the National Energy 

Strategy both approved in March 2013. 

The new policy framework reflects a structural change of the economic and environmental paradigm 

undertaken in the last years: the aim of such change was to substantially move from a “simple” objective 

of decoupling economic growth and emissions to a more “complex” objective of fostering growth with 

clean technologies development. Green technological novelty, subsequent industrial applications and 

market diffusion can boost productivity and stabilize economic recovery.

The National plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the National Energy Strategy are 

essential to meet Italian commitments up to 2020. In particular regarding the Kyoto Protocol target, 

although measures implemented so far together with the economic crisis resulted in a noticeable 

decrease in emission levels in the last years a gap needs to be filled in: 2008-2012 average value shows 

National emissions have fallen 3.7 percent referred to 1990 assigned amount level.

The most updated estimates show that, taking into account the means already available, the gap still to 

be addressed is about 1% of the target. 

The National plan for the reduction of GHG emissions provides for the mechanism to close such gap. The 

Ministry for the Environment delivers a report containing such estimates and the possible ways to close 

the gap to the Committee for Economic Planning (CIPE) who is in charge for taking resolution.

For the period beyond Kyoto projections show that emissions up to 2020 will go on increasing, and 

additional measures are needed to meet Italian targets under the “Climate – Energy package”. The 

National plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions identifies a number of additional measures to 

meet the medium term goals already established and their full implementation will ensure the respect of 

such goals while putting the country on the right path towards the decarbonisation.

There are also clear evidences that there is a need to adapt to climate change impacts: a process to 

elaborate the national strategy for adaptation to climatic change has been started.

Whereas Italy will continue its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at national level, 

Italy believes that enhancing international cooperation with a view to reduce global emissions so as to 

hold the increase in global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius, will continue to be a major global 

challenge. 

Italy has invested significant resources to help developing countries adapt to climate change and develop 

on a low-emission path and wishes that future climate change negotiations will contribute to define an 

institutional framework to enhance such international cooperation. In such respect Italy welcomes the 

result of the latest United Nations climate conference of held in Warsaw and is ready to do its part to 

prepare the ground for the adoption by 2015 of a new legally-binding global agreement containing 

emission commitments by all countries and enhancing the institutional framework to promote sustainable 

development both in developing and developed countries.

Corrado Clini

UNFCCC National Focal Point
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1 Executive Summary

1.1 National Circumstances

In Italy the protection of the environment, ecosystem and cultural resources are under the exclusive 

competences of the central Government. The Italian Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea (IMELS) 

is also responsible for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol; under this framework, it has started the 

process for the adoption of the national strategy for adaptation to climatic change. The Inter-Ministerial 

Committee for Economic Planning (CIPE) is a collective governmental body chaired by the President of 

the Council of Ministers whose competences include also the climate change. In fact, the committee is in 

charge for taking the resolutions concerning the national plan for the reduction of emissions of gases 

responsible for the greenhouse effect. The latest CIPE resolution was adopted in 2013 in order to enable 

Italy to reach the goals set by the EU legislation by 2020. 

Demographic and social trends of countries are generally considered among the main driving forces for 

the emissions trends. Although changes in the national population have occurred over the last 20 years 

they have not directly affected the national trend of emissions significantly. According to the results of 

the 15th national survey, the national population in 2011 has increased compared to 2001, due to the 

migratory movements. The aging trend of population has been increasing because of a low birth rate and 

a continuous growth of the elders. Italy is the second European Union country with the oldest population. 

The two factors combined points out that the proportion of population of working age has been shrinking 

and even positive migratory movements from abroad cannot avoid the imbalance in the ratio of the 

young to the elders from occurring. The family size has been decreasing. In the period 1991-2011, the 

number of dwellings, the population and the number of families have increased at different growth rates. 

So, even if new buildings are more energy efficient, the increase of number of families and dwellings has 

also contributed to increasing residential energy demand through the last two decades.

Due to the climate profile, domestic heating is required through winter months and the use of air 

conditioning systems during summer months has been increasing in the last decade. As far as 

temperature is concerned, year 2012 was the 4th Italian warmest year since 1961. Since the ‘80s a 

change in the temperature trend for Italy has been identified: a more clear warming period had started in 

the last century. The indicators about extreme temperature trends confirm the positive thermal deviation 

of the year 2012. As for the average sea surface temperature the deviation from the reference period has 

been always positive for the last 16 years. In 2012 the highest sea surface temperature values were 

recorded over the whole time series. To date no statistically significant trend in national precipitation or 

concerning extremes of precipitation can be depicted. Changes of the average sea level are statistically 

not significant too; no relevant changes in the Mediterranean sea level have in fact been recorded 

compared to the reference time period.

Italy was the world’s ninth largest economy in 2012. During the last decade a global financial and 

economic crisis hit the advanced economies thus resulting in 2007-2009 into severe recession in the EU, 

Japan and the United States. Although a general recovery in the economies could be observed by the end 

of 2009 and in 2010, the growth rate of the major advanced economies, since 2011, has been 

decelerating especially in Europe. Between 2012 and 2013, Italy, like many advanced economies, has 

moved into recession again. As a consequence Italy’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2010 got back to 

the value of 2001. The driving sector of the national economy is the service sector, the industry related 

activities have been declining, agriculture and constructions have kept almost the same values up to 
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2010.

Italy is also the world’s ninth largest exporter of goods and the twelfth largest importer of goods. The 

Italian trade balance registered a deficit in 2009 and 2010 and a surplus in 2011 and 2012. The 

percentage change of exports of goods turned positive in 2010 but it had been decreasing since then. At 

a world scale the Italian exports and imports have been losing market shares. In 2010-2012 the Italian 

exports of goods were driven by: pharmaceuticals, energy products, metal products, iron & steel 

products and shoes. The imports of goods showed an increasing trend from 1990 to 2007 and a 

fluctuating trend afterwards, due to the fluctuation of the domestic demand through the last years. In 

2012 Italian imports came mainly from the EU and East Asia. In the same year, the main imported goods 

were energy products, chemical products and mechanical equipments.

Compared with others European countries, Italy’s energy primary consumption is characterized by a 

major use of oil and gas, a structural electricity imports, a weak coal contribution and the absence of 

nuclear power. The share of renewable energy in Italy’s energy supply mix has been gradually increasing 

since 1990 and it is higher compared with the OECD’s average, mostly due to hydropower.

In 2011, primary energy demand was about -2% compared to 2010, consumptions in the transport 

sector are stable; consumptions in the civil sector has increased driven mainly by the consumptions in 

the service sector; energy consumptions in the industry sector have been decreasing since 2004 

(consumptions in the petrochemical sector and to the energy consumptions for mechanics, textile and 

agri-food which have got back to the early ‘90s levels). The preliminary value for the national energy bill 

for 2012 is 4.1% of the GDP, during the ‘90s the average energy bill accounted for 1.5% of the GDP.

The energy dependence of Italy from abroad is high compared with the average of the EU27 countries (in 

2010, 82.1% in Italy and 54.1% in EU). In 2011 34% of the energy end-uses total consumption was

related to the tertiary sector, 31% to the transports sector and 24% to the industrial sector. Concerning 

the electric sector, more than 80% of the production is provided by thermoelectric power plants, the rest 

is covered by renewable energy sources (hydropower, wind, photovoltaic and landfill gas) whose weight 

has grown in the latest years. Italy’s energy intensity is lower than the EU average mainly due to the 

shift of the Italian economy from industrial activities to services. Despite the improvement of energy 

efficiency in the industry sector, the gap with the EU average has reduced in the recent years because 

consumption patterns in the civil sector have become more energy intensive.

As for passenger transportation, there is still the world highest concentration of private cars per capita. 

About 84% of the Italian population goes to work by private transportation means. The mobility demand 

and, particularly, the road transportation share have constantly increased in the period from 1990 to 

2011. The number of vehicles for road transportation has kept growing steadily over the last two 

decades, and the circulating passenger car fleet has been gradually aging.

The energy demand in the transportation sector has increased in the period 1990-2010, with significant 

increases in the consumption of natural gas, diesel, jet fuel and electricity. Transport sector keeps 

depending almost completely on oil. Under the EU legislation setting standards and mandatory targets in 

the manufacturing of new cars CO2 emission per km from new cars is targeted to decrease over time, in 

Italy CO2 emissions from passenger cars have been decreasing along the last two decades (2011 

emissions level is the same as in 1996).

Main drivers of greenhouse gases emissions trends for Agriculture are the number of animals, the 

variation of cultivated surface/crop production and use of nitrogen fertilizers. Trends and changes of 

these parameters at national level have been affected also by the implementation of a Common 
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Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the European legislation. Changes in livestock populations have occurred since 

1990. The total agricultural area, the utilized agricultural area and the number of agricultural holdings 

have been decreasing since 1982, resulting in the noticeable increase of the average size of the Italian 

agricultural holdings along the same years. As for the use of fertilizers, in the last decade the decrease in 

the use of mineral products with a corresponding increase of organic formulated products is in line with 

the CAP and it is also a consequence of the trend of the fertilizers market prices.

In Italy over the last two decades changes in the land use has resulted in the increase of the forested 

area, of the grassland area and of the settlement area; the reduction of cropland area compared to 1990 

areas is also observed. The Italian forested surface was about 35.8% of our national land surface in 

2010. Although the forest expansion has been decreasing during the last decade, the Italian forested 

area is spreading due to the dismissal of agriculture practices, mostly in mountain zones, and to the 

natural conversion of cultivated lands and grazing into forests. In 2012, forested areas affected by fires 

amount to approximately 47.6% of the total land surface burned by fire in the same year.

The production of municipal waste in Italy increased between 1990 and 2005, while it has remained 

approximately around 32 Mtonnes since then although a reduction trend can be observed for the last 

years in Italy, driven mainly by changes in life style and consumption patterns more than the 

enforcement of waste legislation. The international crisis of the economy has contributed too. In 2011 

approximately 31.38 Mtonnes of municipal waste were produced, corresponding to 528 kg/year per 

person. The production of industrial waste has been increasing since 1990: it accounted for about 3.8 

Mtonnes in 1990; it was about 8.1 Mtonnes in 2011. Although separate collection rates vary across the 

country, an increasing overall trend since 1996 can be observed but figures are still lower than national 

targets set by the legislation. Since early ‘90s landfilling as a waste disposal practice has been decreasing 

thanks also to changes into national policies which support other waste treatments (e.g. incineration; 

mechanical-biological treatment; composting; anaerobic digestion; etc). The number of incineration 

plants has increased in 2011; more than 95% of the total amount of incinerated waste was treated in 

installations with energy recovery systems. The production of special waste has been increasing since 

1990; the correlation between special waste production trend and the Italian GDP trend is good, so 

especially for the last years the ups and downs in the special waste production trend are related to the 

trend of the national economy. It is worth noting that the amount of special waste destined to the 

recovery of material has been increasing for the last years and the landfilling of special waste has been 

reducing for the same years.

1.2 Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Total national greenhouse gas emissions, expressed in CO2-equivalent, excluding emissions and removals 

from land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF), have decreased by 5.8% between 1990 and 

2011, varying from 519 to 489 million tons (Mt) of CO2-equivalent. The year 1990 is the base year set by 

Italy for all greenhouse gases.

The most important greenhouse gas, CO2, which accounts for 84.7% of total emissions in CO2-equivalent 

in 2011, shows a decrease by 4.7% between 1990 and 2011. In the energy sector, in particular, CO2

emissions, in 2011, are 2.8% lower than in 1990. CH4 and N2O emissions are equal to 7.5% and 5.5%, of 

the total CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions, in 2011, respectively. CH4 levels have decreased by 

16.4% from 1990 to 2011, while N2O has decreased by 28.1%. As to the other greenhouse gases, HFCs 
10

account for 1.9% of total emissions, PFCs and SF6 are equal to 0.3% and 0.1% of total emissions, 

respectively. 

The distribution of the different sectors in terms of total emissions remains nearly unvaried over the 

period considered.

Specifically, the energy sector is the largest contributor to national total GHG emissions with a share, in 

2011, of 82.7%. Emissions from this sector have decreased by 3.2% from 1990 to 2011. Substances with 

decrease rates were CO2, whose levels reduced by 2.8% from 1990 to 2011 and accounts for 97.1% of 

the total in the energy sector, and CH4 which showed a reduction of 25.3% but its share out of the 

sectoral total is only 1.7%; N2O, on the other hand, showed an increase of 6.8% from 1990 to 2011 but 

it is not relevant on total emissions, accounting for 1.2%. In terms of total CO2 equivalent, in the period 

1990-2011, energy industries emissions have decreased by 4.4%, accounting for 32.4% of total 

emissions. On the other hand, an increase in emissions was observed in the transport sector, and in the 

other sectors, about 14.3% and 9.7%, from 1990 to 2011, respectively; in 2011 these sectors, 

altogether, account for 50.4% of total emissions. 

For the industrial processes sector, emissions showed a decrease of 17.6% from the base year to 2011. 

By substance, CO2 emissions account for 63.8% and reduced by about 29.0%, CH4 decreased by 46.4%, 

but it accounts only for 0.2%, while N2O, whose levels share 0.9% of total industrial emissions, 

decreased by 95.6%. The decrease in emissions is mostly to be attributed to a decrease in chemical 

industry and metal production emissions. The decrease of GHG emissions in the chemical industry (-

81.1%) is due to the decreasing trend of the emissions from nitric acid and adipic acid production (this 

last process sharply reduced its emissions, due to a fully operational abatement technology). Emissions 

from metal production decreased by 57.8% mostly for the different materials used in the pig iron and 

steel production processes. A considerable increase was observed in F-gases emissions (about 250.5%), 

whose level on total sectoral emissions is 35.1%. 

It should be noted that, except for the motivations explained, the economic recession has had a 

remarkable influence on the production levels of most of the industries affecting the energy and industrial 

process sectors, with a consequent notable reduction of total emissions, especially in the last three years.

Emissions from the solvent and other product use sector, which refer to CO2 and N2O emissions, 

decreased by 32.5% from 1990 to 2011. The reduction is mainly related to a decrease by 34.3% in CO2

emissions, which account for 65.2% of the sector. The reduction in CO2 levels is explained by the 

decrease of emissions from paint application sector (-35.6%), which accounts for 50.4% of total CO2

emissions from this sector, and to the decrease of emissions from other use of solvents in related 

activities (-23.8%), such as domestic solvent use other than painting, application of glues and adhesives, 

printing industries, fat edible and non edible oil extraction, vehicle dewaxing, glass wool enduction, which 

account for 43.9% of the total. The level of N2O emissions shows a decrease of 29.0%, accounting for 

34.8% of total emissions in the sector in 2011.

For agriculture, emissions refer to CH4 and N2O levels, which account for 43.1% and 56.9% of the 

sectoral total, respectively. The decrease observed in the total emissions (-17.7%) was mostly due to the 

decrease of CH4 emissions from enteric fermentation (-12.4%), which account for 32.1% of sectoral 

emissions. Main drivers behind these downward trends are the reduction in the number of animals, 

especially cattle which have decreased by 23.9 between 1990 and 2011 and contribute with 77.7% to 

total CH4 from enteric fermentation. A decrease of N2O from agricultural soils (-21.1%) was also 

observed, which accounts for 45.8% of sectoral emissions affected by the variation in cultivated 
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surface/crop production as well as the use of nitrogen fertilizers. In addition, there has been a significant 

increase in the recovery of the amount of biogas produced from animal manure and used in the energy 

sector for the production of electricity and combined electricity and heat production in the last years thus 

contributing to the reduction of total emissions.

Finally, emissions from the waste sector decreased by 10.9% from 1990 to 2011, mainly due to a 

decrease in the emissions from solid waste disposal on land (-17.8%), which account for 71.5% of waste 

emissions. The most important greenhouse gas in this sector is CH4 which accounts for 87.5% of the 

sectoral emissions and shows a decrease of 11.4% from 1990 to 2011. N2O emission levels increased by 

5.0%, whereas CO2 decreased by 53.8%; these gases account for 11.2% and 1.3%, respectively.

Italy has established a national system, which includes all institutional, legal and procedural 

arrangements for estimating emissions and removals of greenhouse gases, as well as reporting and 

archiving inventory information. 

The National System for the Italian Greenhouse Gas Inventory was established by the Legislative Decree 

n° 51 of March 7th 2008. The Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) is the single 

entity in charge of the development and compilation of the national greenhouse gas emission inventory. 

The Institute annually draws up a document which describes the national system including all updated 

information on institutional, legal and procedural arrangements for estimating emissions and removals of 

greenhouse gases and for reporting and archiving inventory information; the plan is submitted to the 

Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS) for approval.

As for the official consideration of the inventory, the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea is 

responsible for endorsement and for communication to the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention 

on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. The inventory is also submitted to the European Commission 

in the context of the Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Mechanism. 

A complete description of the Italian National System can be found in the document “National 

Greenhouse Gas Inventory System in Italy. Year 2013”, publicly available on website at the following 

address:

http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/en/publications/reports?set_language=en

As single entity, ISPRA is responsible for all aspects of national inventory preparation, reporting and 

quality management. A specific unit of the Institute is in charge of the management of the emission 

inventory. Activities include the collection and processing of data from different data sources, the 

selection of appropriate emissions factors and estimation methods, the compilation of the inventory 

following the QA/QC procedures, the assessment of uncertainty, the preparation of the National 

Inventory Report and the reporting through the Common Reporting Format, the response to the review 

processes, the updating and data storage. The website address where all the information related to the 

inventory can be found is: http://www.sinanet.isprambiente.it/it/sia-ispra/serie-storiche-emissioni.

ISPRA is also responsible for the administration of the national section of the Union Registry under the 

European Directive 2009/29/EC, as set out by the Legislative Decree N. 30 of 13 March 2013. The 

Institute performs these tasks under the supervision of the national Competent Authority.

The registry is operated by the European Union through the centralization of the EU ETS operations into a 

single European Union registry, as established by the Directive 2009/29/EC. With a view to increase

efficiency in the operations of their respective national registries, the EU Member States who are also 

Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (25) plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway decided to operate their 
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registries in a consolidated manner in accordance with all relevant decisions applicable to the 

establishment of Party registries, in particular Decision 13/CMP.1 and decision 24/CP.8. 

1.3 Policies and measures

The policies and measures taken by Italy to mitigate climate change are driven by the commitment 

undertaken under:

- the Kyoto Protocol target for the period 2008-2012: in the framework of the EU Burden Sharing 

Agreement, Italy has committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 6.5% below baseyear levels (1990).

- the “EU Climate Energy Package” for the period 2013-2020: the 8th and 9th March 2007 

conclusion of the European Council named “Integrated Energy and Climate Change Package” 

(IECCP) commits to European Member States to achieve by 2020, 20% reduction of EU 

greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990, 20% reduction in energy use to be achieved by 

improving energy efficiency, 20% use of renewable energy, 10% use of biofuels in the transport 

sector. A comprehensive set of legislation act was agreed at EU level and is being implemented to 

reach those objectives and according with that all the national emissions should be divided, 

starting from year 2013, in two main sectors: 

EU – ETS sector: the EU-ETS was established by the Directive 2003/87/EC, this directive has 

been recently amended by the Directive 2008/101/EC of 19 November 2008 in order to 

include the aviation sector and by Directive 2009/29/EC of 23 April 2009 that introduces 

substantive changes in the scheme. The most important one relates to the cap-setting 

procedure, where the new system will be no longer based on national-cap setting but on an 

EU single wide cap to be allocated to each operator on the basis of benchmarks.

ESD (Effort Sharing Decision) sector: at 2020 Italy should reduce of 13% the GHG emissions, 

respect the 2005, in all the sectors not covered by the EU ETS, such as transport, civil, 

agriculture and waste, according with the “Decision n. 406/2009/EC of the European 

Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the effort of Member States to reduce their 

greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Community’s greenhouse gas emission reduction 

commitments up to 2020 (ESD)”.

At national level to achieve the Kyoto Protocol and also the EU 2020 targets (IECCP) an updated national 

strategy has been approved by the CIPE (Inter-Ministerial Committee for Economic Planning) the 8th of 

March 2013, with the Deliberation n. 17/2013. Moreover, the 8th march 2013 the Ministry of Economic 

Development and the Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea have approved a decree outlining a new 

“National Energy Strategy”. This strategy identifies a path to achieve the 2020 targets, related to energy 

efficiency and renewable energy use, and contains a list of measures that should be implemented; this 

list of the measures is consistent with ones reported in the CIPE resolution

The policies and measures envisaged in Annex 1 of the CIPE deliberation are included into the “With 

measure scenario”, whereas the measures reported in Annex 2 are included into the “With Additional 

Measure scenario”; these measures take into account the EU, national and local policies and could be 

gathered in three main groups:

- Cross sectoral policies include the Legislative Decree N. 28 of 3rd March 2011 that defines the 

mechanisms, the incentives and the institutional, financial and legal tools necessary to achieve 

the 2020 targets regarding the renewable energy use; the 28th December 2012 decree, the so 
13

called “Conto Termico” decree, that implements the incentive scheme introduced by Legislative 

Decree 28/2011, in particular encourages small-scale energy efficiency measures and the 

production of thermal energy from renewable sources; the White Certificates system, aimed at 

promoting energy efficiency and delivering emission reductions in all the energy end-use sectors, 

this measure is implemented up to 2016 and a further extension till 2020 is foreseeable, so after 

2016 it has been considered as planned ; the “Fondo Rotativo di Kyoto”; the legislative decree 

20/2007 on the ecodesign of energy-using products and the structural funds 2007-2013, both 

considered as implemented measures.

- Energy measures that include cogeneration currently supported by incentive schemes, energy 

efficiency of thermoelectric power plants; energy efficiency in the civil sector through specific 

actions targeted for existing and new buildings and appliances; mandatory use of biofuels and 

infrastructural projects considered as implemented measures, intermodal and fleet update 

measures in the transport sector.

- No Energy measures that include implementation of the most advanced technology to reduce the 

N2O emissions in plants for the production of nitric acid; emission reduction from agricultural soil 

and electricity generation from animal waste in the agriculture sector; compliance with separate 

collection targets and reduction of biodegradable waste disposed into landfills in the waste sector. 

All this measures have been considered implemented.

The total GHG reduction for the implemented measure can be estimated as 37.85 Mt CO2eq at 2015 and 

51.09 Mt CO2eq at 2020, regarding the planned measures the reduction impact can be estimated as 

11.81 Mt CO2eq at 2015 and 65.97 Mt CO2eq at 2020.

1.4 Projections and effects of policies and measures

The Italian target under the Kyoto Protocol is to reduce total GHG emissions by 6.5% over the 2008-2012

periods with respect to 1990. After the review of the Italian initial report under the Kyoto Protocol 

(FCCC/IRR/2007/ITA) the objective has been established as 483.255 MtCO2/year. The emissions for

the latest available inventory year (2011) reports 5.8% decrease with reference to 1990. The

Kyoto objective for EU (EU-15) is to attain an 8% emissions reduction. The target will be met

taking into account the measures for the forestry sector and the use of flexible mechanisms.

Two Scenarios of greenhouse gas emissions to 2020/2030 has been estimated, with starting year 2010, 

the WM (with measures) and WAM (with additional measures). The former includes all measures

implemented or adopted up to 2010, while the latter includes all planned measures. The scenario has

been geared taking account of the most recent energy scenarios, briefly described in the paragraph

“Energy scenarios and effects of policies and measures”, and specific estimates on non-energy source

emissions.

Scenarios data are reported by sector and by gas, with a brief explanation of trends. The expected

effect of the use of Kyoto mechanisms is also reported. Moreover the effect on 2020 EU target is 

reported.

The GHGs emissions from the combustion of energy sources are drawn from the Markal – Italy model,

based on the well known Markal software. The WM scenario shows that gross inland consumption in 

2020, estimated according to Eurostat methodology, will be about 184 Mtoe, with an average yearly 

growth rate of 0.7% from 1990, compared with an estimated average growth rate of 0.2% in 2000-

2010. In 2030 the increase in gross inland consumption compared to 2010 is about 7.7 Mtoe. According 
14

to the WAM scenario there will be a decrease of gross inland consumption of 10.1 Mtoe from 2010 to 

2020 and a slight increase of 0.4 Mtoe up to 2030.

As concerns the Kyoto target, in the 2008-2012 period the yearly average of total emissions estimated 

taking into account all the reductions achievable by existing measures (including the purchase of CERs / 

ERUs), will be equal to 497.1 Mt CO2. The contribution of ETS sectors to meet the Kyoto Protocol target is 

201.6 MtCO2/year, corresponding to the total quantity of AAU allocated to the sector. The distance from 

the Kyoto objective is equal, on average, to the sum of the allocated emissions to ETS sector and the 

actual emissions of non ETS sector. According to the latest emission estimates available in April 2013, 

this “gap” is equal to 20.2 MtCO2/year. In addition, to reach the Kyoto target should be considered the 

Removal Units (RMUs) by LULUCF activities pursuing article 3, paragraph 3 and 4 of the Kyoto Protocol.

Also total effects of policies for the post-2012 period, with reference to the 2020 EU objectives, are 

evaluated. Considering the emissions according to the WM scenario the targets should be achieved in 

2013 and 2015, while the gap should be about 3.1 MtCO2eq in 2020. The mitigation options identified to 

"fill" the gap account for about 65.97 Mt CO2 in 2020.

The scenario takes into account the effects of the ongoing economic crisis that hit all national activities 

and the evolution trend is based on planned recovery from the economic crisis and development of low 

carbon technologies, mainly for the electricity generation sector. It comes in particular from certain 

assumptions relating to social, demographic and economic circumstances of the country, assumptions 

used to determine the evolution of the demand for energy services, which is the basis of the scenarios.

Finally, an historical review of projections from different National Communications is reported. The 

effects of economic crisis started in 2008 has shocked the previous projections for 2010 and for the 

Kyoto period for energy and no energy sectors, though the methodology (IPCC guidelines) to estimate

the emissions of other gases than CO2 and from no energy sectors has changed over years, therefore 

projections have been developed with different methodology and assumptions and cannot be compared.

1.5 Vulnerability assessment, climate change impacts and adaptation measures

Italy along with the other Mediterranean countries most likely will undertake particularly negative impacts 

over the next decades, which, coupled with the effect of anthropogenic stress on natural resources, make 

Italy particularly vulnerable to the future climate change.

Expected impacts of climate change and key vulnerabilities for Italy can be identified as the following:

worsening of the existing conditions of high stress on water resources;

alterations of the hydro-geological regime;

increasing soil degradation, higher risk of soil erosion, landslide and desertification;

higher risk of forest fires and droughts over the forests;

higher risk of biodiversity and natural ecosystems loss;

higher risk of flooding and erosion of coastal zones;

reduction of agriculture productivity;

increase of negative effects on human health;

increase of losses in other key national economic sectors (energy, tourism, infrastructure, 

transport and urban settlements);

increase of negative impacts on cultural heritage.

The Italian Ministry for the Environment, land and sea (IMELS) has the primary responsibility for the 

establishment and preparation of a national strategy and/or action for adaptation to climate change. The 
15

IMELS focuses on the integration (mainstreaming) of adaptation into sectoral policies, while Regional 

Governments are entrusted with the implementation of local adaptation plans of action; some regions 

have started working on adaptation, particularly with respect to aspects such as research and monitoring.

Italy has started in 2012 an institutional process toward a National Adaptation Strategy (NAS), which 

most likely will be concluded in the first semester of 2014. In this context an impacts and vulnerability 

assessment has been elaborated with a large contribution by the most relevant national scientific 

institutions and a participated process has been put in place in order to consider the public opinion. 

Several adaptation measures have been already carried out in the context of environment protection, 

natural hazards prevention, sustainable management of natural resources and health protection. These 

measures range from legal frameworks to monitoring, surveillance of early impacts and early warning 

systems to practical actions. Implemented adaptation is most developed in the following national sectors: 

human health, coastal protection, agriculture, desertification and water resources. 

1.6 Financial resources and transfer of technology, including information under Articles 10 

and 11 of the Kyoto Protocol

The Italian Government deems that achieving significant GHG emission reductions requires a progressive 

diffusion of new technologies, especially in developing countries. Therefore, its approach has been always 

keen to promote technology transfer as international response to the global climate change challenge.

The Italian Government has increased its efforts on international activities on climate change, over the 

past four years. Italian’s priorities on this issue are mostly addressed to:

• sustain the multilateral funds, dedicated to reduce the impact of human activities on climate 

change, and support to adaptation measures;

• support mitigation and adaptation in most vulnerable countries, particularly: Balkan region, Brazil, 

China, and Pacific Small Islands;

• strengthen the capacity building of least developing countries.

Many of the Italian adaptation, mitigation, capacity building and technology transfer programmes are 

administrated by bilateral agreements. However, Italy plays a pivotal role in some significant multilateral 

organizations, through such as the Global Bioenergy Partnership and the Mediterranean Renewable 

Programme.

Italy has always taken part in high level meetings on climate change as well as in international economic 

fora, namely Group of Eight 8, Group of Twenty and Major Economies Forum. In this context, it has 

contributed to reaching several results, such as: the constitution of REDD+ mechanism.

Italy has provided a total amount of about 192 million € of new and additional financial resources for 

climate change programmes in developing countries, since the Fifth National Communication.

For the elaboration of this Communication, Italy has used the UNFCCC’s common tabular format of the 

biannual report for the year 2011-2012, and previous tabular format for the years 2009-2010.

1.7 Research and systematic observations

The Italian system aimed to climate research and systematic observation includes several universities, 

public and private institutions and organizations. A comprehensive observational climate network is 

present in Italy and contributes significantly to international programs involving ocean and space-based 

measurements. The climate research covers different aspects, such as climate observations, climate 
16

modelling, climatic impacts assessments and mitigation and adaption policies and technologies. The 

major Italian funding bodies for climate research are Ministries and National Agencies.

1.8 Education, training and public awareness

The trend in the awareness-raising initiatives specifically dedicated to climate change, over the last three 

years, had a decline at national level, compared to previous years, while it increased at local level. On the 

other hand, there is a growing commitment to raise awareness on sustainable use of resources, in 

particular energy and renewable energy. 

Starting from the assumption that working with young people is the most effective tool to build up a 

conscious citizenship in relation to environmental issues and in order to set up an effective educational 

path, it is essential to carry out a proper training of trainers and to update courses on specific 

environmental issues. To this aim, the National Programme for Environmental Education, Information and 

Training (IN.F.E.A), coordinated by the Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea and by the Regions, 

has been an effective operational tool at National level for the promotion and realization of educational 

interventions on the territory.

However, the real key actors in promoting and implementing innovative methods for teaching and 

learning and raising awareness on climate change issues in Italy are the Municipalities, the Regional and 

Provincial Administrations and Regional Environmental Agencies (ARPAs). Among these, the most 

engaged in education and training activities are the Trentino and the Emilia Romagna Regions. 

Besides local administrations, an important role is also played by the NGOs which are very active in 

public participation and awareness initiatives on the theme of climate change, especially towards young 

people.

In this National Communication, as recommended by the ERT, the activities and initiatives organized by 

the citizens and/or by the Environmental NGOs, in addition to those ones promoted by national and local 

public administrations were also reported, as requested by, and accordingly to, UNFCCC guidelines. 

The major economic crisis that Italy has been going through for some years now did not allow 

concentrating more efforts in many new large investments in international cooperation projects 

specifically dedicated to spreading awareness on climate change. 

However, cooperation activities are continuing in the framework of existing Memorandum of 

Understanding (MoU), such as the Sino-Italian Cooperation Program for Environmental Protection and 

bilateral agreements between the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea and the Ministries of 

Environment /Energy of the Balkan countries. 

It is also worth mentioning the commitment of the Italian Civil Protection Department in implementing 

two important projects, with EU financing, for climate-related capacity development and strengthening 

institutional capacity in developing country Parties: the Euromed Programme on “Prevention, 

Preparedness and Response to Natural and Man-made Disasters” (PPRD South), aimed at improving Civil 

Protection at international, national and local levels, in the South Mediterranean Region, and 'EVRECA! 

project “European Volunteers for Response of Emergencies in the Caribbean” whose main objective is to 

define guidelines and standards for the recruitment and training of volunteers in the field of emergency 

management and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) activities.

Furthermore, it should be highlighted the important contribution of the EvK2CNR Committee, an 

autonomous, non-profit Italian association, which promotes scientific and technological research in key 

high-mountain regions. Among its activities EvK2CNR launched the SHARE project “Stations at High 
17

Altitude for Research on the Environment” an observational network of international and institutional 

collaborating partners (UNEP, WMO, NASA, ESA and IUCN) with the aim to promote continuous scientific 

observations in key high-mountain regions able to contribute to knowledge on regional and global climate 

change.
18

2 NATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES1

2.1 Introduction

This chapter contains relevant information concerning Italy which helps understanding the national data 

on emissions trend (which are presented in chapter 3 of this document) and the factors that produce 

them. The main drivers of the emissions trend, according to the IPCC, are discussed, too, specifically: 

population dynamics; the rate of urbanization; the mobility for work and study reasons; employment 

rate; national economy indicators and a short analysis of the most significant macro sectors.

2.2 Generic information

2.2.1 Government profile

Italy is a bicameral parliamentary Republic administratively divided into 20 Regions which are part of the 

constitutional structure of the State. Thus in Italy a sovereign public entity coexists with other territorial 

entities, Provinces and Municipalities are lower-level territorial entities too.

The Constitutional law n.3 of 2001 has deeply modified the attributions of powers between the central 

and the local Governments with the aim to establish a system of administrative federalism. The Regions 

have legislative powers for matters not expressly reserved to the exclusive competence of the central 

Government and have the responsibility to administer matters on which they legislate. The Constitutional 

Law also rearranged the distribution of administrative functions foreseeing an enhanced administrative 

role for municipalities.

The protection of the environment, of the ecosystem and cultural resources are under the exclusive 

competences of the central Government. In particular the Italian Ministry for the Environment Land and 

Sea (IMELS) was established in 1986 as the Italian Ministry for the Environment and Territory and 

renamed as IMELS in 2006. The IMELS is responsible for sustainable development, protection of territory, 

pollution and industrial risks, international protection of the environment, appraisal of environmental 

impact, nature conservation, waste and cleanup, and protection of seas and inland waters. The IMELS is 

also committed to promoting and supporting international partnership and cooperation towards global 

sustainable development. In some other sectors as the energy production, transport and distribution, the 

central Government and the Regions have concurrent legislative powers. Regarding climate change the 

IMELS is responsible for elaborating the national plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to be 

proposed for adoption to the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Economic Planning2(CIPE) – a collective 

governmental body chaired by the President of the Council of Ministers3. The IMELS has also started the 

process to elaborate the national strategy for adaptation to climatic change (see chapter 6 of this 

document) pursuant to the adoption of the EU adaptation strategy in April 2013.

The national energy policy is within the competences of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, 

the determination of the policy at the specific sector level is based on the general guidelines set by the 

Government as a whole and by Parliament.

 

1

Lead author: Andrea Gagna (ISPRA); Contributing authors: Antonella Bernetti (ISPRA), Antonio Caputo (ISPRA), 

Eleonora Di Cristofaro (ISPRA), Barbara Gonella (ISPRA), Ernesto Taurino (ISPRA), Marina Vitullo (ISPRA). 

2

 http://www.cipecomitato.it/it/index.html

3 CIPE’s resolution n. 17/2013 was adopted to enable Italy to contribute in the achievements of the goals set by 

Decision EC/406/2009 (on the efforts of Member States to reduce their GHG emissions to meet the EU’s GHG emission 

reduction commitments up to 2020). The measures to be taken are discussed in chapter 4 of this document.
19

2.2.2 Population profile, urban structure and building stock

Demographic and social trends in countries are generally considered among the main driving forces for 

the emissions trends. Although changes in the national population have occurred (Figure 2.1) over the 

last 20 years they have not directly affected the national trend of emissions significantly. The national 

population was 56.744 million in 1991 (13th national survey) and 56.960 million in 2001 (14th national 

survey) while it was 59.433 million on October 2011 when the 15th national survey was carried out by the 

Italian national institute of statistics (ISTAT)4. According to the results of the survey the increase in 

population, 4.3% compared to 2001, is due to the migratory movements that counterbalance the 

negative natural trend. In 2011 there were approximately 3 million people more than in 2002 living in 

Italy; the peaks in migratory movements occurred in 2003-2004, in 2007-2008 and in 2009-2010. Since 

2007 the overall trend has been decreasing, in particular in 2011 it was -13.8% compared to 20105. The 

Italian population is expected to reach 63.5 million in 2031. 

Figure 2.1 - The population of Italy along the last two decades

Source: ISTAT (the Italian National Institute of Statistics)

About 46% of the resident population lives in northern Italy, about 20% of the population lives in central 

Italy, about 23% of the population lives in southern Italy and the remaining 11% live in the islands 

(Figure 2.2). Based on the official statistics, increases in the resident population since 1991 have 

occurred above all in northern and central Italy (especially in north-eastern Italy), minor increases have 

occurred in resident population of southern and insular Italy. The distribution of the population may have 

implications for transport demand and for the development of energy supply infrastructure.

 

4 http://demo.istat.it/ , ISTAT

5 http://noi-italia.istat.it/ , ISTAT
20

Figure 2.2 - Distribution of the Italian population among four statistical regions

Source: ISTAT, the Italian National Institute of Statistics

The aging trend of population has been increasing due to a low birth rate (about 1.39 children per woman 

in 2011) and a continuous growth of the elders. Italy is the second European Union country with the 

oldest population: on 1st January 2012 the median age of the Italian population was 43.5 years (41.2 

years is the median age in the EU27) and the Italian old age index was 147.2% (112% is the average 

value in the EU27). The extremely elderly people, people aged 80 and older, were 6% of the population 

in 2011 and 4.4% in 2002; they represent a considerable and growing portion of the Italian population

(Figure 2.3).

A low birth rate reduces the younger age groups and produces aging from the “foundation” of the 

population pyramid, an increasing age index (Figure 2.4, and 2.5) describes the aging “at the top” of the 

population pyramid. The two factors combined points out that the proportion of population of working age 

has been shrinking and those even positive migratory movements from abroad cannot avoid the 

imbalance in the ratio of the young to the elders from occurring.

Figure 2.3 - Distribution of Italian population in age classes through the last three 

decades

Source: ISTAT, the Italian National Institute of Statistics
21

Figure 2.4 - Age index in Italy along the last decade (EU average values for 1991 and 

2011 are in red)

Source: ISTAT, the Italian National Institute of Statistics

Figure 2.5 - Birth rate in Italy along the last decade and birth rates in 1971 and 1991

Source ISTAT, the Italian National Institute of Statistics

Another characteristic which may affect efficiency consumption patterns and emissions is the average 

family size (Figure 2.6). In general small average family size implies greater consumptions, because of a 

larger acquisition and use of durable goods as household appliances, cars, etc., previously shared among 

a greater number of people. According to the results of annual surveys concerning Italian families, over 

the last decade more than 90% of the families lives in dwellings with domestic heating (92% in 2009), a 

washing machine (97,4% in 2009) and a dishwasher (42.2% in 2009); the share of families living in 

dwellings with an air conditioning system has been increasing since 2001 (10.7% in 2001; 30.8% in 

2009)6. In Italy, according to our last census, there are about 22 millions of families with an average size 

of 2.6 people per family. The family size has been decreasing from 3.4 to 2.6 in the period 1971-2001, in 

2010 it was 2.4 people per family7.

 

6

“La vita quotidiana nel 2009” Indagine multiscopo annuale sulle famiglie, ISTAT

7

ISTAT
22

Figure 2.6 - Average family size in Italy along the last decade

Source: ISTAT, the Italian National Institute of Statistics

Another factor that affects the Italian GHG emissions per capita is the mobility demand for work and 

study, which is due to the mismatch between the residential areas and the areas where the economic 

activities are concentrated, the so-called local labour market areas. Based on the official statistics it is 

possible to state that about 10% of the Italian population walk to work, while 90% goes to work by public 

or private transportation means. Specifically, between 82%-84% of people goes to work by private 

transportation means, between 13%-15% of people use public transport to go to work, approximately 

3%-4% of people goes to work by bicycle. Moreover, it takes up to 15 minutes to get to work to 70% of 

people, while it takes more than 30 minutes to get to work to 30% of people. 

The population density in Italy has increased in the last decade from 189.7 inhabitants per km2in 2002, 

to 201.5 inhabitants per km2in 2011. In fact in Italy there are 8,101 municipalities: 5,836 (about 72%) 

have less than 5,000 inhabitants (17% of the Italian population); 2,220 municipalities (about 27%) have 

a number of inhabitants ranging from 5,000 to 100,000 (60% of the Italian population); the remaining 

51 municipalities have more than 100,000 inhabitants (about 24% of the Italian population) which also 

correspond to about 3.7% of the total national area. On 31st December 2010, 51 municipalities had a 

population exceeding 100,000 inhabitants: 27 municipalities out of 51 had more than 150,000 

inhabitants, 6 out of 51 more than 500,000 and 2 out of 51 (Rome and Milan) had more than 1,000,000 

inhabitants.

As regards the building stock, the most recent census data, show that in Italy there were about 19.7 

million of occupied dwellings in 1991 and 24 million in 2011. In the period 1991-2011, the number of 

dwellings has increased by about 22%, the population by about 5% and the number of families of around 

26%. So, even if new buildings are more energy efficient, the increase of number of families and 

dwellings has also contributed to increasing residential energy demand through the last two decades.

2.2.3 Climate and geographic profile

Italy is located in the Southern part of Europe and includes the Italian peninsula, that from the Alps 

stretches into the Mediterranean Sea, and several islands including Sicily (the largest in the 

Mediterranean Sea) and Sardinia. The Alps mountain range is the Italian natural northern border which 

separates Italy from the rest of Europe. The total national area is 301,340 km2, about 40% of the total 

national area is mountainous.

In Italy about 871 areas can be found in the 2010 revised list of protected areas:

24 National Parks, 
23

27 Marine Protected Areas, 

147 State Natural Reserves, 

3 National Protected Areas, 

134 Regional Natural Parks, 

365 Regional Natural Reserves, 

171 Regional Natural Protected Areas

About 10.5% of the national surface over land is included in protected areas. 

The Italian peninsula lies between latitudes 47° and 35° N and longitudes 6° and 18° E, it is nearly in the 

middle of the temperate area of the boreal hemisphere.

Being Italy surrounded by sea, Italy’s climate is temperate Mediterranean.

From Alps to Sicily there are 11 latitude degrees. The peninsula is divided in two versants from 

Apennines and the continental part of the country is surrounded by Alps.

Italy is formally divided in four climates:

Alpine climate, dominant on Alps and northern and central Apennines, characterized by night and 

winter low temperatures and moist summer;

Mediterranean climate, in the island and in the southern Italy, characterized by mild 

temperatures and moist winter;

Peninsular climate, peculiar of the central part of the peninsula, characterized by mild 

temperatures along the coast and in the prompt hinterland (in the middle where the altitude is 

high there is an alpine climate), moist in spring and autumn;

Po valley climate, with low temperatures in the winter, high in the summer, moist in spring and 

autumn.

With these features domestic heating is required through winter months and the use of air conditioning 

systems during summer months has been increasing in the last decade.

Based on the information provided by the National System of climate data (SCIA)8 every year after 2000 

is included in the time series of the 14 warmest observed years at world scale. Year 2012 was the 4th

Italian warmest year (1994, 2000, 2003 and 2012) since 1961 (+1.31°C). The following Figure 2.7 shows 

the annual thermal deviation at world scale and in Italy compared to the reference climatic period 1961-

1990.

 

8

“Gli indicatori del clima in Italia nel 2012”, Rapporto n. 36/2012, ISPRA
24

Figure 2.7 - Time series of the inland average thermal deviation at world scale and in 

Italy, compared to normal climatic values 1961-1990

Sources: NCDC/NOAA and ISPRA. Data processed by ISPRA.

Since the ‘80s a change in the temperature trend for Italy has been identified: a more clear warming 

period had started in the last century. The indicators about extreme temperature trends (table 2.1) 

confirm the positive thermal deviation of the year 2012.

Table 2.1 - Extreme temperature indicators in Italy: value referred to year 2012

Extreme temperature Indicators Values in 2012 (number of days/nights 

vs reference values 1961-1990)

frost days -1

tropical nights +25

summer days +23

heat waves +28

In fact compared to the reference period 1961-1990, over the last two decades the number of frost days 

(with a minimum temperature less than 0° C), has been lower, the number of tropical nights (minimum 

temperature superior to 20° C),the number of summer days (maximum temperature greater than 25° C) 

and the number of heat waves, have been higher.

As for the average sea surface temperature the deviation from the reference period has been always 

positive for the last 16 years. In 2012 the highest sea surface temperature values were recorded over the 

whole time series.

In 2012 the annual mean precipitation over Italy was -10% compared to the reference period values 

(1951-1980): -9% in the North and Centre of Italy (cumulative precipitation has been lower on 24 out of 

the last 32 years compared to the reference period); -12% in the South of Italy (cumulative precipitation 

has been lower on 27 out of the last 32 years compared to the reference period). Unfortunately the 

analysis of the available national time series related to precipitation in Italy prevents from obtaining 

statistically relevant results. To date no statistically significant trend in national precipitation or 

concerning extremes of precipitation can be depicted.
25

Changes of the average sea level are statistically not significant too, no relevant changes in the 

Mediterranean sea level have in fact been recorded compared to the reference time period.

2.2.4 Economic profile and industry

Italy was the fifth largest economy by nominal GDP in the world in 1990 and its rank has been decreasing 

since then. Italy is the world’s ninth largest economy, in 2012 the GDP at current prices was 1,565,916, 

million € against 1,578,497 million € in 2011. 

During the last decade a global financial and economic crisis hit the advanced economies in 2007-2009 

thus resulting into severe recession in the EU, Japan and the United States. By the end of 2009 and in 

2010 a general recovery in the economies appeared to pick up but since 2011 the growth rate of the 

major advanced economies, especially in Europe, has been decelerating (Figure 2.8). Between 2012 and 

2013, Italy, like many advanced economies, has moved into recession again: GDP fell by 5.5% in 2009 

and by 2,4% in 2012.

Figure 2.8 - GDP growth rate (% changes on previous year) of some EU countries in the 

last decade

Source: EUROSTAT

The Italian GDP per capita in 2011 was 23,470 EUR, the EU27 average value was 26,200 EUR (Figure 

2.9).

Figure 2.9 - GDP per capita (Italy and EU27) time series

Source: EUROSTAT
26

Figure 2.10 - Italy’s GDP and GVA along the last decade (values chain linked to 2000)

Source: EUROSTAT

Italy’ Gross value-added in 2010 got back to the value of 2001 due to the effects of the financial and 

economic crisis (Figure 2.10). The driving sector of the national economy is the service sector that 

accounted for 66.7% of GVA in 2000 and it had been increasing up to 70.4% of GVA in 2010. The 

Industry related activities accounted for 25.9% of GVA in 2000 and it had been declining to 22.4% in 

2010. Agriculture and Constructions accounted for 5.0% and 2.4% of GVA respectively in 2000 and they 

have kept about the same values up to 2010.

Italy is the world’s ninth largest exporter of goods (340,798 million € in 2012) and its twelfth largest 

importer of goods. The Italian trade balance had a deficit in 2009 and 2010 and a surplus in 2011 and 

2012. The percentage change of exports of goods turned positive in 2010 but it had been decreasing 

since then. At a world scale the Italian exports and imports have been losing market shares, they both 

accounted for about 3.9% in 2002 and 2.9% in 2011. In 2011 Italian exports accounted for 7.5% of EU 

exports towards EU27 countries and accounted for 10.6% of EU exports towards extra EU countries, both 

those shares have been decreasing significantly since 2000. In the last three years (2010-2012) the 

Italian exports of goods were driven by: pharmaceuticals, energy products, metal products, iron & steel 

products and shoes. The most relevant categories of goods exported in 2012 were: mechanical 

equipment (19% including auto vehicles); metals products (8.6%); chemicals (7.4%) and clothing 

(5.8%). European Union (55.4%), the US (6.8%) and East Asia (5.6%) were in 2012 the largest markets 

for the Italian exports of goods9.

The imports of goods were the 17.7% of national resources in 2012. The imports showed an increasing 

trend from 1990 to 2007 then a fluctuating trend due to the fluctuation of the domestic demand through 

the last years. In 2012 Italian imports were mainly from the European Union (52.8%) and East Asia 

(7.3%). The main imported goods in 2012 were energy products (oil, natural gas and oil refinery 

products; 21.9%), chemical products (11.1%) and mechanical equipments (including auto vehicles, 

10.7%)10.

The unemployment rate in Italy over the last decade is shown in the next Figure 2.11 compared with the 

unemployment rate in the EU27: It was 10% in 2000 and it had been decreasing for the following six 

years, after 2006 it has been increasing again up to 2009 as a consequence of the recession of the 

national economy, reaching approximately the same value as in 2003. 

 

9

“Osservatorio economico. Statistiche relative all’import/export italiano. 2013”, Italian Ministry of Economic 

Development

10 “Osservatorio economico. Statistiche relative all’import/export italiano. 2013”, Italian Ministry of Economic 

Development
27

Figure 2.11 - Unemployment rate in Italy and in the EU27

Source: EUROSTAT

2.3 Sector specific information

2.3.1 Energy

During the last two decades, in spite of a moderate growth of Italian economy, energy consumption has 

increased at a different growth rate, figure 2.12. 

Figure 2.12 - GDP and Total energy demand for the years 1990-2011.

Source: Ministry of Economic Development, National Energy Balance 2011

The primary energy consumption per fuel types is characterized by:

a reduction of the oil share, which has remained the most important energy source since 1990, 

the corresponding increase in the use of the natural gas 

and the gradually increasing share of energy from renewable sources. 

The consumption trend is also a consequence of the shift from petrol products to natural gas which 

started in mid ’90s (see Figure 2.13). 

Compared with others European countries, Italy’s energy primary consumption is characterized by a 
28

major use of oil and gas, a structural electricity imports, a weak coal contribution and the absence of 

nuclear power. The share of renewable energy (11.7% in 2011) in Italy’s energy supply mix is higher 

compared with the OECD’s average (8.2% in 2011), mostly due to hydropower11.

Figure 2.13 - Composition (%) of energy supply in Italy, trend from 1990 to 2011

Source: Ministry of Economic Development, National Energy Balance 2011

Figure 2.14 - Breakdown of Italy energy supply mix in 2011

Source: Ministry of Economic Development, National Energy Balance 2011

In 2011, primary energy demand was about 184 Mtoe, -2% compared to 2010, the latest trends of 

energy consumptions in the end-uses sectors can be pictured as:

a stabilization of consumptions in the transport sector (about 43 Mtoe since 2009) after a drop 

between 2007-2009;

 

11 OECD Factbook 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/factbook-2013-en
29

an overall increase in the trend consumption in the civil sector driven mainly by the consumptions 

in the service sector which has been increasing from 1990 up to 2005, while consumptions in the 

residential sectors basically have been fluctuating around 25 Mtoe since 1990;

energy consumptions in the industry sector have been decreasing since 2004. The fall in energy 

consumption recorded in 2009 (-24% on 2008) was of course related to the national economy 

moving into recession and to the fall of the industrial production. In general the decreasing trend 

is mainly due to the heavy drop of consumptions in the petrochemical sector and to the energy 

consumptions for mechanics, textile and agri-food which have got back to the early ‘90s levels.

The preliminary value for the national energy bill for 2012 is 64.4 billion € (4.1% of the GDP, during the 

‘90s the average energy bill accounted for 1.5% of the GDP), table 2.2 summarizes the values of the 

energy bill along the last two decades. 

Table 2.2 - Energy gross domestic consumption, energy intensity, electrical intensity

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011 2012

(M€)

Solid fuel 731 991 1,009 1,892 2,270 2,936 2,773

Natural Gas 1,859 2,661 7,835 12,194 18,998 21,116 24,004

Oil 8,561 9,023 18,653 22,412 28,432 34,549 33,916

Biofuels and biomass - - 67 135 1,129 1,587 1,345

Others 867 1,563 1,523 2,135 2,409 2,736 2,388

total 12,018 14,238 29,087 38,768 53,238 62,924 64,426

The increasing of the energy bill has been due to the increasing of natural gas imports and, especially, to 

the increasing prices of energy sources (together with the trend in the US$/€ exchange rate). The oil bill 

accounted for 53% of the total energy bill, the decrease of oil imports in 2012 has been compensated by 

the increase of the average price paid for 1 ton of oil in the same year.

The energy dependence of Italy from abroad is high compared with the EU27 average (82.1% in 2010 in 

Italy; 54.1% in 2010 in EU) as shown in the following table 2.3. 

Table 2.3 - Total energy dependence (Italy and EU)

Energy dependence 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011

Italy 82.3 80.3 83.7 85.0 82.1 80.7

EU 47.8 53.9 54.1

Energy end-uses total consumption in 2011 was of 137.4 Mtoe, of which 34% related to the tertiary 

sector (residential, public and tertiary sectors) and 31% to the transports sector. Industrial sector 

account for 24% of total end-uses energy consumption, as shown in the following figure:
30

Figure 2.15 - Energy end-use consumptions per sector, 2011 (Mtoe)

Source: Processing of data from the National Energy Balance.

Concerning the electric sector, more than 80% of the production in Italy is provided by thermoelectric 

power plants. The rest is covered by renewable energy sources (hydropower, wind, photovoltaic and 

landfill gas). The weight of renewable resources has grown in the latest years. Under the EU Renewable 

Energy Directive there is a target for 17% of Italy’s energy consumption to be from renewable sources by 

2020. In March 2013 the Government adopted the new proposal of a National Energy Strategy (NES) 

which aims at contributing to Italy’s sustainable growth and identifies four goals:

Reduction of the energy bill

Going beyond the environmental goals set by EU legislation in terms of GHG emissions 

reductions, reduction of primary consumptions and increase of the use of renewable energy

sources

Safer energy supplying system, less dependent on supply from abroad

Investments plan also in green and white economy in order to contribute in the national economic 

growth

The impacts of the NES on the emissions scenarios are discussed in chapter 5.

Italy’s energy intensity (150.5 toe/M€) is lower than the EU average (169.39 toe/M€) mainly due to the 

shift of the Italian economy from industrial activities to services. Despite the improvement of energy 

efficiency for the industry sector, the gap with the EU average has reduced in the recent years because 

consumption patterns in the civil sector have become more energy intensive.

As for the industry sector, since 1990 an improvement in energy efficiency has been achieved as well as 

a switch from energy intensive sub-sectors to less energy intensive sub-sectors. 

2.3.2 Transport

As for transport facilities, the Italian railroad network had in 2012 about 16,740 km, while the Italian 

road network had in 2011 about 17,000 km more compared to the road extension in 1990. 

The extension of the Italian oil pipeline network in 2011 was 4,920 km with a coefficient of use equal to 

54% and the extension of the Italian gas pipeline network in 2012 was 32,245 km.

Passengers’ transportation in Italy in 2011 was about 885 billions of passengers-km (-3.4% compared to 

2010). Road transport of passengers is the prevailing means of transportation, in 2011 it exceeded 91% 

of the total passengers-km, railroad transport accounted for 6%, water transportation accounted for 
31

0.4% and air transportation was 1.9% of the total passengers-km. Since 2005 the picture of passenger 

transportation has not changed significantly. In Italy there is the world highest concentration of private 

cars per capita (1.64 inhabitants per car). There were about 51.7 million of vehicles circulating in 2011, 

of which 37 million were private cars. 

The goods transportation was just less than 200 billions of tons-km in 2011 which is the same figure as in 

2005. The analysis of the related data points out that: 

road transportation of goods is the prevailing means of transportation between 2005 and 2011 

(about 57% of the total goods transported in 2011); 

goods transported by sea have increased (27% in 2011); 

goods transported by railroad have decreased (10% in 2011). .

The Italian families’ average expenditure for the transport sector was about 13.7% for the years 2000-

2007, it has been decreasing for the last four years and it was about 11.5% in 2012.

The mobility demand and, particularly, the road transportation share have constantly increased in the 

period from 1990 to 2011.

The number of vehicles for road transportation has kept growing steadily over the last two decades 

(1990-2011) as shown in the following table2.4.

Table 2.4 - Road transportation in Italy: trends in fleet

Vehicle category

1990 2000 2011 1990-2011 

number of vehicles (%)

Passenger Cars 27,431,771 32,573,032 37,636,610 37.2

Light-duty trucks 1,477,403 2,679,522 3,898,546 163.9

Heavy-duty vehicles 

including buses 1,015,505 892,598 1,006,059 -0.9

Mopeds and 

Motorcycles 6,609,272 8,827,864 10,610,776 60.5

total 36,533,951 44,973,016 53,151,991 45.5

During the last years the reduction of passenger car sales has affected negatively the replacement rate of 

passenger cars, so the average car life has been increasing and the circulating passenger car fleet has 

been gradually aging. In 2005 the share of passenger cars in use aged more than 10 years was about 

34.5%, it has been increasing since then up to 44.4% in 2012. The share of passenger cars in use aged 

more than 20 years was 8.3% in 2000, 7.2% in 2005 and it has been increasing up to 12.2% in 2012.

In 2011 the total number of vehicles was 45% more than it was in 1990: passenger cars have increased 

by 37%, light-duty trucks have increased by 164%; Heavy-duty vehicles can be considered the same as 

in 1990 while mopeds and motorcycles have increased by 60%. As for the fuel type the following table 

2.5 describes the distribution of the vehicles per fuel type (Gasoline, Diesel, Liquified Petroleum Gas; 

Compressed Natural Gas):
32

Table 2.5 - Road transportation in Italy: distribution of vehicles per fuel types

Fuel type

1990 2000 2011 1990-2011 

number of vehicles (%)

Gasoline 29,483,790 35,404,960 30,639,356 3.9

Diesel 5,720,225 7,987,000 19,553,902 241.8

LPG 1,081,816 1,291,826 2,211,159 104.4

CNG 248,120 289,230 747,574 201.3

total 36,533,951 44,973,016 53,151,991 45.5

Over the last two decades diesel vehicles increased by 242%; LPG vehicles increased by 104% and CNG 

vehicles increased by 201%.

Transport sector energy demand in Italy has increased by about 24% in the period 1990-2010, with 

significant increases in the consumption of natural gas, diesel, carboturbo and electricity, as shown in the 

following table 2.6.

Table 2.6 - Transport sector energy consumption in Italy per fuel (kToe) referred to 1990-2010

Fuel 1990 2001 2010 1990-2010

kToe (%)

Renewables Biodiesel nd 94 1.307

Primary fossil

Natural Gas 209 370 695 233.2

Oil products 33,667 41,435 39,855 18.4

Gasoline 14,000 17,315 10,447 -25.4

Diesel 16,145 19,055 24,019 48.8

Jet fuel 2,046 3,537 4,044 97.7

LPG 1,476 1,529 1,339 -9.3

Secondary Electricity 577 737 917 59.0

Total 34,453 42,636 42,774 24.2

Source: ENEA

As shown in the previous table energy consumption in the transport sector raised by about 6 Mtoe in the 

period 1990-2010. Transport sector keeps depending almost completely on oil (93% in 2010).

Energy prices and economic recession had an effect in the transport sector. In the latest years the 

market trends are towards: a downsizing of cars and reduction of engine displacements, preponderance 

of gasoline versus diesel in the low segments of the market and the use of alternative fuels (methane, 

LPG, hybrid). In 2009 the EU adopted legislation (Regulation EC No 443/2009) setting standards and 

mandatory targets in the manufacturing of new cars. CO2 emission per km from new cars is targeted to 

decrease over time, the table 2.7 shows the decrease in CO2 emissions from passenger cars along the 

last two decades (2011 emissions level is the same as in 1996). 

Table 2.7 - Trend of CO2 emissions from passenger cars in Italy in the period 1990-2011

Emissions from passenger cars 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011

CO2 (Mt) 55.2 63.9 68.2 72.1 64.8 64.9

 Source: ISPRA

The EU cars legislation aim at improving the fuel economy of cars sold in the European market. These 
33

factors linked to energy prices are moving the market towards new technologies. 

2.3.3 Agriculture

Main drivers of greenhouse gases emissions trends for Agriculture are the number of animals, the 

variation of cultivated surface/crop production and use of nitrogen fertilizers. Trends and changes of 

these parameters at national level have been affected also by the implementation of a Common 

Agricultural Policy at EU level. Specific information about CAP measures (e.g. how they influence the 

emissions trend) implemented at national level are provided in chapter 4. 

In Italy 13.4% of the total agricultural holdings in 2010 dealt with livestock farming. Changes in livestock 

populations have occurred since 1990: specifically in 2011 cattle reduced by 24% while swines and 

poultry increased by 11% and 16% respectively.

The total agricultural area, the utilized agricultural area (UAA) and the number of agricultural holdings 

have been decreasing since 1982 (table 2.8). The reduction of the number of agricultural holdings is 

more significant than the reduction of UAA thus resulting in the noticeable increase of the average size of 

the Italian agricultural holdings along the same years. Specifically, 5.3% of the agricultural holdings 

exceeding 30 ha (in terms of UAA) managed more than 50% of the total national UAA. Official statistics 

concerning the distribution of agricultural holdings by type show that family-run business is a peculiar 

feature of the Italian agricultural holdings.

Table 2.8 - Agricultural holdings characteristics in Italy between 1982 and 2010

Agricultural holdings characteristics 1982 1990 2000 2010

Number of agricultural holdings 3,133,118 2,848,136 2,396,274 1,620,884

UAA (ha) 15,832,613 15,025,954 13,181,859 12,856,048

Total agricultural area (ha) 22,397,833 21,628,355 18,766,895 17,081,099

Average size of agricultural holdings (ha) 5.1 5.3 5.5 7.9

Source: ISTAT

In the last decade the decrease in the use of fertilizers is the result of both CAP and trend of the 

fertilizers market prices. The decrease in the use of mineral products with a corresponding increase of 

organic formulated products is also in line with the CAP aiming at promoting the use of organic manures 

and fertilizers instead of the use of synthetic mineral products, in order to improve the quality of the 

agriculture products, the environment and the health of consumers. 

2.3.4 LULUCF

In Italy over the last two decades changes in the land use has resulted in the increase of the forested 

area (22%), of the grassland area (3%) and of the settlement area (15%); the reduction of cropland 

area (19%) compared to 1990 areas is also observed.
34

Figure 2.16 - Land use in Italy in 2011

Italy has a rich biological heritage of forest and several types of landscape as our peninsula constitutes a 

bridge between the central European environmental settings, including those of the continental type, and 

the Mediterranean ones. The diversification can be observed, in terms of forestry resources, in the 

contrast between the Alpine woods of resinous trees, similar to those of central and northern Europe, and 

the mixed forests of leave bearing trees, with the range extending to Mediterranean brush and 

formations typical of cold, arid climates closely related to those of the North African countries.

The Italian forested surface was about 10,789 kha in 2010, equivalent to 35.8% of our National land 

surface. The Italian forested area is spreading due to the dismissal of agriculture practices, mostly in 

mountain zones, and to the natural conversion of cultivated lands and grazing into forests. Forest 

expansion rate has been decreasing along the last decade: it was about 78 kha y

-1

in 2000 and it was 

about 53.8 kha y-1in 2010. 

The natural protected areas (established on various administrative levels: national, regional and local) 

includes 30.5% of the total forested areas.

Total forest areas in Italy certified under international forest management certification schemes was 

818,293 ha in 2012: 93.6% under the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes 

(PEFC) and 6.4% under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). 

Table 2.9 - Italian forest areas along the GHG inventory period12

Categories

Area [kha]

1990 2000 2005 2010 2015

Forest 7590 8369 8759 9028 9297

Other wooded land 1533 1650 1708 1761 1813

Other land 20288 19392 18944 18622 18301

Inland water 

bodies 

723 723 723 723 723

TOTAL 30134 30134 30134 30134 30134

Forested areas affected by fires in 2012 amount to approximately 47.6% of the total land surface burned 

by fire in the same year.

 

12 Based on the preliminary Italy’s communication under the FAO - Forest Resource Assesment - FRA2015 reporting
35

2.3.5 Waste

In the last decade about 84-86% of the population has been served by a sewer system; about 75% of 

the population was connected to wastewater treatment plants in 2005. In the following table 2.10 

estimates of the number of facilities for the treatment of waste in Italy are reported.

Table 2.10 - Waste treatment in Italy: number of facilities

Type of waste facility 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Landfills 480 650 657 340 211

Incinerators 122 135 132 111 148

WWTP 6,673 9,456 12,139 14,823 17,506

The production of municipal waste in Italy has been increasing from 1990 (about 22 Mtonnes) to 2005 

(about 32 Mtonnes) while it has remained approximately around 32 Mtonnes since then although a 

reduction trend can be observed for the last years in Italy as well as in other Member States of the EU. 

Changes in life style and consumption patterns more than the enforcement of waste legislation seem to 

be the main drivers for the gradual reduction in MSW production, the international crisis of the economy 

has contributed too. In 2011 approximately 31.38 Mtonnes of municipal waste were produced, 

corresponding to 528 kg/year per person (EU27 average per capita MSW production was about 502 

kg/year in 2011).

The production of industrial waste has been increasing since 1990: it accounted for about 3.8 Mtonnes in 

1990; it was about 8.1 Mtonnes in 2011.

Separate collection has been increasing since 1996: in 2011 about 9.9 Mt of MSW (31.3%) were 

subjected to separate collection compared to 8.3 Mt (25.8%) in 2006 and 7.2% in 1996. Although 

separate collection rates vary across the country, an increasing overall trend during the last years can be 

observed but figures are still lower than national targets set by the legislation.

The municipal wastes have been managed as shown in table 2.11 for the last two decades:

Table 2.11 - Management of Municipal Waste (%)

Treatment 1990 2000 2005 2010

Landfilling 91.1 76 48.6 46.2

Incineration 6 8 10.2 13.5

Mechanical-biological treatment 2 11 22.5 28.8

Composting 1 7 5.6 12.1

RDF - - 2.6

Use as energy source - - 0.5

Anaerobic digestion - - 0.2

Other form of recovery - 14 9.8

In Italy the number of landfills has been decreasing since 1999: there were about 500 landfills less in 

2011 due to the decommissioning of unmanaged and smaller size landfills. Since early ‘90s landfilling as 

a waste disposal practice has been decreasing thanks also to changes into national policies which support 

other waste treatments (e.g. incineration; mechanical-biological treatment; composting; anaerobic 
36

digestion; etc). There had been no installations for the recovery of biogas at landfills up to 2000 in Italy, 

while they were 32 in 2011.

The number of incineration plants has increased: in 1990 they were 122, at the end of 2010 there were 

138 operating plants for incineration. In 2011 more than 95% of the total amount of incinerated waste 

was treated in installations with energy recovery systems.

The production of special waste in Italy in 1990 was 77.1 Mtonnes while at the end of 2010 was about 

137 Mtonnes. The per capita production of special waste in 2010 at national level was 2.2 t/y, 2.1 t/y for 

non-hazardous special waste and 0.1 t/y for hazardous special waste, respectively. The correlation 

between special waste production trend and the Italian GDP trend is good, so especially for the last years 

the ups and downs in the special waste production trend are related to the trend of the Italian economy: 

in the years 2008-2010 the production of special waste has been decreasing (-3.5%), specifically nonhazardous special waste production has reduced by 2.5% while hazardous special waste production has 

reduced by 14.4%. the largest amounts of special waste are produced in the North of Italy according to 

the geographic distribution of the economic activities.

For the last two decades the amounts of special wastes produced in Italy have been reported in the 

following table 2.12.

Table 2.12 - Special wastes produced in Italy between 1990 and 2010

1990 1997 2000 2005 2008 2009 2010

Non-hazardous special 

waste

(Mtonnes)

- 56.1 51.8 55.6 60.5 58.7 61.1

Hazardous special waste

(Mtonnes)

- 3.4 3.9 7.9 11.3 10.3 9.6

Inert waste (Mtonnes) - - 27.3 45.9 70.8 65.3 67

Total Special Waste 

(Mtonnes)

77.1 59.5 83.0 109.4 142.8 134.6 137.9

It is worth noting that for the last years the amount of inert waste (waste produced by “constructions & 

demolitions”) has been increasing, since 2008 it has been accounting for about 50% of the total special 

waste production.

The different forms of management of special wastes in Italy for the last decade are summarized in the 

table 2.13.

Table 2.13 - Management of Special Waste (%)

Treatment 2000 2005 2010

Storage 15.1 13.7 13.6

Biological and physical chemical treatment 14.5 14.6 17.2

Energy recovery 2.5 2.7 1.6

Incineration 1 1.1 0.7

Recovery of material 39.8 48.6 57.5

Landfilling 27.1 19.4 8.2
37

It is worth noting that the amount of special waste destined to the recovery of material has been 

increasing for the last years and that the landfilling of special waste has been reducing for the same 

years.

As for the wastewater treatment plants, the overall treatment capacity over the last 20 years has been 

increasing as reported in the following table:

Table 2.14 - Wastewater treatment capacity in Italy

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Number of WWTPs 6,673 9,456 12,139 14,823 17,506

Total treatment capacity (M 

p.e.)

46 60 70 98 101
38

3 GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY13

3.1 Greenhouse gas emission trends

The national greenhouse gas emission (GHG) inventory is communicated through compilation of the 

Common Reporting Format (CRF) and the National Inventory Report (NIR), in accord with the guidelines 

provided by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The emissions presented in this document are those communicated in the 2013 submission to the 

UNFCCC Secretariat and to the European Commission in the context of the Greenhouse Gas Monitoring 

Mechanism. A complete description of the factors underlying the Italian emission trends, the rationale for 

the choice of methodologies, the emission factors and parameters used to estimate emissions for the 

relevant sectors is provided in the National Inventory Report (ISPRA, 2013)14.

The CRF files, national inventory reports and other related documents can be found at the following 

addresses: http://www.sinanet.isprambiente.it/it/sia-ispra/serie-storiche-emissioni; 

http://groupware.sinanet.isprambiente.it/reportnet/library;

http://unfccc.int/national_reports/annex_i_ghg_inventories/national_inventories_submissions/items/738

3.php. 

Summary tables of emission trends are included in the Annex (First Biennial Report, CTF1 table).

Figure 3.1 illustrates the national trend of greenhouse gases for 1990-2011, expressed in CO2-equivalent 

and by gas; figures do not include emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry.

Figure 3.1 - National greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2011 (excluding LULUCF)

Italy has set 1990 as the base year for carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and 

fluorinated gases (F-gases). Total greenhouse gas emissions, expressed in CO2-equivalent, excluding 

 

13 Lead authors: Daniela Romano (ISPRA); Chiara Arcarese (ISPRA; § 3.3). Contributing Authors: Antonella Bernetti 

(ISPRA), Antonio Caputo (ISPRA), Mario Contaldi (ISPRA), Riccardo De Lauretis (ISPRA), Eleonora Di Cristofaro 

(ISPRA), Andrea Gagna (ISPRA), Barbara Gonella (ISPRA), Ernesto Taurino (ISPRA), Marina Vitullo (ISPRA).

14 ISPRA, 2013. Italian Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2011. National Inventory Report 2013. ISPRA, 177/2013.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700 CO2 eq. [Mt] (excluding LULUCF)

CO2 CH4 N2O HFCs, PFCs, SF6 
39

emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF), have decreased by 5.8% 

between 1990 and 2011, varying from 519 to 489 million tons (Mt) of CO2-equivalent. 

It should be noted that the economic recession has had a remarkable influence on the production levels 

affecting the energy and industrial process sectors, with a consequent notable reduction of total 

emissions, especially in the last three years. 

The most important greenhouse gas, CO2, which accounts for 84.7% of total emissions in CO2-equivalent, 

shows a decrease by 4.7% between 1990 and 2011. In the energy sector, in particular, CO2 emissions in 

2011 are 2.8% lower than in 1990.

CH4 and N2O emissions are equal to 7.5% and 5.5%, of the total CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas 

emissions, respectively. CH4 emission levels have decreased by 16.4% from 1990 to 2011, while N2O has 

decreased by 28.1%. 

As to the other greenhouse gases, HFCs account for 1.9% of total emissions, PFCs and SF6 are equal to 

0.3% and 0.1% of total emissions, respectively. Although at present, variations in these gases are not 

relevant to reaching the emission reduction objectives, the meaningful increase of HFCs will make them 

more important in the next years. 

Total greenhouse gas emissions and removals subdivided by sector are shown in Figure 3.2.

Figure 3.2 - National greenhouse gas emissions and removals from 1990 to 2011 by sector

The share of the different sectors in terms of total emissions remains nearly unvaried over the period 

considered. Specifically, in 2011, the greatest part of total greenhouse gas emissions is to be attributed 

to the energy sector, with a percentage of 82.7%, followed by agriculture and industrial processes, 

accounting for 6.9% and 6.5% of total emissions, respectively, waste, contributing with 3.6%, and use of 

solvents, with 0.3%.

For the energy sector, specifically, the decrease in total emissions is equal to 3.2% in the period 1990-

2011; in particular, an upward trend is noted from 1990 to 2004, with an increase by 13.4% in total 

greenhouse gas emissions in CO2 equivalent excluding LULUCF, whereas a reduction by 14.6% between 

-140

-4 0

6 0

160

260

360

460

560 CO2 eq. (Mt)

Energy Industrial Processes Agriculture

Waste Solvent use LULUCF
40

2004 and 2011 is observed. From 2004, GHG emissions from the sector are decreasing as a result of the 

policies adopted at European and national level to implement the production of energy from renewable 

source; a further shift from petrol products to natural gas in producing energy has been observed as a 

consequence of the starting of the EU greenhouse gas Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) in January, 1st

2005. From 2009, a further drop of the sectoral emissions is due to the economic recession. 

In general, from 1990 to 2011 the decrease in emissions is driven by the reduction in the energy 

industries and manufacturing industries and construction, which account for 32% and 15% and reduced 

by 4% and 30%, respectively. Specifically for the manufacturing industries and construction, the reason 

for the reduced emissions is the cut in production in some subsectors (e.g chemical, construction and 

building materials, steel) due to the effects of the economic recession but also an increase in efficiency 

especially identified in the chemical sector. 

On the other hand, a significant increase in emissions still occur in two relevant sectors, transport and 

other sectors, which increased by about 14% and 10% and account for 29% and 21%, respectively.

Road transport is the most relevant source in the transport sector, accounting in 2011 for 22.5% of total 

national CO2 equivalent emissions. In 2011, GHG emissions from road transport were about 93.1% of the 

national emissions from transport. From 1990 to 2011, GHG emissions from the sector increased by 

15.4% due to the increase of vehicle fleet, total mileage and consequently fuel consumptions. Since 

2004, fuel consumption and emissions stabilised; from 2007, a change in the trend is observed for GHG 

emissions with an average annual decrease of 2.2% up to 2011. 

The increase in other sectors, which refer to emissions originated from energy use in the civil sector and 

from military mobile activities, is due, from 1990 to 2000, to the increase in numbers and size of building 

with heating, the trend in weather conditions and from 2002, and especially in the last years, to the 

increase in other greenhouse gas emissions than CO2 for the growing use of woody biomass and biogas 

for heating.

The substance with the highest impact, in this sector, is CO2, accounting for 97.1% of the total, whose 

levels have decreased by 2.8% from 1990 to 2011. The trend is mostly driven by the transport and the 

energy industry sectors, especially for the increased fuel consumption in road transportation, and by the 

energy industry for the increase in electricity production and the related emissions notwithstanding the 

specific carbon content of the kWh generated in Italy has constantly decreased over the years. A sharp 

decrease has been observed in CO2 emissions from manufacturing industries and construction as 

previously described.

Describing patterns of other GHGs except for CO2, the trend of N2O emissions is related to the technology 

development in road transport and to the switch from gasoline to diesel fuel consumption; CH4 emission 

trend is driven by the combined effect of technological improvements that limit volatile organic 

compounds (VOCs) from tail pipe and evaporative emissions (for cars) and the expansion of twowheelers fleet.

The agriculture sector is the second source of emissions, contributing 6.9% to total greenhouse gases, 

excluding the LULUCF sector. Emissions from the sector refer to methane and nitrous oxide levels, which 

account for 43.1% and 56.9% of total emissions, respectively. The decrease observed in total emissions 

from 1990 to 2011 (-17.7%) is due to the decrease of CH4 emissions from enteric fermentation (-12.4%) 

and N2O from agricultural soils (-21.1%), which account for 32.1% and 45.8% of total agricultural 

emissions, respectively. Main drivers behind these downward trends are the reduction in the number of 

animals, especially cattle which have decreased by 23.9 between 1990 and 2011 and contribute with 
41

77.7% to total CH4 from enteric fermentation; also, the variation in cultivated surface/crop production as 

well as the use of nitrogen fertilizers, mainly due to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) measures and 

use of fertilizers linked indirectly to the price of agricultural products, because farmers on account of the 

decreasing price of products necessitate to save costs. In addition, there has been a significant increase 

in the recovery of the amount of biogas produced from animal manure and used in the energy sector for 

the production of electricity and combined electricity and heat production in the last years thus 

contributing to the reduction of total emissions.

Emissions from industrial processes account for 6.5% of total national greenhouse gas emissions, 

excluding LULUCF. Total emission levels, in CO2 equivalent, reduced of 17.6% from 1990 to 2011. 

The decrease is prevalently to be attributed to the drop of emissions in the chemical industry, accounting 

for 6.0% of the total in the sector, and metal production, explaining 5.2%. 

In the chemical industry, emissions diminished by 81.1%; trends are affected by the general reduction in 

productions observed over the years 2007-2009, except for adipic acid, and by the introduction of 

abatement technologies in the nitric acid production process from 2008 and in the adipic acid production 

process from 2005 for which the abatement system has been applied with an increasing operating time 

and abatement rate (more than 98%). Information on this last process is reported by the facility under 

the ETS, being the facility to be included in the scheme in 2013.

A significant decrease in emissions (-57.8%) affected also the metal production process mostly on 

account of the reduction observed in CO2 emissions from iron and steel sector driven by the different 

materials used in the relevant production process, specifically lime instead of limestone and dolomite to 

remove impurities; moreover, a reduction is observed in CO2 emissions from aluminium and ferroalloys 

which is driven by the decrease in production levels. 

On the other hand, a considerable increase is observed in F-gas emissions (250.5%), whose share on 

total emissions is 35.1%. 

The waste sector account for 3.6% of total national greenhouse gas emissions, excluding LULUCF, and 

shows a decrease of 10.9% from 1990 to 2011. The trend is mainly driven by the emissions from solid 

waste disposal, accounting for 71.5% of the total sectoral emissions, which decreased by 17.8%; in fact, 

although the continuous increase of waste production, solid waste disposal on land has decreased due to 

waste management policies in place in the last years, specifically the rise of waste incineration, the 

composting and mechanical and biological treatment and the increasing practice of recyclable waste 

collected. At the same time, the increase in the methane-recovered percentage has led to a further 

reduction in net emissions.

Conversely, waste-water handling, which accounts for 26.7% of the total, shows an increase in emissions 

equal to 22.2% essentially dependent on the number of equivalent inhabitants served.

So far, national totals have been described excluding the LULUCF sector. Accounting for emissions and 

removals in this sector, national totals show a downward trend of 9.6% from 1990 to 2011.

Specifically, in the LULUCF sector, CO2 accounts for more than 99% of total emissions and removals of 

the sector with forest land removals sharing 96% of total CO2 emission and removals from the sector. 

Main drivers for emission trend are the constant growth of forest areas over the period which leads to an 

increase of removals and the occurrence of forest fires, accounted for as carbon losses, which peaked in 

specific years, like 1990, 1993 and 2007, resulting in high emission values. 

Emissions and removals from the LULUCF sector are reported in Table 3.1.
42

Table 3.1 - Total emissions from the LULUCF sector by source/sinks

1990 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Gg CO2 eq

Total 

emissions / 

removals -12,759 -30,557 -26,187 -38,434 -39,314 -18,296 -36,896 -40,213 -43,515 -30,772

Forest Land -17,098 -32,329 -26,883 -36,339 -36,723 -20,398 -33,483 -36,572 -38,204 -29,480

Cropland -1,020 801 -546 -944 -1,022 -829 -1,034 -1,143 -1,184 3,342

Settlements 2,516 2,514 2,468 3,350 3,363 3,376 3,416 3,432 3,422 3,397

Grassland 2,843 -1,543 -1,227 -4,501 -4,933 -445 -5,795 -5,930 -7,549 -8,031

Wetlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Other Land 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

3.1.1 Carbon dioxide emissions

CO2 emissions, excluding CO2 emissions and removals from LULUCF, have decreased by approximately 

4.7% from 1990 to 2011, reducing from 435 to 414 million tons. 

The most relevant contributions derive from the energy industries (31.5%) and transportation (28.1%). 

Non-industrial combustion accounts for 20.2% and manufacturing and construction industries for 14.4%, 

while the remaining emissions derive from industrial processes (4.9%) and other sectors (0.9%). 

The performance of CO2 emissions by sector is shown in Figure 3.3.

Figure 3.3 - CO2 emissions by sector from 1990 to 2011

The main sectors responsible for CO2 emissions are transport and energy industries; in the period 1990-

2011, emissions from transport have increased by 15.0%, due to an increase in the number of vehicles 

0

100

200

300

400

500 CO2 [Mt]

Energy Industries Manufacturing Industries and Construction Transport Non industrial combustion Industrial processes Other
43

and mileages driven, while those from energy industries decreased by 4.3%. Non industrial combustion 

emissions have risen by 7.6% and those from industrial processes decreased by 29.0%; emissions from 

manufacturing industries and construction show a decrease of about 29.8%, while emissions in the 

‘Other’ sector, fugitive emissions from oil and natural gas, emissions from solvent and other product use 

and emissions from waste decreased by 33.9%.

Figure 3.4 illustrates the performance of the following economic and energy indicators:

Gross domestic product (GDP) at market prices as of 2000 (base year 1990=100);

Total Energy Consumption;

CO2 emissions, excluding emissions and removals from land-use change and forestry;

CO2 intensity, which represents CO2 emissions per unit of total energy consumption.

The trend of CO2 emissions per total energy unit shows that CO2 emissions in the 1990s essentially 

mirrored energy consumption. A decoupling between the curves is observed only in recent years, mainly 

as a result of the substitution of fuels with high carbon contents with methane gas in the production of 

electric energy and in industry. In the last years, the increase in the use of renewable sources has led to 

a notable reduction of CO2 intensity. 

Figure 3.4 - Energy-related and economic indicators and CO2 emissions

3.1.2 Methane emissions

Methane emissions, excluding the LULUCF sector, represent 7.5% of total greenhouse gases in 2011, 

equal to 36.6 Mt in CO2-equivalent, and show a decrease of approximately 7.2 Mt compared to 1990 

levels.

CH4 emissions, in 2011, originate mainly from the waste sector which accounts for 41.9% of total 

methane emissions, as well as from agriculture (39.5%) and energy (18.5%).

Activities typically leading to emissions in the waste-management sector are the operation of dumping 

sites and the treatment of industrial waste-water. The waste sector shows a downward trend in emission 

levels, equal to -11.4% compared to 1990; the largest emission share origins from the solid waste 

disposal on land subcategory (81.8%), which decreased by 17.8%, while the highest increases concern 

waste-water handling (37.4%), due to an increase in the equivalent inhabitants treated.

8 5

9 0

9 5

100

105

110

115

120

125

130 1990=100

GDP

Total energy consumption

CO2 emissions

CO2 Intensity
44

Emissions in the agricultural sector regard mainly the enteric fermentation (74.5%) and manure 

management (14.6%) categories. The agriculture sector shows a decrease of emissions equal to 16.7% 

compared 1990, attributable widely to a reduction in livestock and the recovery of biogas for energy 

purposes. 

In the energy sector, the reduction of CH4 emissions (-25.3%) is the result of two contrasting factors; on 

the one hand there has been a considerable reduction in emissions caused by leakage from the extraction 

and distribution of fossil fuels, due to the gradual replacement of natural-gas distribution networks; 

conversely, in the civil sector, emissions rose due to the increased use of methane in heating systems.

Figure 3.5 shows national CH4 emission trends by sector.

Figure 3.5 - CH4 emissions by sector from 1990 to 2011

3.1.3 Nitrous oxide emissions 

In 2011 nitrous oxide emissions, excluding the LULUCF sector, represent 5.5% of total greenhouse gases, 

with a decrease of 28.1% between 1990 and 2011, decreasing from 37.4 to 26.9 Mt CO2-equivalent.

The major source of N2O emissions is agriculture (71.0%), especially for the use of both chemical and 

organic fertilisers, as well as the management of waste from the raising of animals. Emissions from these 

categories show a decrease of 18.4% in the 1990-2011 period, due to a reduction in livestock number.

N2O emissions in the energy sector (18.4% of the total) increased by 6.8% from 1990 to 2011; this 

growth can be traced back primarily to the road transport sector and it is related to the introduction of 

catalytic converters. 

The industrial sector accounts for about 1% of total N2O emissions. The sector shows the most significant 

reduction in emission levels due to the chemical industry. Specifically, emissions from the production of 

nitric acid have decreased by 91.5% from 1990 to 2011, with a notable decrease in the last year due to 

the introduction of the abatement systems in the main production plant; emissions from production of 

adipic acid show an increase from 1990 to 2005 of 32.6% and a decrease from 2005 to 2011 of 98.1% 

because of the introduction of an abatement technology, showing a global reduction of 97.5%. 
45

N2O emissions from the solvent and other product use are of minor significance (2.1% of the total), 

whereas those from the waste sector, primarily regarding the processing of industrial and domestic 

waste-water, account for 7.3% of national total. 

Figure 3.6 shows national N2O emission figures by sector.

Figure 3.6 - N2O emissions by sector from 1990 to 2011

3.1.4 Fluorinated gas emissions 

Emissions of fluorinated gases represent 2.3% of total greenhouse gases in CO2-equivalent in 2011 and 

show an increase of 250.5% between 1990 and 2011. This increase is the result of different factors for 

the different gases. 

HFCs, for instance, have increased considerably from 1990 to 2011, from 0.4 to 9.3 Mt in CO2-equivalent. 

The main sources of emissions are the consumption of HFC-134a, HFC-125, HFC-32 and HFC-143a in 

refrigeration and air-conditioning devices, together with the use of HFC-134a in pharmaceutical aerosols. 

Increases during this period are due both to the use of these substances as substitutes for gases that 

destroy the ozone layer and to the greater use of air conditioners in vehicles.

Emissions of PFCs show a decrease of 41.5% from 1990 to 2011. The level of PFC emissions in 2011 is 

1.5 Mt in CO2-equivalent, and it is due to by product emissions in the production of halocarbons (87%), 

the production of primary aluminium (5.6%) and the use of the gases in the production of 

semiconductors (7.4%). Although the production of PFCs is equal to zero in Italy from the year 1999 

onwards, the upward trend is due to their consumption and use in metal production.

Emissions of SF6 are equal to 0.35 Mt in CO2 equivalent in 2011, with an increase of 5.5% as compared 

to 1990 levels. In 2011, about 84.9% of SF6 emissions derive from the gas contained in electrical 

equipments and 15.1% from the gas use in the semiconductors manufacture. From 2005 to 2006, 

emissions of SF6 have fallen by 12.8%, and between 2006 and 2011 a decrease of 13.4%.

The National Inventory of fluorinated gases has largely improved in terms of sources and gases identified 

and a strict cooperation with the relevant industry has been established. Higher methods are applied to 

estimate these emissions; nevertheless, uncertainty still regards some activity data which are considered 

of strategic economic importance and therefore kept confidential.

Figure 3.7 shows emission trends of F-gases by gas, expressed in CO2-equivalent.

0

2 0

4 0

6 0

8 0

100

120

140

N O [Gg] 2

Energy Agriculture Industrial processes

Waste Solvent use
46

Figure 3.7 - Emissions of fluorinated gases from 1990 to 2011

3.2 National System for preparing the Italian Greenhouse Gas Inventory

3.2.1 Institutional arrangements 

The National System for the Italian Greenhouse Gas Inventory was established by the Legislative Decree 

n° 51 of March 7th 2008. The Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), former 

Agency for Environmental Protection and Technical Services (APAT), is the single entity in charge of the 

development and compilation of the national greenhouse gas emission inventory, as specified by art.14 

bis of the above Decree. The Institute annually draws up a document which describes the national system 

including all updated information on institutional, legal and procedural arrangements for estimating 

emissions and removals of greenhouse gases and for reporting and archiving inventory information; the 

plan is submitted to the Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea for approval.

As for the official consideration of the inventory, the Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea is 

responsible for endorsement and for communication to the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention 

on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. The inventory is also submitted to the European Commission 

in the framework of the Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Mechanism. 

A complete description of the Italian National System can be found in the document “National 

Greenhouse Gas Inventory System in Italy. Year 2013” (ISPRA, 2013)

15, publicly available at 

http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/en/publications/reports?set_language=en.

As single entity, ISPRA is responsible for all aspects of national inventory preparation, reporting and 

quality management. A specific unit of the Institute is in charge of the management of the emission 

inventory. Activities include the collection and processing of data from different data sources, the 

selection of appropriate emissions factors and estimation methods, the compilation of the inventory 

following the QA/QC procedures, the assessment of uncertainty, the preparation of the National 

Inventory Report and the reporting through the Common Reporting Format, the response to the review 

 

15 ISPRA, 2013. National Greenhouse Gas Inventory System in Italy. Year 2013. ISPRA, 179/2013.

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011

CO2 eq. [Gg]

SF6

PFCs

HFCs 
47

processes, the updating and data storage. The web address where all the information related to the 

inventory can be found is: http://www.sinanet.isprambiente.it/it/sia-ispra/serie-storiche-emissioni. 

Different institutions are responsible for communication and publication of statistical basic data, which are 

essential for ISPRA to carry out emission estimates. These institutions are part of a National Statistical 

System (Sistan), which periodically provides national official statistics; moreover, the National Statistical 

System ensures the homogeneity of the methods used for official statistics data through a coordination 

plan, involving the entire public administration at central, regional and local levels. The National 

Statistical System is coordinated by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) whereas other 

participant bodies are the statistical offices of ministries, national agencies, regions and autonomous 

provinces, provinces, municipalities, research institutes, chambers of commerce, local governmental 

offices, some private agencies and private subjects. 

These bodies are required to provide the data and information specified in an annual statistical plan which 

defines surveys, data elaborations and project studies for a three-year period; the plan is approved by a 

Prime Ministerial Decree after consideration of the Interministerial Committee for economic planning 

(Cipe). The latest Prime Ministerial Decree, which approved the three-year plan for 2011-2013, updated 

for 2012-2013, was issued on 20th April 2012. 

Further information on the National Statistical System is found in the National Inventory Report and 

National Inventory System.

The main Sistan products, which are primarily necessary for the inventory compilation, are:

National Statistical Yearbooks, Monthly Statistical Bulletins, by ISTAT (National Institute of 

Statistics);

Annual Report on the Energy and Environment, by ENEA (Agency for New Technologies, Energy 

and the Environment);

National Energy Balance (annual), Petrochemical Bulletin (quarterly publication), by MSE 

(Ministry of Economic Development);

Transport Statistics Yearbooks, by MINT (Ministry of Transportation);

Annual Statistics on Electrical Energy in Italy, by TERNA (National Independent System 

Operator);

Annual Report on Waste, by ISPRA.

National Forestry Inventory, by MIPAAF (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forest Policies). 

The national emission inventory is a Sistan product.

3.2.2 Inventory preparation 

The Italian emission inventory is based on methodologies consistent with the IPCC guidelines, IPCC Good 

Practice Guidance and EMEP/EEA Guidebook (IPCC, 199716; IPCC, 200617; IPCC, 200018; IPCC, 200319; 

EMEP/CORINAIR, 200720; EMEP/EEA, 200921). 

 

16 IPCC, 1997. Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories. Three volumes: 

Reference Manual, Reporting Manual, Reporting Guidelines and Workbook. IPCC/OECD/IEA. IPCC WG1 Technical 

Support Unit, Hadley Centre, Meteorological Centre, Meteorological Office, Bracknell, UK.

17 IPCC, 2006. 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Prepared by the National Greenhouse 

Gas Inventories Programme, Eggleston H.S., Buendia L., Miwa K., Ngara T. and Tanabe K. (eds).Published: IGES, 

Japan.

18 IPCC, 2000. Good Practice Guidance and Uncertainty Management in National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. IPCC 

National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme, Technical Support Unit, Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan.
48

In addition, national methodologies are developed and supported by background reference materials. 

Emission estimates are characterized by quantitative uncertainty figures calculated at a detailed category 

level and for the inventory as a total, following the IPCC Good Practice Guidance; uncertainty is also used 

in the assessment of key categories. 

The inventory preparation process takes place annually; in case of methodological changes or additional 

information, emissions are recalculated from 1990 onwards. 

Detailed information on emission figures and estimation methodologies, including all the basic data and 

emission factors needed to carry out the final estimates, are provided in the National Inventory Report 

(NIR) which completes the stage of inventory preparation. The last report is available at the following 

web address http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/en/publications/reports?set_language=en.

In addition to the institutions which are part of the National Statistical System, ISPRA has established 

fruitful cooperation with a number of other governmental and research institutes as well as industrial 

associations, which helps improving some key categories of the inventory. Specifically, these activities 

aim at the improvement of provision and collection of basic data and emission factors, through plantspecific data, and exchange of information on scientific researches and new studies. Moreover, when in 

depth investigation is needed and a high uncertainty in the estimates is present, specific sector analyses 

are commissioned to ad hoc research teams or consultants. 

ISPRA also coordinates with different national and regional authorities and private institutions for the 

cross-checking of parameters and estimates as well as with ad hoc expert panels in order to improve the 

accuracy, completeness and transparency of the inventory. 

All the reference material, estimates and calculation sheets, as well as the documentation on scientific 

papers and the basic data needed for the inventory compilation, are stored and archived at ISPRA. 

In Table 3.2 a summary of the activity data and sources used in the inventory compilation is reported.

 

19 IPCC, 2003. Good Practice Guidance for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry. IPCC Technical Support Unit, 

Kanagawa, Japan.

20 EMEP/CORINAIR, 2007. Atmospheric Emission Inventory Guidebook. Technical report No 16/2007.

21 EMEP/EEA, 2009. Air Pollutant Emission Inventory Guidebook. Technical report No 9/2009.
49

Table 3.2 - Main activity data and sources for the Italian Emission Inventory

SECTOR ACTIVITY DATA SOURCE

1 Energy

1A1 Energy Industries Fuel use Energy Balance - Ministry of Economic Development

Major national electricity producers 

European Emissions Trading Scheme

1A2 Manufacturing Industries Fuel use Energy Balance - Ministry of Economic Development

 and Construction Major National Industry Corporation

European Emissions Trading Scheme

1A3 Transport Fuel use Energy Balance - Ministry of Economic Development

Number of vehicles Statistical Yearbooks - National Statistical System 

Aircraft landing and 

take-off Statistical Yearbooks - Ministry of Transportation

cycles and maritime 

activities

Statistical Yearbooks - Italian Civil Aviation Authority 

(ENAC) 

Maritime and Airport local authorities

1A4 Residential-publiccommercial sector Fuel use Energy Balance - Ministry of Economic Development

1B Fugitive Emissions from 

Fuel

Amount of fuel treated, Energy Balance - Ministry of Economic Development

stored, distributed Statistical Yearbooks - Ministry of Transportation

Major National Industry Corporation

2 Industrial Processes Production data National Statistical Yearbooks- National Institute of 

Statistics

International Statistical Yearbooks-UN

European Emissions Trading Scheme

European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register

Sectoral Industrial Associations

3 Solvent and Other 

Product Use

Amount of solvent use National Environmental Publications - Sectoral Industrial 

Associations 

International Statistical Yearbooks - UN

4 Agriculture Agricultural surfaces Agriculture Statistical Yearbooks - National Institute of 

Statistics

Production data Sectoral Agriculture Associations

Number of animals

Fertiliser consumption

5 Land Use, Land Use 

Change and Forestry

Forest area, biomass 

increment and stock

National Forestry Service (CFS) - National and Regional 

Forestry Inventory

Statistical Yearbooks - National Institute of Statistics

Biomass burnt Universities and Research Institutes

6 Waste Amount of waste National Waste Cadastre - Institute for Environmental 

Protection and Research, National Waste Observatory
50

3.2.3 Key categories identification 

A key category analysis of the Italian inventory is carried out according to the Approach 1 and Approach 

2 described in the 2006 IPCC Guidelines (IPCC, 2006). These guidelines provide a harmonized method to 

deal with both sources and removals and correct some inconsistencies between the previous IPCC Good 

Practice Guidance and Guidelines, which dealt with and without the LULUCF separately (IPCC, 2000; 

IPCC, 2003). According to the IPCC guidelines, a key category is defined as an emission category that 

has a significant influence on a country’s GHG inventory in terms of the absolute level and trend in 

emissions and removals, or both. Key categories are those which, when summed together in descending 

order of magnitude, add up to over 95% of the total emissions or 90% of total uncertainty. 

A quantitative analysis is carried out on the Italian greenhouse gas inventory to establish the 

uncertainties of different emission categories, the uncertainty of total emissions for the base year and the 

latest inventory year, and the so- called trend uncertainty. The uncertainty assessment helps the 

identification of the key categories whose effect on the total uncertainty of the inventory is the highest; 

furthermore, by means of such an assessment, the improvement measures can be directed so that the 

total uncertainty of the inventory can be lowered as effectively as possible. 

Quantitative estimates of uncertainty for the Italian GHG inventory are calculated using Approach 1 as 

defined in the 2006 IPCC Guidelines, which provides a calculation based on the error propagation 

equations. National emissions are disaggregated, as far as possible, into the categories proposed in the 

guidelines; other categories are added to reflect specific national circumstances. Both level and trend 

analysis are applied to the base year and to the last submitted inventory including and excluding the 

LULUCF sector. 

In summary, the overall uncertainty in the national total emissions is equal to 3.4% for the year 2011; 

the uncertainty in the trend between 1990 and 2011 is equal to 2.6%. When considering the LULUCF 

sector in the analysis, the uncertainty in total GWP emissions and removals increases to 5.1% for the 

year 2011 and to 4.2% in the trend between 1990 and 2011. 

Further information on these figures is reported in the National Inventory Report. 

The uncertainty figures are used to carry out a key category analysis on the inventory applying the IPCC 

Approach 2 which helps prioritising activities to improve inventory quality and to reduce overall 

uncertainty. Key categories are categories which should receive special consideration in terms of 

methodological aspects and quality assurance and quality control verification. 

For the categories with a high uncertainty, generally, further improvements are planned whenever 

sectoral studies can be carried out. For example, last year, the prioritisation of improvements related to 

the results of uncertainty analysis led to a revision of the net carbon stock changes and further activities 

are planned for the LULUCF sector to improve the accuracy and reduce the overall uncertainty.

Applying category analysis to the 2011 inventory, without considering the LULUCF sector, 27 key 

categories were identified in total, both at level and trend. When considering emissions and removals 

from the LULUCF sector, 32 key categories were identified.

Results of the key category assessment for the 2011 inventory are reported in Table 3.3. More details 

can be found in the National Inventory Report.
51

Table 3.3 - Key categories by the IPCC Approach 1 and Approach 2 (L=Level, T=Trend). Year 

2011

Key categories (excluding the LULUCF sector)

CO2 stationary combustion liquid fuels L,T

CO2 stationary combustion solid fuels L,T

CO2 stationary combustion gaseous fuels L,T

CO2 Mobile combustion: Road Vehicles L,T

CH4 Fugitive emissions from Oil and Gas Operations L,T

HFC, PFC substitutes for ODS L,T

CH4 Enteric Fermentation in Domestic Livestock L,T2

Direct N2O Agricultural Soils L,T

Indirect N2O from Nitrogen used in agriculture L,T

CO2 Cement production L,T

N2O Manure Management L

CH4 Manure Management L2,T2

CH4 from Solid waste Disposal Sites L,T

CO2 Fugitive emissions from Oil and Gas Operations L1, T2

N2O stationary combustion L,T2

N2O Adipic Acid T

CO2 stationary combustion other fuels L1,T1

CO2 Emissions from solvent use T2

N2O from animal production L2

CH4 Emissions from Wastewater Handling L,T2

CO2 Mobile combustion: Waterborne Navigation L1

CO2 Iron and steel production T1

CO2 Ammonia production T1

N2O Nitric Acid T1

PFC Aluminium production T1

CH4 stationary combustion T2

CO2 mobile combustion aircraft L1

Key categories (including the LULUCF sector)

CO2 stationary combustion liquid fuels L,T

CO2 stationary combustion solid fuels L,T1

CO2 stationary combustion gaseous fuels L,T

CO2 Mobile combustion: Road Vehicles L,T

CH4 Fugitive emissions from Oil and Gas Operations L1, T

HFC, PFC substitutes for ODS L,T

CH4 Enteric Fermentation in Domestic Livestock L

Direct N2O Agricultural Soils L,T

CO2 Forest land remaining Forest land L,T

CO2 Cropland remaining Cropland L,T

CO2 Grassland remaining Grassland T

CO2 Land converted to Grassland L,T

Indirect N2O from Nitrogen used in agriculture L,T2

N2O Manure Management L

CH4 from Solid waste Disposal Sites L, T

CO2 Cement production L1, T1

CO2 Land converted to Settlements L,T

CH4 Manure Management L2, T2

CO2 stationary combustion other fuels L1,T1

CH4 Emissions from Wastewater Handling L, T2

N2O stationary combustion L

CO2 Mobile combustion: Waterborne Navigation L1

L1 = level key category by Approach 1

T1 = trend key category by Approach 1

L2 = level key category by Approach 2

T2 = trend key category by Approach 2

L = level key category by Approach 1 and

 Approach 2 

T = trend key category by Approach 1 and

 Approach 2
52

Key categories (including the LULUCF sector)

N2O Adipic Acid T

CO2 Iron and steel production T1

CO2 Ammonia production T1

N2O Nitric Acid T1

CO2 Land converted to Cropland T2

N2O from animal production L2

CO2 Land converted to Forest land T2

PFC Aluminium production T1

CO2 Fugitive emissions from Oil and Gas Operations L1

CO2 Land converted to Forest land L, T1

3.2.4 Recalculations

The entire time series from 1990 is checked and revised during the annual compilation of the national 

inventory. 

Recalculations are made due to changes in the methodologies used to carry out emission estimates, 

different allocation of emissions compared to previous submissions, error corrections and the availability 

of new information. Recommendations from the UNFCCC reviews and other national and international 

processes are also followed. Explanatory information on the annual major recalculations is reported in the 

annual National Inventory Report.

Improvements in the calculation of emission estimates may lead to a recalculation of the entire time 

series of the national inventory. For example in the 2013 submission, considering the total GHG 

emissions without LULUCF, emission levels of the base year show a minor decrease in comparison with 

previous annual inventory submission (-0.05%) whereas emissions for the year 2010 showed a decrease 

equal to 0.2%. Considering the national total including the LULUCF sector, the base year has increased 

by 4.5%, and the 2010 emission levels increased by 2.7%.

In the last years major changes regarded the energy sector, due to the update of CO2 emission factors 

for different fuel on account of information derive from operators under the European emissions trading 

scheme, in particular coal, derived gases and natural gas. In the industrial and in the agriculture sectors, 

minor recalculations occurred on account of the update of different activity data and parameters. The 

LULUCF sector was also affected by several updates in methodology to calculate emissions and removals, 

in parameters and coefficients used to estimate the carbon stock changes in the required pools. In the 

waste sector, the main revision regarded the update of waste incineration emissions on the basis of data 

collected at plant level.

3.2.5 QA/QC plan 

ISPRA has elaborated a QA/QC manual for the national emission inventory which describes QA/QC 

procedures and verification activities to be followed during the inventory compilation and helps in the 

improvement (APAT, 2006)22. Furthermore, specific QA/QC procedures and different verification activities 

implemented thoroughly the current inventory compilation, as part of the estimation process, are figured 

 

22 APAT, 2006. Quality Assurance/Quality Control plan for the Italian Emission Inventory. Procedures Manual. APAT, 

Miscellanea/2006.
53

out in the annual QA/QC plan (ISPRA, 2013)23. These documents are available at 

http://www.sinanet.isprambiente.it/it/sia-ispra/serie-storiche-emissioni.

Quality control checks and quality assurance procedures together with some verification activities are 

applied both to the national inventory as a whole and at sectoral level. Future planned improvements are 

prepared for each sector, by the relevant inventory compiler; each expert identifies areas for sectoral 

improvement based on his own knowledge and in response to inventory UNFCCC reviews and other kind 

of processes. 

Feedbacks for the Italian inventory are obtained by communicating data to various institutions and/or at 

local level. For instance, the communication of the inventory to the European Community results in a precheck of the GHG values before its submission to the UNFCCC, allowing possible relevant inconsistencies 

to be highlighted. Emission figures are also subjected to a process of re-examination once the inventory, 

the inventory related publications and the national inventory reports are posted on a website, specifically 

at www.isprambiente.gov.it. 

As for official independent reviews, an agreement to conduct a bilateral review between Italy and Spain 

was established in 2012, with a focus on the revision of the GHG inventories of both the Parties. Two incountry visits were already held; the Italian team revised part of the energy sector of Spain, specifically 

the categories public power plants, petroleum refining plants, road transport and off-road, whereas the 

Spanish team revised the Industrial processes and solvent and other product use, and the LULUCF 

sectors of Italy. Results of these analyses are being finalized in a technical report. Aim of the review was 

to carry out a general quality assurance analysis of the inventories in terms of the methodologies, the 

EFs and the references used, as well as analysing critical cross cutting issues such as the details of the 

national energy balances and comparison with international data (Eurostat and IEA), use of plant specific 

information. Revisions of the other inventory sectors are planned during the year 2013.

Additionally, an official independent review of the entire Italian greenhouse gas inventory has been 

undertaken by the Aether consultants. Main findings and recommendations are reported in a final 

document, and regard the transparency in the NIR, the improvement of QA/QC documentation and some 

pending issues in the LULUCF sector. These suggestions will be considered to improve the 2014 

submission.

In 2013, ISPRA finalised the provincial inventory at local scale for the year 2010 and updated figures for 

1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 in the framework of the Protocol on Long-term Financing of the Cooperative 

Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe 

(EMEP) under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLTRAP). Specifically, ISPRA 

has applied a top-down approach to estimate emissions at provincial areas based on proxy variables. The 

results were checked out by regional and local environmental agencies and authorities; data are available 

at ISPRA web address http://www.sinanet.isprambiente.it/it/sia-ispra/inventaria.

The inventory is also presented to a Technical Committee on Emissions (CTE), coordinated by the 

Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, where all the relevant Ministries and local authorities are 

represented; within this context emission figures and results are shared and discussed. Especially in the 

last years, there has been an intensification of the activities in order to establish national policies and 

measures to meet the 2020 EU target and implement national programmes for the post Kyoto period. In 

this regard, and as a basis for emission scenarios, the importance of the emission inventory is primary. 

 

23 ISPRA, 2013. Quality Assurance/Quality Control plan for the Italian Emission Inventory. Year 2013. ISPRA, 

180/2013.
54

Moreover, from 2011, a report concerning the state of implementation of commitments to reduce 

greenhouse gases emissions, and describing emission trend and projections, is prepared by ISMELS in 

consultation with other relevant Ministers. The report is annexed to the economy and financial document

(DEF) to be annually approved by the Government.

Expert peer reviews of the national inventory also occur annually within the UNFCCC process, and their 

results and suggestions can provide valuable feedback on areas where the inventory should be improved. 

Moreover, at European level, voluntary reviews of the European inventory are undertaken by experts 

from various Member States for critical sectoral categories. 

Comparisons between national activity data and data from international databases are usually carried out 

in order to identify the main differences and explain them. 

The quality of the inventory has also been improved through the organization and participation in sector 

specific workshops. 

A specific procedure undertaken for improving the inventory has been the establishing of national expert 

panels (in particular, on road transport, land use change and forestry and energy sectors) which involve, 

on a voluntary basis, different institutions, local agencies and industrial associations cooperating to 

improve activity data and emission factors accuracy. 

In addition to these expert panels, ISPRA participates in technical working groups within the National 

Statistical System. These groups, named Circoli di qualità, coordinated by the National Institute of 

Statistics, are constituted by both producers and users of statistical information with the aim of improving 

and monitoring statistical information in specific sectors such as transport, industry, agriculture, forest 

and fishing. As reported in previous sections, these activities improve the quality and details of basic 

data, as well as enable a more organized and timely communication. 

A proper archiving and reporting of the documentation related to the inventory compilation process is 

also part of the national QA/QC programme. All the material and documents used for the inventory 

preparation are stored at the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research.

Information relating to the planning, preparation, and management of inventory activities are 

documented and archived. A master documentation catalogue is generated for each inventory year and it 

is possible to track changes in data and methodologies over time. Specifically, the documentation 

includes:

electronic copies of each of the final inventory report and drafts, electronic copies of the final CRF 

tables and drafts; 

electronic copies of all the final, linked source category spreadsheets for the inventory estimates 

(including all spreadsheets that feed the emission spreadsheets);

results of the reviews and, in general, all documentation related to the corresponding inventory 

year submission.

After each reporting cycle, all database files, spreadsheets and electronic documents are archived as 

‘read-only’ mode.

A ‘reference’ database is also compiled every year to increase the transparency of the inventory. This 

database consists of a number of records that references all documentation used during the inventory 

compilation, for each sector and submission year, the link to the electronically available documents and 

the place where they are stored as well as internal documentation on QA/QC procedures.
55

3.3 National registry 

3.3.1 Description of national registry 

Directive 2009/29/EC, adopted in 2009, provided for the centralization of the EU ETS operations into a 

single European Union registry operated by the European Commission as well as for the inclusion of the 

aviation sector. At the same time, and with a view to increasing efficiency in the operations of their 

respective national registries, the EU Member States who are also Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (25) plus 

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway decided to operate their registries in a consolidated manner in 

accordance with all relevant decisions applicable to the establishment of Party registries - in particular 

Decision 13/CMP.1 and decision 24/CP.8. 

With a view to complying with the new requirements of Commission Regulation 920/2010 and 

Commission Regulation 1193/2011, in addition to implementing the platform shared by the consolidating 

Parties, the registry of EU has undergone a major re-development. The consolidated platform which 

implements the national registries in a consolidated manner (including the registry of EU) is called 

Consolidated System of EU registries (CSEUR) and was developed together with the new EU registry on 

the basis the following modalities:

1. Each Party retains its organization designated as its registry administrator to maintain the national 

registry of that Party and remains responsible for all the obligations of Parties that are to be fulfilled 

through registries;

2. Each Kyoto unit issued by the Parties in such a consolidated system is issued by one of the 

constituent Parties and continues to carry the Party of origin identifier in its unique serial number;

3. Each Party retains its own set of national accounts as required by paragraph 21 of the Annex to 

Decision 15/CMP.1. Each account within a national registry keeps a unique account number 

comprising the identifier of the Party and a unique number within the Party where the account is 

maintained;

4. Kyoto transactions continue to be forwarded to and checked by the UNFCCC Independent Transaction 

Log (ITL), which remains responsible for verifying the accuracy and validity of those transactions;

5. The transaction log and registries continue to reconcile their data with each other in order to ensure 

data consistency and facilitate the automated checks of the ITL;

6. The requirements of paragraphs 44 to 48 of the Annex to Decision 13/CMP.1 concerning making nonconfidential information accessible to the public would be fulfilled by each Party individually;

7. All registries reside on a consolidated IT platform sharing the same infrastructure technologies. The 

chosen architecture implements modalities to ensure that the consolidated national registries are 

uniquely identifiable, protected and distinguishable from each other, notably:

With regards to the data exchange, each national registry connects to the ITL directly and 

establishes a distinct and secure communication link through a consolidated communication 

channel (VPN tunnel);

The ITL remains responsible for authenticating the national registries and takes the full and final 

record of all transactions involving Kyoto units and other administrative processes such that 

those actions cannot be disputed or repudiated;

With regards to the data storage, the consolidated platform continues to guarantee that data is 

kept confidential and protected against unauthorized manipulation;
56

The data storage architecture also ensures that the data pertaining to a national registry are 

distinguishable and uniquely identifiable from the data pertaining to other consolidated national 

registries;

In addition, each consolidated national registry keeps a distinct user access entry point (URL) and 

a distinct set of authorisation and configuration rules. 

Following the successful implementation of the CSEUR platform, the 28 national registries concerned 

were re-certified in June 2012 and switched over to their new national registry on 20 June 2012. During 

the go-live process, all relevant transaction and holdings data were migrated to the CSEUR platform and 

the individual connections to and from the ITL were re-established for each Party.

The transition to the CSEUR platform apparently brought changes to the national registry with regards to 

the information required under decision 15/CMP.1 (Annex II.E Paragraphs 32a-j). Changes referring to 

Paragraphs 32b-j have been described in the National Inventory Report 2013, chapter 13; contact 

information about the registry administrator (Paragraph 32a) has also changed compared to previous 

national communication: the contact person is now Riccardo Liburdi.

3.3.2 Registry Administrator 

The Italian Government modified the previous Legislative Decrees N. 216/2006 and N. 51/2008 which 

enforced European Directive 87/2003/CE, by the new Legislative Decree N. 30 of 13 March 2013. 

According to this new Decree, ISPRA is responsible for the administration of the national section of the 

Union Registry under the European Directive 2009/29/EC (amending Directive 2003/87/EC). The Institute 

performs these tasks under the supervision of the national Competent Authority.

The Decree 30/2013 also confirms that economic resources for the technical and administrative support 

of the Registry will be supplied to ISPRA by account holders paying a fee. The amount of such a fee still 

has to be regulated by a future Decree.

3.3.3 Cooperation with other Parties 

The EU Member States who are also Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (25) plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and 

Norway decided to operate their registries in a consolidated manner in accordance with all relevant 

decisions applicable to the establishment of Party registries - in particular Decision 13/CMP.1 and decision 

24/CP.8. The consolidated platform which implements the national registries in a consolidated manner 

(including the registry of EU) is called Consolidated System of EU registries (CSEUR).

3.3.4 Database structure and capacity of the national registry

In 2012, the EU registry has undergone a major redevelopment with a view to comply with the new 

requirements of Commission Regulation 920/2010 and Commission Regulation 1193/2011 in addition to 

implementing the Consolidated System of EU registries (CSEUR). 

The complete description of the consolidated registry was provided in the common readiness 

documentation and specific readiness documentation for the national registry of EU and all consolidating 

national registries. The documentation is annexed to the 2013 submission to UNFCCC.

During certification, the consolidated registry was notably subject to connectivity testing, connectivity 

reliability testing, distinctness testing and interoperability testing to demonstrate capacity and 

conformance to the Data Exchange Standard (DES). All tests were executed successfully and lead to 
57

successful certification on 1 June 2012.

3.3.5 Conformity with data exchange standards (DES) 

The overall change to a Consolidated System of EU Registries triggered changes to the registry software 

and required new conformance testing. The complete description of the consolidated registry was 

provided in the common readiness documentation and specific readiness documentation for the national 

registry of EU and all consolidating national registries. The documentation is annexed to the 2013 

submission to UNFCCC.

During certification, the consolidated registry was notably subject to connectivity testing, connectivity 

reliability testing, distinctness testing and interoperability testing to demonstrate capacity and 

conformance to the Data Exchange Standard (DES). All tests were executed successfully and lead to 

successful certification on 1 June 2012.

3.3.6 Procedures for minimizing and handling of discrepancies

The overall change to a Consolidated System of EU Registries also triggered changes to discrepancies 

procedures, as reflected in the updated manual intervention document and the operational plan. The 

complete description of the consolidated registry was provided in the common readiness documentation 

and specific readiness documentation for the national registry of EU and all consolidating national 

registries. The documentation is annexed to the 2013 submission to UNFCCC.

3.3.7 Prevention of unauthorized manipulations and operator error

The overall change to a Consolidated System of EU Registries also triggered changes to security, as 

reflected in the updated security plan. The complete description of the consolidated registry was provided 

in the common readiness documentation and specific readiness documentation for the national registry of 

EU and all consolidating national registries. The documentation is annexed to the 2013 submission to 

UNFCCC.

3.3.8 User interface of the national registry

Non-confidential information required by Decision 13/CMP.1 annex II.E paragraphs 44-48, is publicly 

accessible through the public website http://www.info-ets.isprambiente.it.

All required information is provided with the following exceptions:

- paragraph 45(d)(e): account representatives' identifiers, name and contact information are 

deemed as confidential according to article 110 and Annex VIII of Registry Regulation N. 

389/2013/CE;

- paragraph 46: no details on Article 6 projects and ERU units are reported, since there are no Joint 

Implementation projects in Italy;

- paragraph 47(a)(d)(f): holding and transaction information is provided aggregated, on an 

account type level, due to more detailed information being deemed as confidential according to 

article 110 of Registry Regulation N. 389/2013/CE.

The Italian registry can be accessed at the following URL: 

https://ets-registry.webgate.ec.europa.eu/euregistry/IT/index.xhtml.

A support portal, with news, procedures, documentation, is also available for the public at:
58

http://www.info-ets.isprambiente.it.

3.3.9 Integrity of data storage and recovery 

The overall change to a Consolidated System of EU Registries also triggered changes to data integrity 

measures, as reflected in the updated disaster recovery plan. The complete description of the 

consolidated registry was provided in the common readiness documentation and specific readiness 

documentation for the national registry of EU and all consolidating national registries. The documentation 

is annexed to the 2013 submission to UNFCCC.

3.3.10 Test results 

The consolidated EU system of registries successfully completed a full certification procedure in June 

2012. Notably, this procedure includes connectivity testing, connectivity reliability testing, distinctness 

testing and interoperability testing to demonstrate capacity and conformance to the Data Exchange

Standard (DES). This included a full Annex H test. All tests were executed successfully and led to 

successful certification on 1 June2012.

On 2 October 2012 a new software release (called V4) including functionalities enabling the auctioning of 

phase 3 and aviation allowances, a new EU ETS account type (trading account) and a trusted account list 

went into Production. This measure prevents any transfer from a holding account to an account that is 

not trusted.

The October 2012 release (version 4.0) was only a minor iteration and changes were limited to EU ETS 

functionality and had no impact on Kyoto Protocol functions in the registry. However, each major release 

of the registry is subject to both regression testing and tests related to new functionalities. These tests 

include thorough testing against the DES and are carried out prior to the relevant major release of the 

version to Production.

Prior to each release, security tests are carried out by the registry developer, by the hosting organization 

(DIGIT) and by an independent security expert. Test reports for these tests are confidential, in line with 

standard security protocol, and cannot be disclosed. The scope of the security tests includes source code 

analysis, vulnerability tests (OWASP) and penetration tests. Prior to specific release, load and stress tests 

are carried out by the hosting organization (DIGIT).
59

4 POLICIES AND MEASURES24

4.1 Policy making process 

In the most recent years actions taken by Italy to mitigate climate change are driven by the commitment 

undertaken under:

- the Kyoto Protocol target for the period 2008-2012

- the so called “EU Climate Energy Package” for the period 2013-2020.

4.1.1 The Kyoto Protocol

Under the Kyoto Protocol, the EU-1525 has agreed to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 8% 

in the period 2008–2012 compared to base year levels and has decided to fulfil its commitment jointly in 

accordance with the provisions of Kyoto Protocol Article 4( so called “EU burden sharing agreement”).

In the framework of the EU Burden Sharing Agreement, Italy has committed to reduce its greenhouse 

gas emissions by 6.5% below base-year levels (1990) over the first commitment period, 2008-2012. 

After the review of the initial report of Italy under the Kyoto Protocol (FCCC/IRR/2007/ITA) the Kyoto 

objective has been established as 483.26 MtCO2/year for each year of the “commitment period”.

4.1.2 The “Climate and Energy Package” and the Effort Sharing Decision n. 406/2009/EC

The 8

th and 9th March 2007 conclusion of the European Council named “Integrated Energy and Climate 

Change Package” (IECCP) commits the European Member States to achieve by 2020 the following 

targets:

• 20% reduction of EU greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990. This reduction could be raised

to 30% with a global agreement for the period post 2012.

• 20% reduction in energy use to be achieved by improving energy efficiency.

• 20% use of renewable energy

• 10% use of biofuels in the transport sector.

This comprehensive set of legislation act also known as the ‘Climate and Energy package’ or “20/20/20 

package” was agreed at EU level to reach those objectives and is being implemented. The most relevant 

European legislation acts are: 

• Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the 

promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently 

repealing directive 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC: this Directive also subdivides the 20% 

renewable target between the EU Member States. According to that, by 2020 the 17% of the 

national final energy consumption of Italy should come from renewable sources.

• Directive 2009/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 amending 

Directive 2003/87/EC so as to improve and extend the greenhouse gas emission allowance 

trading scheme of the community: this Directive revises and strengthens the EU Emissions 

Trading Scheme (EU ETS) already in place since 2005. 

 

24 Lead author: Monica Pantaleoni (ISPRA). Contributing authors: Riccardo De Lauretis (ISPRA), Eleonora Di Cristofaro

(ISPRA), Domenico Gaudioso (ISPRA), Barbara Gonella (ISPRA), Ernesto Taurino (ISPRA), Marina Vitullo (ISPRA).

25 Until 1 May 2004 the Member States of the EU were 15 (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, 

Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom). After 1 May 2004 

thirteen new Member States joined the Union (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, 

Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia).
60

• Decision n. 406/2009/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the 

effort of Member States to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Community’s 

greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments up to 2020 (ESD): by 2020 Italy shall reduce 

the GHG emissions by 13% compared to 2005 levels, in all the sectors not covered by the EU 

ETS, such as transport, civil, agriculture and waste sectors.

• Directive 2012/27/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on 

energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 

2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC: this Directive establishes a common framework of measures for the 

promotion of energy efficiency within the Union in order to ensure the achievement of the Union’s 

2020 20 % headline target on energy efficiency and to pave the way for further energy efficiency 

improvements beyond that date.

In order to monitoring progress and assess compliance towards the targets set by Directive 2009/29/CE 

and by Decision 406/2009/CE, starting from year 2013 the national emissions and projections should be 

divided in two main sectors: those covered by EU ETS and all other sectors.

4.1.3 The European Union Emission Trading Scheme- ETS sector

The Directive 2003/87/EC has been amended by the Directive 2008/101/CE to include the aviation sector 

and by Directive 2009/29/CE of 23 April 2009, which introduces substantive changes in the scheme for 

the period 2013-2020. One of the most important changes relates to the EU wide cap setting procedure, 

as the new system will be no longer based on national-cap setting. 

The EU wide cap is determined according to a linear reduction path arriving at a reduction of 21% below 

reported 2005 emissions in 2020. The starting point of such path is the mid-point of the 2008-12 period, 

while the starting level is the average annual total quantity of allowances issued by Member States 

pursuant to Commission Decisions on Member States’ national allocation plans for the period 2008-12. 

This path implies a decrease of the EU wide cap of 1.74% annually. Among the other significant changes 

it has to be underlined:

auctioning is the main allocation method and it’s applied as the only allocation method for the 

power sector, 

Manufacturing sectors are allocated via benchmarks set as the 10% best CO2 performance per 

unit of production taking the years 2007-2008 as a basis for data.

the trading period is extended from 5 to 8 years in order to provide for more certainty to 

industry,

other activities (such as the production of nitric, adipic, glyoxal and glyoxylic acid, the production 

of ammonia, aluminium) and greenhouse gases (nitrous oxide and perfluorocarbons) are included 

in the scheme. 

National and international aviation has been included in ETS starting from 2012, however the full 

implementation of aviation inclusion is still under international negotiation.

For what concerns the Kyoto period 2008-2012, Table 4.1 shows verified emissions submitted by ETS 

operators by sector in the second trading period (2008-2012) and the difference between the verified 

emissions and ex ante allocation.
61

Table 4.1 - Emissions projections and allocations for ETS sectors for the years covered by Kyoto 

Protocol

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Mt CO2 Mt CO2 Mt CO2 Mt CO2 Mt CO2

Verified EU ETS operators emissions 220.7 184.9 191.5 190.0 179.1

Allocation (*) 201.6 201.6 201.6 201.6 201.6

Difference between verified emissions and allocation 19.1 -16.7 -10.1 -11.6 -22.5

Allowed use of CERs/ERUs 30.2 30.2 30.2 30.2 30.2

(*) Note: the table does not report the annual allocation change from year to year but the average annual cap

4.1.4 Sectors under the Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) 

As mentioned above under the ESD Decision (Decision No 406/2009/EC) Italy has to reduce emissions 

from sectors not covered by EU ETS of 13% compared to 2005 by 2020. The ESD establishes also annual 

binding reduction targets from 2013 until 2020. The Annual Emission Allocation (AEA) for 2020 is 

calculated using the following formula:

AEA2020 = (A-B-C-D-E)*(1+F)

Where:

A Total emissions excluding LULUCF in 2005

B CO2 emissions from civil aviation in 2005

C Verified 2005 emissions of installations covered by the ETS in 2005-2007

D 2005 emissions of installations that were included (counted as positive) or excluded (counted 

as negative) in the ETS in 2008-2012 due to an adjusted scope applied by the Member State

E Verified 2005 emissions of installations opted out in 2005 and included in the ETS in 2008-

2012

F Percentage stated in the ESD Annex II (for Italy –13%).

The AEA for 2013 t is calculated using the following formula:

AEA 2013 = Average ESD emissions 2008-2010 = (A' – B' – C‘),

Where:

A’ Average total emissions excluding LULUCF in 2008-2010

B’ Average CO2 emissions from category 1.A.3.a (national aviation) in 2008-2010

C’ Average verified emissions of installations covered by the ETS in 2008-2010

The AEA for the year “y” of the ESD commitment period 2013-2020 is calculated using the following 

formula:

[AEA](y) = [Average ESD emissions 2008-2010] *(2020-y)/7 + [AEA](2020)*(y-2013)/7

AEA : Annual Emissions Allocation

Y: year

On 26th March 2013 the European Commission adopted with the Decision (2013/162/EU) on determining 

Member States annual emissions allocation for the years from 2013 to 2020, for Italy those targets are 
62

reported in Table 4.2. In the table, two series of figures are reported because although the EU targets 

have been established using the inventory data available, and calculated in accordance with the IPCC 

1996 guidelines, from 2015 the 2006 IPCC guidelines shall be implemented and new GWPs shall be used

to estimate GHG emissions for the inventory 2013 emissions onwards. These new GWP values are taken 

from the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. For this reason,

the second row of the table will be considered to evaluate the compliance with the ESD targets.

Table 4.2 – ESD 2013-2020 targets for Italy

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

ITALY ESD Target - (with GWPs of 1996

IPCC guidelines)

310.1 308.1 306.2 304.2 302.2 300.2 298.3 296.3

ITALY ESD Target - (with GWPs of 2006 

IPCC guidelines)

317.8 315.6 313.5 311.3 309.2 307.1 304.9 302.8

4.1.5 National decision-making process related to climate change policies

The Ministry of the Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS) is responsible for elaborating the national plan 

for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to be proposed for adoption to the Inter-Ministerial 

Committee for Economic Planning - CIPE (see paragraph 2.2.1). 

The financial support and legislative instruments to implement the plan are identified through the 

Financial Law and allocated at the central and local bodies on the basis of the respective competences.

As reported just in the “Fifth National Communication” (VNC) the first programme (“National programme 

for the containment of carbon dioxide emissions”) was approved in 1994 with the aim to stabilize CO2

emissions by 2000 at 1990 level. Afterwards the programme was enhanced and updated (CIPE 

deliberations of 1997 and 1998) and in 2002, when the Kyoto Protocol was ratified26, an overall national 

climate change strategy to meet the Kyoto Protocol target was approved (CIPE deliberation 123/2002).

In 2007 the CIPE adopted a further deliberation providing guidance to update the national strategy (CIPE 

deliberation 135/2007). The latest CIPE deliberation27 was adopted in 2013 in order to enable Italy to 

contribute in the achievements of the Kyoto Protocol target and commitments set by Decision 

406/2009/EC (CIPE deliberation 17/2013).

Moreover, on the8th March 2013 the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Environment, 

Land and Sea have approved a decree outlining a new “National Energy Strategy”. This strategy identifies 

a path to achieve the 2020 targets, related to energy efficiency and renewable energy use, and contains 

a list of measures that should be implemented; this list of measures is consistent with the ones reported 

in the CIPE deliberation.

In addition the CIPE deliberation 17/2013 envisages under art.4 the most relevant actions that should be 

put in place, to achieve the EU 2020 targets according with a cost and effects analysis: 

extend to 2020 the tax deduction for the building restructuration;

increasing the energy efficiency in infrastructures , transportation and industrial processes;

promoting the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the service sectors;

reforming energy taxation;

 

26 Law n. 120 of 1 June 2002, “Ratifica ed esecuzione del Protocollo di Kyoto alla Convenzione Quadro delle Nazioni 

Unite sui Cambiamenti Climatici, fatto a Kyoto l’11 dicembre 1997”, in GU n. 142 of 9 June 2002.

27 8th March 2013; OJ n.142 “Serie Generale” 19th June 2013
63

promoting low carbon technologies.

4.1.6 Monitoring and evaluation of progress with climate policies and measures 

The CIPE resolution 123/2002 has established an inter-Ministerial Technical Committee for GHG 

emissions (CTE). The CTE is chaired by the IMELS and at the time of the approval of the CIPE 

deliberation 123/2002 included representatives of the Ministries of Economy and Finance, Economic 

Development, Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, Infrastructures, Transport, University and 

Research, Foreign Affairs and of Regions. In 2009, the CIPE through its deliberation n. 16/2009, decided 

to enhance the institutional framework through the reconstitution of CTE at level of general directors and 

its integration with representatives of the Prime Minister office.

The main task of the CTE is to monitor the emissions trend, the status of the implementation of the 

policies and measures identified in the overall national strategy of GHG emissions and in general to assist 

IMELS in elaborating the national plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to be proposed to 

CIPE for adoption. 

The deliberation 17/2013 has also established that by 31st January of each year, the Ministry of 

Environment, Land and Sea will present to CTE for further considerations:

an update of the “With Measures” and “With Additional Measures” Scenario (see chapter 5 for 

definitions);

an assessment of the implementation of measures;

an update on the status of compliance with ESD Decision.

Considering the forthcoming deadline for the assessment of the compliance with the Kyoto protocol 

target, the deliberation n. 17/2013 entrusts IMELS directly with the task to propose to the CIPE the 

AAUs, CERs and ERUs portfolio to be bought to fill the gap.

4.2 Main policies and measures 

This section gives a description of the main policies and measures that have had or are expected to have 

a direct or indirect effect on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Italy.

The potential emissions reduction has been assessed in detail up to 2020 for those policies and measures 

reported in the latest CIPE deliberation n 17/2013. 

The policies and measures hereinafter described are divided in two types:

Measures implemented by 31st December 2010;

Measures planned on 31st December 2012.

4.3 Cross Sectoral policies

4.3.1 National Action Plan for Renewable Energy 2010 and Legislative decree 28/2011

In January 2007, the Commission published a Renewable Energy Roadmap outlining a long-term strategy 

and in 2009 the EU adopted Directive 2009/28/EC aiming at increasing the average renewable share 

across the EU to 20% by 2020. Such Directive sets individual targets for each Member State (the national 

target for Italy is 17%). EU countries are free to decide their own preferred 'mix' of renewable sources, 

allowing them to take account of their different potentials. They must present national action plans 

(NAPs) based on the indicative trajectories to the European Commission by 30 June 2010, followed by 

progress reports submitted every two years. The objective expressed in the form of a share of energy 
64

from renewable sources relative to total consumption in transport, electricity and heating and cooling in 

2020 takes also into account the effects of other policy measures addressing energy efficiency.

The Directive 2009/28/EU has been transposed by the Legislative Decree N. 28 of 3rd March 2011. The 

decree defines the mechanisms, the incentives and the institutional, financial and legal tools necessary to 

achieve the 2020 targets regarding the renewable energy use. The decree also provides for a substantial 

reorganization of existing incentive schemes in particular in the field of green certificates and white 

certificates system, both described below.

4.3.2 Decree 28th December 2012 - Conto Termico (“Heating Account”)

The 28th December 2012 decree, the so called “Conto Termico” decree, implements the incentive scheme 

introduced by Legislative Decree 28/2011; in particular encourages small-scale energy efficiency 

measures in public sector buildings and the production of thermal energy from renewable sources (in 

both public and private sector). 

The measures covered by the decree are: building shells, replacement of heating plants with ones more 

efficient and replacement or installation of equipment using renewable energy.

The incentives are identified based on the energy saving achievable for the building and on energy 

production from renewable sources

4.3.3 Directive 2012/27/EC – Energy Efficiency

The Directive 2012/27/UE establishes a common framework for the promotion of energy efficiency, 

doesn’t set mandatory targets but in the same time points out measures in the areas of energy-supply 

and energy end-use.

Each member state by the end of April 2013 should set targets in terms of energy consumption and 

primary /final energy savings, energy intensity and should notify it to the European Commission. By the 

end of June 2014 the European Commission will assesses progresses. 

The most relevant directive articles are ones related to the renovation of the buildings in the public 

sector, the metering and accounting of energy efficiency, promoting of heating and cooling (the impact 

on thermal generation), processing, transmission and distribution of energy.

4.3.4 The White Certificates system

The White Certificates or Title of Energy Efficiency (TEE) system represents a cross cutting policy aimed 

at promoting energy efficiency and delivering emissions reductions in all the energy end use sectors: 

industrial, residential, service. The system was firstly introduced in July 2001 by means of two ministerial 

decrees. The history of this measure has just been explained in detail in paragraph 4.3 of the VNC. Very 

briefly the system introduces and enforces energy saving targets for electricity and natural gas 

distributors.

In the December 2012 was issued the so called “White Certificate Decree” concerning the determination 

of national quantitative targets of energy savings that must be pursued to the distribution companies for 

electricity and gas from 2013 to 2016 and for the expansion of white certificates mechanism. The decree 

also defines the criteria, the conditions and the procedures to implement energy efficiency measures in 

end-use energy and transfers to the GSE from 2013 the management, assessment and certification of 

energy saving projects carried out under white certificates.
65

Table 4.3 - National target for primary energy savings

REVISED TARGET FOR THE ITALIAN WHITE 

CERTIFICATE SYSTEM 2013-2016

(Mtoe/Year)

Year Electricity distributors Gas distributors

2013 3.03 2.48

2014 3.71 3.04

2015 4.26 3.49

2016 5.23 4.28

The certification of the energy savings produced by each project is made via the issuing of Energy 

Efficiency Titles (EETs). 1 EET is equivalent of 1 Mtoe

From the beginning of the mechanism to the 31st May 2012, the emission of 14,769,053 TEE was 

approved, 3,324,737 TEE only from the 1st January 2012 to the 31st May 2012. 

The eligible projects are: re-phasing of electric systems, electric motors and their applications, lighting 

systems, reduction of electricity leaking, switching from electricity to other fuels when this produces 

primary energy savings, reduction of electricity consumption for heating purposes, reduction of electricity 

consumption for air conditioning, high efficient electric appliances, high efficient office equipment, 

switching from other fuels to electricity when this produces primary energy savings, reduction of primary 

energy consumption in industrial processes, reduction of primary energy consumption for heating, 

ventilation and air conditioning system, promotion of end-use technologies fuelled by renewable sources, 

electric and gas-fuelled vehicles, information campaigns to raise awareness and promote energy savings.

A further extension of the white certificate system objective till 2020 is foreseeable, so it has been 

considered as a planned measure.

4.3.5 Fondo Rotativo Kyoto – “Kyoto Rotation fund”

The “Fondo Rotativo di Kyoto” is a plan designed to promote public and private investment for energy 

efficiency in the building sector and in the industrial sector, and to promote small high-efficiency systems 

for the production of electricity, heating and cooling, use of renewable sources in small plants, the 

sustainable forest management and the promotion of innovative technologies in the energy sector. The 

Fondo provide long term lending at low interest rate: the loans reimbursed by the operator are reused in 

other project. 

In June 2012, the Fondo Rotativo di Kyoto has been re-oriented to finance private corporate “green” 

investment with a minimum size of 0,5 M€. An eligibility criterion to access the Fund is to create new jobs 

hiring young people under 35y.

4.3.6 The Kyoto mechanisms 

Italy recognises that the project based Kyoto Protocol Mechanisms (Joint Implementation (JI) and Clean 

Development Mechanism (CDM))28 play a role in meeting its commitment under the Protocol and 

 

28 Eligible projects in the energy and end use sector are: Re-phasing of electric systems; Electric motors and their 

applications; Lighting systems; Reduction of electricity leaking; Switching from electricity to other fuels when this 
66

operators’ commitments under Directive 2003/87/CE. The supplementarity principle embodied in the 

Kyoto Protocol was interpreted by the EU and its Member States as the possibility to use CERs/ERUs up 

to 50% of the GHG emissions reduction efforts.

Under the EU ETS Italian operators have been allowed to use CERs/ERUs up to 15% of the total quantity 

of allowances to be allocated. Considering that such quantity is equal to 201.6 MtCO2/year, the maximum 

quantity of CERs/ERUs to be used by operators under Directive 2003/87/CE is equal to 30.2 MtCO2/year. 

In order to respect the supplementarity principle the maximum quantity of CERs/ERUs to be used by the 

Government to meet its Kyoto Protocol target is limited to the difference between the 50% of the GHG 

emissions reduction efforts29 and the quantity of CERs/ERUs allowed to ETS operators, to date a ceiling of 

12.9 Mt/year.

The credits from project based mechanisms estimated for the first commitment period and financed by 

the Italian Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea through the ICF (Italian Carbon Fund), CDCF 

(Community Development Carbon Fund) and BioCF (BioCarbon Fund) are reported in the table below. 

The ICF is open also to the participation of the Italian private and public sector; the minimum 

contribution from each additional participant is set at US$1 million.

Table 4.4 - Quantitative contribution of Kyoto mechanisms for the first commitment period

Kyoto mechanism Total projected quantities for the 

first commitment period 

(Gg CO2 equivalent)

Total for all Kyoto mechanisms 10.15

International emissions trading 2.0

All project based activities

joint implementation 0.15

clean development mechanism 8.0

The table does not include credits used by ETS operators to comply with their surrender obligation under 

the EU ETS.

4.3.7 Ecodesign of energy-using products

The legislative decree 20/2007 has transposed directive 2005/32/CE into the national legal system and 

has imposed minimum efficiency requirements for energy-using products (excepted in the transport 

sectors) sold in UE. The Regulatory Committee elaborates regulations containing standard specifications 

of products.

This policy is actually under revision.

 

produces primary energy savings; Reduction of electricity consumption for heating purposes; Reduction of electricity 

consumption for air conditioning; High efficient electric appliances; High efficient office equipment; Switching from 

other fuels to electricity when this produces primary energy savings; Reduction of primary energy consumption for 

heating, ventilation and air conditioning system; Promotion of end-use technologies fuelled by renewable sources; 

Electric and gas-fuelled vehicles; Information campaigns to raise awareness and promote energy savings.

29 As reported in the fourth chapter of the VNC:”In the process of approval of the Italian National Allocation Plan for 

the period 2008-2012 due according to Directive 2003/87/CE, the Italian emissions reduction efforts was estimated to 

be equal to the “distance to the Kyoto target” in year 2005 (90.3 MtCO2eq). As a consequence the maximum amount 

of CERs/ERUs that can be used in the period 2008-2012 is 45.15 MtCO2eq (0.50*90.3 MtCO2eq). Such value includes 

both CERs/ERUs to be used by the Government to meet its commitment under the Kyoto Protocol and the ones to be 

used by operators to meet their commitments under Directive 2003/87/CE.”
67

4.3.8 Structural funds 2007-2013

This policy has been described in detail in the ”VNC” (see paragraph 4.3 and in particular table 4.3). The 

measure foresee a contribution by EU in investments focused on the improvement of energy efficiency, 

development of renewable energies and improvement of transport networks and waste management.

4.3.9 Covenant of Mayors

The Covenant of Mayors is an initiative launched by the European Commission to endorse and support 

the voluntary efforts deployed by local authorities in the implementation of sustainable energy policies. It 

plays an important role in mobilising local and regional actors around the fulfilment of the EU’s climate 

and energy targets for 2020. 

In order to translate their voluntary political commitment into specific measures and projects, Covenant 

signatories undertake to prepare and submit, within the year following their signature, a Sustainable 

Energy Action Plan (SEAP). The SEAP is the key document in which the Covenant signatory outlines how 

it intends to reach its CO2 reduction target by 2020. It defines the activities and measures set up to 

achieve the targets, together with time frames and assigned responsibilities. By the end of 2013, 2627 

Italian mayors, representing 31,356,850 inhabitants, have signed the Covenant. The population covered 

is therefore 53% of the total Italian population, which means that Italy ranks second in Europe, after 

Spain. 66% of the Covenant Communities have already submitted their SEAP.

Through their participation to the initiative, the Italian municipalities have achieved a number of positive 

results, in particular by increasing local political attention on the issues of energy efficiency, renewable 

energy, sustainable mobility, waste, and establishing channels to provide information to citizens.

At the same time, the following problems have emerged:

• difficulties in ensuring compliance with the commitments arising from the accession to the Covenant 

of Mayors (e.g. the submission of SEAPs within one year from the signature of the covenant);

• lack of human and financial resources to achieve objectives;

• identification, planning and implementation of actions in all key areas, which will lead to the 

objective of reducing CO2 emissions (especially for smaller municipalities).

For these reasons, the Ministry for the Environment will provide in the future increasing support to the 

Communities participating to the initiative, by:

• supporting technical work concerning the preparation of baseline inventories (e.g. identification of a 

common set of data-bases for energy consumption, homogenization of software for inventory 

calculations)

• providing guidelines and handbooks for public administrations concerning issues such as energy 

audits of buildings, EU funding, energy performance contracting, preparation of joint SEAPs;

• establishing a web site providing examples of good practices and experiences of various Italian 

subjects.

4.4 Energy Sectors

The Energy production and transformation sector are under Emission Trading Scheme. The emissions 

from this sector are also influenced by other measures that traditionally can be grouped into four main 

measures: 
68

Use of renewable energy 

Cogeneration

Improving the efficiency for electricity and thermal use of thermoelectric power plants

Improving of energy efficiency in industry

4.4.1 Renewable energy sources

In Italy the electricity production by renewable use has had a very important development in the period 

2010-2012, driven by the financial incentives, in particular for the photovoltaic sources; in fact the 

electricity gross production from renewable sources was ~ 93 TWh in the 2012 compared with a 2020 

national target of 120-130 TWh / year according to 2013 “National Energy Strategy”. As explained before 

this rapid growth is due in particular to the high increase of photovoltaic production.

Also the thermal renewable sources have a relevant role to achieve the IECCP targets. Until recently 

these technologies have been rather neglected by the country's energy policies and regulation, but 

despite this, they have had an important development.

The heat consumption represents the largest share of our energy consumption, both in the civil and 

industrial sectors (approximately 45% of total final consumption). The thermal renewable are generally 

more efficient and less expensive than the electric ones, in terms of cost per tonne of CO2 avoided or 

cost per kWh of final energy produced and involve significant benefits of saving fossil fuel for the final 

consumer (e.g. through biomass heating), and for the country as a whole (reducing imports).

The development of renewable thermal energy use over the past five years has occurred in line with the 

objectives (5.4 Mtoe in 2010) and was driven by measures regarding energy efficiency, tax deductions or 

white certificates. 

The rest of this paragraph presents a review of main incentives to renewable in last years. 

The Green Certificates system 

Since the early 90s several different schemes have been introduced to subsidise the diffusion of 

renewable energy sources in electricity production, see paragraph 4.2 of the VNC.

Green Certificates are tradable rights issued for the first eight years of incremental generation of 

renewable electricity: in order to qualify for the issuance of Green Certificates the plant generating 

renewable electricity must have started operation after April 1st, 1999. Each certificate represents 50 

MWh and its price is determined by market forces. In case of insufficient supply of Green Certificates on 

the market, the GSE can sell these certificates at a prescribed price that is the difference between the 

take-up price paid to the generator and the average price paid in the same period to conventional 

producers. This price has become an upper boundary for the price of the certificates freely sold on the 

market. 

Paragraph 5 of Article 22 of Legislative Decree 28/2011 declares the end of the incentive mechanism of 

green certificates after 2015, that will be substitutes by other supporting mechanisms outlined below.

The “Omnicomprensiva” Tariff - All-encompassing tariff

The “Omnicomprensiva” is a support system based on providing fixed charge granted to renewable 

energy installations in the energy function electric grid (feed in tariff). This rate is applicable only to 
69

facilities of less than 1 MW (200 kW for wind) of power and includes both an incentive (differentiated by 

technology) and the remuneration for the energy fed into the grid. The rate is all-encompassing and is 

recognized for a variable period depending by technology. This system will substitute all other incentives 

schemes for small installations.

Ministerial Decree of 6th July 2012

With the Ministerial Decree of 6th July 2012 the incentives for the renewable electrical energy (excluding 

photovoltaic) has been changed, in particular for new plants starting from the 1st January 2013 the 

“Green Certificates” and the “Omnicomprensiva Tariff” have been replaced by a new scheme, less 

expensive for the end users, people and company. The main changes introduced by the decree concern 

the way of access to incentives, that are now divided into three parts depending on type and power of 

plants:

Direct access to incentives: for new or fully reconstructed or restarted plants below a threshold 

level; the system is very similar to actual “all encompassing” tariff

Register enrolment : for new or fully reconstructed or restarted plants that have power bigger 

than the Direct access level but lesser than the auction level;

Auction: for new or fully reconstructed or restarted plants with power bigger than a certain 

threshold value.

In the following table are reported the threshold for the access to the different incentives divided by type 

of renewable energy sources:

Table 4.5 – Ministerial Decree of 6th July 2012 - Incentives scheme 

Source Direct access Register Auction

Wind - on shore 1-≤60kW >60kW-≤5MW >5MW

Wind - offshore 1-≤60kW >5W

Hydroelectric 1-≤50kW >50kW-≤10MW >10MW

Hydroelectric (art.4, c. 3, b) 1-≤250kW >250kW-≤10MW >10MW

Oceanic (sea waves) 1-≤60kW >60kW-≤5MW

Geothermal 1kW-≤20MW >20MW

Geothermal (art.4, c. 3, f) 1kW-≤5MW

Biomass (art.8,c. 4, a) e b) 1-≤200kW >200kW-≤5MW >5MW

Biomass (art.8, c. 4, c) e d) from waste water 

treatment sludge, biogas and bioliquid

1kW- ≤5MW >5MW

Biogas 1-≤100kW >100kW-≤5MW >5MW

Source: FIRE – Federazione Italiana per l’uso Razionale dell’Energia
70

The “Conto Energia”

The “Conto Energia” is a support system that provides constant compensation electricity produced by 

solar photovoltaic and thermodynamic, for a fixed period (20 years for photovoltaic systems, solar 

systems and 25 years for thermodynamic) through a tariff for all energy produced by the plants (feed in 

premium). The system has exhausted the available financial allowances in mid 2013. Photovoltaic 

generation has reduced capital costs by about 70% from 2008 to 2012 and incentives for small 

photovoltaic installations are limited to tax incentives (50% of capital investment recovered as tax 

deduction).

Thermal renewable energy

The strategy of additional development of thermal renewable energy use is based on a number of specific 

mechanisms:

small size technologies (relating primarily to the civilian sector), the Government has recently 

launched a ministerial decree the so-called "Conto Termico". This mechanism, as explained 

before, provide the access to the incentive scheme to the most virtuous technologies, with 

minimum standards established for each type of technologies and greater incentives where also 

energy efficiency is foreseen.

For larger size technologies the supporting mechanisms are the White Certificates.

Table 4.6 reports impacts on emissions for every single measure.
71

Table 4.6 – Summary of policies and measures in the energy sector – Renewable energy sources

Name of PAM Target and/or activity affected GHG 

affected

Type of 

instrument

Status Implementing 

entity or 

entities

TOTAL GHG

Reduction

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

Third "Conto Energia" (art.3 

paragraph 1, decree 6 august 2010) 

and Fourth "Conto Energia" (Decree 

5 may 2011)

Supporting the expansion of photovoltaic 

plants through feed in tariffs until a 

maximum capacity of 8000 MW CO2 Economic Implemented Government 2.3 2.3

Third "Conto Energia" : photovoltaic 

(art.3 paragraph 2, decree 6 august 

2010)

Supporting the expansion of photovoltaic 

plants through feed in tariffs until a 

maximum capacity of 3000 MW 

CO2 Economic Implemented Government 0.9 0.9

Green Certificate - budget law 2008 Green Certificate increased every year 

by 0,75% for 2007 - 2012 and establish 

"omnicomprensiva" rate for plants <1 

Mwe

CO2 Economic Implemented Government 4 4

European regional development fund 

(ERDF), National Strategic 

Framework 2008-2013 

Supporting system for RES whit Regional 

operative program (POR) and 

Interregional operative program (POIN)

CO2 Economic Implemented Government 1.4 1.4

National Action Plan for Renewable 

Energy 2010 

Measures under the NAP - RES 2010 

reducing energy losses through the 

modernization of the national electricity 

transmission grid and of the distribution 

grid

CO2 Regulatory Planned Government 0 0.99
72

Name of PAM Target and/or activity affected GHG 

affected

Type of 

instrument

Status Implementing 

entity or 

entities

TOTAL GHG

Reduction

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

National Action Plan for Renewable 

Energy 2010 - Legislative decree 

28/2001 - Kyoto fund

Measures to achieve the 2020 target 

provided by the NAP 2010 and further 

incentives for the implementation of the 

Decree. 28/2011 to reach the 110 TWh 

target from renewable sources, including 

the development of smart grid. 

Supporting small interventions for 

renewable energy with capital loans at 

subsidized interest rate.

CO2 Regulatory Planned Government 0.8 6.32

New measure of promoting and 

supporting RES-E

Measures to be determined after the 

achievement of 130 TWh renewable 

electricity target, as indicated in the 

"National Energy Strategy" report

CO2 Regulatory Planned Government 3.5 10

National Action Plan for Renewable 

Energy 2010 and National Action 

Plan for Energy Efficiency 2011

Measures for the promotion of thermal 

energy from renewable sources and 

incentives to small-scale interventions to 

increase the production of thermal 

energy from renewable sources

CO2 Economic Planned Government 0 10.6

Source: Delibera CIPE 8th march 2013
73

Domestic and regional programmes – Ministerial Decree of 15th March 2012 – Burden Sharing

The Regions and the Autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano also contribute separately to the 

achievement of the national target on renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy at 2020 

and energy efficiency. The Decree of the 15th March 2012 the so called “Burden Sharing Decree” defines 

the regional targets and the methodology to achieve those targets, and also to manage the failure of the 

achievement. In the decree the targets are set for the electric (FER-E) and thermal (FER-C) use of 

renewable energy.

In the Table 4.7 are reported the target for the FER-E and in the Table 4.8 the targets for the FER-C. The 

reference years reported in the table are different:

Reference year FER-E: 2009 calculated in accordance with Directive 2009/28;

Reference year FER–C: 2005 regional consumption from renewable sources for heating / cooling.

Table 4.7 – Burden sharing decree - Table 11 - FER–E 2020 targets

Regions FER-E Consumption 

Reference year

FER-E Consumption

2020 Targets Growth

ktoe ktoe ktoe %

Abruzzo 116 183 67 58

Basilicata 72 234 162 224

Calabria 185 344 160 86

Campania 187 412 225 120

Emilia Romagna 216 400 185 86

Friuli V. Giulia 149 213 64 43

Lazio 112 317 205 183

Liguria 32 58 26 81

Lombardia 993 1090 97 10

Marche 60 134 75 125

Molise 54 127 73 135

Piemonte 601 732 131 22

Puglia 245 845 599 244

Sardegna 127 419 292 231

Sicilia 153 584 431 282

TAA-Bolzano 407 401 -6 -1

TAA-Trento 370 356 -15 -4

Toscana 556 769 213 38

Umbria 133 183 50 37

Valle d' Aosta 255 240 -15 -6

Veneto 357 463 106 30

Total 5,380 8,504 3,124 58
74

Table 4.8 – Burden sharing decree - Table 12 -FER–C 2020 targets

Regions FER-C Consumption 

Reference year

FER-C Consumption

2020 Targets Growth

ktoe ktoe ktoe %

Abruzzo 48 346 298 620

Basilicata 18 138 120 649

Calabria 34 322 287 837

Campania 99 699 600 608

Emilia Romagna 66 828 762 1151

Friuli V. Giulia 36 229 192 532

Lazio 300 876 576 192

Liguria 71 354 283 399

Lombardia 315 1815 1499 476

Marche 34 406 372 1079

Molise 15 92 77 497

Piemonte 487 990 504 103

Puglia 54 513 459 856

Sardegna 19 249 230 1203

Sicilia 55 618 563 1017

TAA-Bolzano 34 81 47 138

TAA-Trento 36 134 98 276

Toscana 46 786 740 1596

Umbria 33 172 139 414

Valle d' Aosta 38 47 8 22

Veneto 75 810 735 979

Total 1,916 10,506 8,590 448

(*) In this table are included 50 ktoe of biogas/biomethane from the transport sector as reported in the National 

Action Plan for Renewable Energy

4.4.2 Cogeneration

Cogeneration is currently supported by incentive schemes, rewarding both the production of heat and the 

production of electricity. In particular, all cogeneration plants benefit from the White Certificate system 

while cogeneration from renewable energy sources are additionally entitled to receive incentive to reward 

the green electricity produced.

In the field of high-efficiency cogeneration, in accordance with the provisions of the new directive on 

energy efficiency, will be introduced further measures of a regulatory nature in addition to the incentive 

scheme in force, in order to facilitate this technology that has significant potential of primary energy 

savings. In this sector, Italy already has a historically high use in the industrial sector, with many existing 

plants medium to large size. Public support can point to the development of new facilities, in particular of 

small dimensions, but especially should aim to the revamping of existing installations, structures and 

technologies towards higher-yielding processes.

In Table 4.9 are reported impacts of policies and measures of this sector.
75

Table 4.9 – Summary of policies and measures in the energy sector – Cogeneration

Name of PAM Target and/or activity 

affected

GHG 

affected

Type of 

instrument Status Implementing entity or entities

TOTAL GHG Reduction 

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

White certificates - decree December 

2007

Supporting CHP and district 

heating plants for 2008-2012 CO2 Economic Implemented

Government, GSE and 

electricity and gas 

distributors

0.97 0.97

National Strategic Framework 2007-

2013 - ERDF

Supporting CHP and energy 

savings with POR and POIN CO2 Economic Implemented Government 0.24 0.24

National Action Plan for Energy 

Efficiency 2011 - 2006/32 Directive -

Supporting of High efficiency CHP 

(09/05/2011 Law) with white 

certificates - Kyoto fund

Promotion of cogeneration 

and trigeneration CO2 Economic Planned

Government, GSE and 

electricity and gas 

distributors

1.05 2.26

National Action Plan for Energy 

Efficiency 2011 - 2006/32 Directive -

Supporting of High efficiency CHP 

(09/05/2011 Law) with white 

certificates 2012-2016 - Kyoto fund

Promotion of cogeneration 

and trigeneration CO2 Economic Planned

Government, GSE and 

electricity and gas 

distributors

0.46 1.49

Sources: Delibera CIPE 8th march 2013
76

4.4.3 Energy efficiency of thermoelectric power plants

The liberalization of the electricity sector brought in by Legislative decree 79/99 started a deep 

refurbishment of the power generation sector. The decree had the main purpose of reducing the 

dominant position of Enel, the former state monopolist, by forcing it to sell part of its generation capacity 

to new entrants. 

Subsequent Decree 4 August 1999 identified the plants that had to be sold to new entrants and specified 

those that had to be converted from fuel oil steam plants to new combined cycle gas turbine plants 

(CCGT) using natural gas. This last provision was intended to increase the overall efficiency in power 

generation and to reduce CO2 emissions of the energy supply sector. Out of a total capacity to be 

divested of 15,000 MW, 9,400 MW were forced to be converted to CCGT. 

Law 55 of 9 April 2002 was introduced to simplify the authorization procedure for the construction and 

operation of power plants with a capacity of over 300 MW. From 2002 to the end of 2006 the Ministry of 

Economic Development issued 45 authorizations for 21,400 MWe of new capacity; among these 23 

authorizations, for an overall capacity of 9,897 MW, were issued according to the new procedure brought 

in by law 55/02. 

Law 239 of 23 August 2004 introduced some important changes in the energy sector. One of its main 

purposes was to speed up the authorization process for the construction of new power plants and energy 

infrastructures, particularly grid lines. 

Since the entry into force of law 239/04, new energy infrastructures for approximately 2,300 MW have 

been developed and new CCGT plants for about 3,200 MW have been constructed, which led to consistent 

emissions reductions.

The short term effect of the implementation of these laws is already visible in the analysis of the 

historical data on electricity generation, while the “medium-long term” effect can be inferred by the 

analysis of the new power plants which are currently under construction and those entering into the 

production phase are scheduled for 2009. 

The overall effect of these substitutions has been a decline of the specific emissions of the electricity 

produced in thermoelectric plants which declined from 708 g/kWh in 1990 to 528 g/kWh in 2012.

Figure 4.1 - Emission factors of gross production

Source: ISPRA elaborations
77

The decline in the specific emissions, essentially due to an increase in the overall efficiency in the 

thermoelectric production and a decline in the carbon content of the fuel used in the power plants, has 

contributed in limiting the increase of the emissions due to the increase of the overall thermoelectric 

production. 

From 2000 to 2012 in Italy there was increased use of natural gas and a decrease of petroleum derived 

fuels use. Other energy sources are quite stable, see Figure 4.2.

Figure 4.2 - Electricity production (TWh) by energy source

Source: ISPRA elaboration of TERNA data

Regarding the period after 2009, one sizeable (1800 MWe) new coal power plants has entered in service 

in 2010 (Civitavecchia) and another two are planned after 2015. Additionally older coal units are planned 

to be substituted by smaller and more efficient new units (400 MWe each) in three other sites. The new 

plants will substitute old coal / oil fired power plants. 

The striking increase in natural gas consumption requires the construction of new import infrastructure 

(two additional international pipelines are planned) and the construction of several new import terminals 

for LNG. 

4.4.4 Industry

Policies affecting CO2 emissions in the industry sector are generally designed to improve industrial energy 

efficiency. All the policies implemented or planned are reported in table 10.

A main instrument is represented by the White Certificates system which is aimed at promoting energy 

efficiency and deliver emissions reductions in all the energy end-use sectors. The implementation of 

directive 2006/32/CE on energy end use efficiency and energy services in the industrial sector and the 

Action Plan 2007 impose new targets for White Certificates to 2016, and it is envisaged the extension of 

the scheme to 2020. 
78

As reported in the VNC another important initiative recently introduced by the Government concerns the 

replacement of existing inefficient electric motors with high efficient ones. This is a measure that can help 

to achieve substantial CO2 emissions reductions, but the engines with high purchase price and the lack of 

information about their energy saving potential represents a main obstacle to their diffusion.

Since the potential for energy saving in the industry sector is still consistent, several new additional 

measures are currently under discussion to try to exploit it. 

Further extension of Action plan target to 2020 with White Certificate system have been considered as 

planned measures.
79

Table 4.10 - Summary of policies and measures in the industry sector

Name of PAM Target and/or activity affected GHG 

affected

Type of 

instrument

Status Implementing entity 

or entities

TOTAL GHG 

Reduction

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

White certificates - decree December 

2007 - Industry

Supporting electric energy saving 

for the period 2008-2012 CO2 Economic Implemented

Government, GSE and 

electricity and gas 

distributors

2.02 2.02

Legislative decree 201/07 

(transposition of directive 

2005/32/EC- first regulations) 

Installation of highly efficient 

electric motors and inverters 

through minimum mandatory 

standards

CO2 Regulatory Implemented Government 0.54 1.92

European regional development fund 

(ERDF), National Strategic Framework 

2008-2013 

Supporting electric energy saving 

with POR and POIN CO2 Economic Implemented Government 0.66 0.66

National Action Plan for Energy 

Efficiency 2011 - 2006/32 Directive -

White certificates 2012 - 2016

Further extend of energy saving 

targets (White certificates 2016-

2020)

CO2 Economic Planned

Government, GSE and 

electricity and gas 

distributors

1.31 3.5

National Action Plan for Renewable 

Energy 2010 and National Action 

Plan for Energy Efficiency 2011 -

White certificates 2016 - 2020 - Office 

equipment

Promoting energy efficiency in 

implementing the actions 

foreseen in the NAP 2010 

(efficient lighting systems, ICT 

systems, replacement of electric 

heating systems) for the period 

2016-2020

CO2 Economic Planned

Government, GSE and 

electricity and gas 

distributors

0 3.58
80

Name of PAM Target and/or activity affected GHG 

affected

Type of 

instrument

Status Implementing entity 

or entities

TOTAL GHG 

Reduction

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

National Action Plan for Renewable 

Energy 2010 and National Action 

Plan for Energy Efficiency 2011 -

White certificates 2016 - 2020 -

Industry

Further use up to 2020 of the 

white certificate system to 

promote measures of mechanical 

vapour compression, energy 

saving in the chemical industry, 

glass, paper and heat recovery in 

industrial energy intensive 

processes

CO2 Economic Planned

Government, GSE and 

electricity and gas 

distributors

0 3.69

Reformulation of energy taxation

Promoting the use of products 

and services with low carbon 

content also with measures of 

information

CO2 Information Planned Government 0 1.5

Legislative decree 28/2011 Promotion of renewable thermal 

energy use in industry CO2 Economic Planned Government 0.61 1.64

Source: Delibera CIPE 8th march 2013
81

4.4.5 Civil (residential and tertiary)

The package of policies deployed in this sector aims at improving energy efficiency (for example by White 

Certificates) through specific actions targeted both at existing and new buildings and appliances. 

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings and reducing the related emissions has become a priority in 

the last few years. 

The implementation of directive 2002/91/CE was an opportunity to introduce stricter energy 

requirements and to promote the diffusion of renewable energy sources in the building sector. The 

Directive lays down requirements on the application of minimum standards for the energy performance of 

new buildings and on the performance of large existing buildings undergoing major renovation. The 

directive also requires the provision of energy performance certificates when buildings are constructed, 

sold or rented out. The legislative decree 192/2005 transposed the directive into national law and has 

required the adoption of further ministerial decrees to become fully implemented.

At the end of 2006, legislative decree 192/2005 was amended by legislative decree 311/2006 to 

strengthen the buildings thermal demand requirements. The new law applies to new buildings and to 

existing buildings subject to major renovation30 and provides for some important measures. Amongst the 

main provisions, the following obligations are worth citing:

Installation of technical blinds for solar protection and insulation of new buildings and 

buildings subject to overall renovation (limited to buildings over 1000 m2);

laying down of all the necessary works to allow the connection of new buildings (and 

buildings subject to major renovation) to district heating systems, when existing (and not 

further than 1 km) or planned;

installation of solar thermal systems that cover at least 50% of hot water demand for all new 

buildings and in case of replacement or renovation of the existing heating system;

Installation of PV systems (with a power capacity to be defined in a subsequent ministerial 

decree) in all new buildings and in existing buildings with a total floor area over 1000m2; 

Dir. 2010/31/EC recasts the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) (transposed into 

national law with the decree 63/2013). This measure defines mandatory standards for new buildings with 

net zero energy. The transposition of this directive will raise the requirement on new buildings and in the 

same time will be important to strengthen the control system, making it consistent in all regions.

There are also minimal efficiency requirements on new domestic appliances (TV, refrigerator, lamps, 

etc.), with a gradual introduction between 2009 and 2015. Those standards take into account the 

European regulations 644/2009, 278/2009 242/2009 243/2009 and 1275/2008 and are put into practice 

by the Legislative decree 201/2007 (directive 2006/32/CE). The Decree 21 December 2007 included 

energy efficiency in the civil sector to comply the White Certificate system target to 2012.

Consistent reductions are also expected from the introduction of other regulations for energy efficiency 

standards for new energy-consuming products introduced by law 201/2007 (transposition of directive 

2005/32/CE).

As regards tax rebates system, it actually allows the recovery in 10 year time of up to 55%/65% of 

capital expenses for high efficiency appliances or building shell improvements. It is extended and 

 

30 As regards the minimum energy performance requirements of existing buildings subject to major renovation, the 

decree applies only in case of large buildings of over 1000 m2 and in case of expansion of existing buildings (over 

20%). The decree applies only partially to existing buildings under the 1000m2 threshold.
82

modified on an annual basis with the annual state budget law. It will be important to extend, adjust and 

improve this provision to increase its cost-benefit effectiveness and efficiency. Of the possible 

improvements, the most significant concern: a differentiation between the percentage of deductible 

expenditure and/or the duration of the refund, in proportion to the actual saving produced by the 

intervention; the introduction of maximum specific cost parameters for each type of intervention, to 

prevent part of the incentive being transferred to product prices; a tighter focus of the instrument on 

improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings, by reviewing the current scope of eligible initiatives 

in order to avoid overlaps with other, newly introduced, incentives having the same aim (Conto Termico). 
83

Table 4.11 - Summary of policies and measures in the civil (residential and tertiary) sector

Name of PAM Target and/or 

activity affected

GHG affected Type of 

instrument

Status Implementing entity or 

entities

TOTAL GHG Reduction

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

Building Regulation 

(Legislative decree 

192/05 as amended by 

legislative decree 

311/06)

Minimum mandatory 

standards on new 

and existing 

buildings (Energy 

Efficiency) CO2 Regulatory Implemented Government 2.18 3.61

Budget law 2007 and 

budget law 2008

Supporting of 

energy saving in 

existing buildings 

through tax 

deduction of 55%

CO2 Fiscal Implemented Government 0.61 0.61

Budget law 2009

Supporting of 

energy saving in 

existing buildings 

through tax 

deduction of 55%

CO2 Fiscal Implemented Government 0.44 0.44

White certificates -

decree December 2007 -

Commercial

Supporting of 

energy saving 

2008-2012 (Energy 

Efficiency)

Economic Implemented

Government, GSE and 

electricity and gas 

distributors

3.12 3.12

Legislative decree 

201/07 transposition of 

directive 2005/32/ECfirst regulations 

First regulation on 

mandatory energy 

efficiency standards 

for energy-using 

products 

CO2 Regulatory Implemented Government 0.87 2.6
84

Name of PAM Target and/or 

activity affected

GHG affected Type of 

instrument

Status Implementing entity or 

entities

TOTAL GHG Reduction

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

National Strategic 

Framework 2007-2013 -

ERDF - Residential 

energy saving

Supporting electric 

energy saving with 

POR and POIN

CO2 Economic Implemented Government 0.42 0.42

Legislative decree 

28/2011

Promoting energy 

saving in the 

residential sector 

(public, domestic, 

tertiary): insulation, 

replacement 

windows and 

boilers, installation 

of heat pumps and 

solar thermal panels

CO2 Economic Planned Government 1.76 4.69

National Action Plan for 

Energy Efficiency 2011 -

White certificates 2012 -

2016

Promoting energy 

saving CO2 Other Planned

Government, GSE and 

electricity and gas 

distributors

0.8 1.23

National Action Plan for 

Renewable Energy 2010 

and National Action Plan 

for Energy Efficiency 

2011 - White certificates 

2016 - 2020

Promoting energy 

saving CO2 Economic Planned

Government, GSE and 

electricity and gas 

distributors

0 2.53
85

Name of PAM Target and/or 

activity affected

GHG affected Type of 

instrument

Status Implementing entity or 

entities

TOTAL GHG Reduction

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

Directive 2010/31/EC -

New standards of 

efficiency in buildings

Further reduction of 

energy consumption 

in buildings and 

promotion of 

renewable energy in 

the building and 

incentive 

mechanism through 

the tax deduction

CO2 Fiscal Planned Government 0 4

Budget law 2009 -

Extending tax deduction 

of 55%

Energy saving in 

existing buildings CO2 Fiscal Planned Government 0.34 1.15

Reformulation of energy 

taxation - civil sector

Promoting the use 

of low carbon 

products and 

services also with 

measures of 

information

CO2 Economic Planned Government 0 1

Sources : Delibera CIPE 8th march 2013
86

4.4.6 Transport

The policies and measure considered in the transport sector are: 

Infrastructural measures: high capacity and high speed networks and tuning of regional 

networks for commuting and goods. Management measures regarding enhancement of road 

urban public transport network.

Intermodal measures regarding shifting from private road traffic to public road traffic and shifting 

goods transport from the road to the sea and management measures regarding supporting 

efficiency in private road transport and improving road circulation in the urban areas. 

Fleet update measures regarding further subsidy to change older cars with new ones with 

average emissions of 120 CO2/km (130 gCO2/km engines efficiency plus -10 gCO2/km from 

additional reduction tools);

Mandatory requirement of the Directive 2009/28/EC: 10% of use of biofuel for transport at 2020. 

The Budget laws 2007, following the European directive CE30/2003 prescribes that the minimum quota of 

bio fuel in 2009 is a 3% of total sold and 5.75% by 2010. Recently the second objective date has been 

moved to 2013.
87

Table 4.12 - Summary of policies and measures in the transport sector

Name of PAM Target and/or activity 

affected

GHG affected Type of 

instrument

Status Implementing entity 

or entities

TOTAL GHG Reduction

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

Infrastructural measures 

High Capacity and High 

Speed road. Regional 

networks for passengers 

and freight, subway

CO2 Planning Implemented Government 3.75 5.7

National Strategic 

Framework 2007-2013 –

FESR

Intermodal infrastructure 

projects: metropolitan 

railways

CO2 Planning Implemented Government 5.4 10.2

Emission standard for 

new car (Regulation (EC) 

No 443/2009)

Fleet update at 120 g 

CO2/km in 2015 and 95 

g CO2/km in 2020

CO2 Regulatory Implemented Government 0.32 1.28

Legislative decree 

128/05 (adoption of 

directive 2003/30/EC)

Mandatory use biofuels 

(target 4.5% to 2012) CO2 Regulatory Implemented Government 1.49 1.49

Directive 2009/28/EC Mandatory use biofuels 

(target 10% to 2020) CO2 Regulatory Implemented Government 0.59 1.58

Intermodal measures 

National Action Plan for 

Renewable Energy 2010 - 

Infrastructures, 

intermodal and 

increasing of the electric 

public transport 

CO2 Planning Planned Government 1.17 3.5
88

Name of PAM Target and/or activity 

affected

GHG affected Type of 

instrument

Status Implementing entity 

or entities

TOTAL GHG Reduction

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

Measures to improve the 

fleets update -

Regulation (EC) No 

443/2009

Reduce the average 

emissions CO2 Economic Planned Government 0 1.8

Reformulation of energy 

taxation

Promoting the use of low 

carbon products and 

services also with 

measures of information

CO2 Economic Planned Government 0 0.5

Source: CIPE 8th march 2013
89

4.5 No energy sectors

4.5.1 Industrial Processes

For the industrial processes sector has been taken into account the reduction of N2O emissions in plants 

for the production of nitric acid. This measure can result in significant reductions in process emissions 

from the industrial sector, with a relatively small cost. 

In the production of nitric acid, the most advanced technology is provided by SCR (Selective Catalytic 

Reduction) systems for the treatment of process gases, which has been installed by the main production 

plants in Italy. This activity has been included in the emission trading scheme starting from 2012. 

Therefore, this measure has been included in the WEM scenario.

Table 4.13 – Summary of policies and measures in the industrial processes sector

Name of 

PAM

Target and/or activity 

affected

GHG 

affected

Type of 

instrument

Status Implementing 

entity or 

entities

TOTAL GHG 

Reduction

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

Nitric acid

Reduction of N2O 

emissions in nitric acid 

production plants

N2O Voluntary/Econ

omic Implemented Industrial plant 0.74 0.74

Source: ISPRA

4.5.2 Agriculture

In the last years, the role of agriculture in climate change mitigation has been emphasised. In this 

context, the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has a relevant contribution. In 2008 the CAP 

has been reinforced by the Health Check, which strengthens the gradual shift from a financial support 

linked to production towards decoupled direct aids, by the strengthening of rural development policy, and 

by the increasing integration of environmental considerations, including climate change.

Therefore, the payments for farmers consider their respect of environmental laws and other types of 

legislation. Thus, the incentives for intensive production have reduced. On the other hand main emission 

reduction activities are predominantly or exclusively supported by two rural development measures: farm 

modernisation (code 121) and agri-environment (code 214). Some activities support the modernisation of 

farms through energy efficient equipment and buildings, and promoting biogas production31. This picture 

has been also assessed by ISPRA in the 21 regional Rural Development Plans (RDPs), where measure 

code 214 is most likely to contribute with N2O emission reductions. In 2008, a report32 prepared by the 

Ministry of Agriculture (MIPAAF) in the framework of the Rural Development Network has assessed 

qualitatively the contribution of Rural Development Plans (RDPs) in terms of the mitigation potential. 

Moreover, in 2009, the CAP Health Check targets have been included in the RDPs33. In 2010, some 

general information on the number of RDPs that have considered climate change targets (15 RDPs) or all 

6 Health Check targets (3 RDPs), is available34. 

 

31 European Commission (2009), Commission staff working document. The role of European agriculture in climate 

change mitigation. SEC(2009) 1093 final (http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/climate_change/sec2009_1093_en.pdf)

32 MIPAAF (2008), “Il contributo dei piani di sviluppo rurale e della condizionalità alla mitigazione dei cambiamenti 

climatici e al loro adattamento. Rete Rurale Nazionale 2007-2013 Italia”, November 2008

33 See the publication “The Contribution of Rural Development Programmes in Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 

Italy” Climate Change and the Sustainable Use of Water Resources - Climate Change Management 2012, pp 367-387 

34 MIPAAF (2010), “Le nuove sfide della PAC e le misure di rilancio dell’economia nei programmi di sviluppo rurale 

2007-2013 – Aprile 2010. Rete Rurale Nazionale 2007-2013” (www.reterurale.it)
90

The reduction measures which are presented below have also been considered in CAP reforms, 

characterized by a progressive reinforcement for integrating environmental legislation. A special attention 

is given for example to the Nitrates Directive (monitoring of water quality; designation of nitrate 

vulnerable zones; and, establishment of codes of good agricultural practice). 

In 2013 has been reached political agreement on the reform of the CAP 2014-202035. The agreement 

provides for an amendment to the payment ecological (greening). Between 2014 and 2020, over EUR 

100 billion will be invested to help farming meet the challenges of soil and water quality, biodiversity and 

climate change:

30% of direct payments will be linked to three agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and 

environment: crop diversification (there is no obligation for diversification of crops for arable land 

less than 10 hectares), maintaining permanent grassland (there is no obligation for arable land 

less than 15 hectares and for permanent crops) and conserving 5%, and later 7%, of areas of 

ecological interest as from 2018 or measures considered to have at least equivalent 

environmental benefits.

At least 30% of the rural developments programmes' budget will have to be allocated to agrienvironmental measures, support for organic farming or projects associated with environmentally 

friendly investment or innovation measures. 

Agri-environmental measures will become agri-environment-climate payments and will be 

stepped up to complement greening practices. These programmes will have to set and meet 

higher environmental protection targets (guarantee against double funding). 

Emissions of nitrous oxide from agricultural soil: emission reduction from the Agricultural soil 

source is mainly related to the rationalisation in the use of fertilizers. RDPs 2007-2013 are contributing 

with this emission reduction measure (code 214). In order to achieve the objective is essential to 

consider ongoing efforts to raise awareness on the code of agricultural practice (such as fertiliser 

application limits and spreading conditions, manure storage methods, livestock density limits and crop 

rotation requirements), and the integrated production of agricultural property and organic farming. 

However, when considering organic farming36 as an instrument for climate change mitigation, both the 

amount of emission per hectare and per unit of production needs to be considered37.

Emissions of methane from manure management: electricity generation from animal waste has 

increased in Italy up to 361.6 GWh in 2011, an increase of 64% respect to 2010 (14 times the value of 

2005), thanks to the support provided by the feed-in prices granted by Resolution no. 6/92 of the Interministerial Price Committee (CIP 6/92) and the renewable quota obligation for electricity 

producers/importers established by the Legislative Decree of March 16, 1999, No. 79, and subsequent 

legislations. Currently, incentives for biogas production are available in the RDPs 2007-2013 (code 121 

for modernization and 311 for diversification).

 

35 http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/cap-post-2013/index_en.htm

36 Some studies show contrasting results of emissions per unit of product in organic farming, particularly regarding 

methane. A German study (referenced by PICCMAT final report) shows lower GHG emissions per unit of product in 

organic farming than conventional methods for wheat, pig and milk production, while results for beef production are 

more ambiguous due to the variety of production system.

37 European Commission (2009), Commission staff working document. The role of European agriculture in climate 

change mitigation. SEC(2009) 1093 final (http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/climate_change/sec2009_1093_en.pdf)
91

Moreover, as established by Ministerial Decree of 18 December 2008, the Ministry of Economic 

Development has approved incentives for the production of electric power from renewable energy. A 

special tariff (called “tariffa omnicomprensiva”) for small agro-energetic facilities (in operation after 

31/12/2007) of less than 1 MW feed with biogas, biomass or vegetal oil, has been fixed. Instead, for 

facilities of more than 1 MW a multiplying factor of 1.8 for estimating green certificates is contemplated, 

specifically for facilities using agricultural biomass. In section 4.4 Renewable energy sources the recent 

legislation on these issues is described. In 2011, methane from biogas recovery has contributed to 

reduce methane emissions from manure management by 36%. Further intervention may be required for 

the coming years in order to sustain this trend, and to extend the covering of animal waste storage 

systems, equipped with devices allowing collection and use of biogas, not only in new farms but also in 

major existing ones. 

Table 4.14 – Summary of policies and measures in the agriculture sector

Name of 

PAM

Target and/or 

activity affected

GHG 

affected

Type of 

instrument

Status Implementing 

entity or 

entities

TOTAL GHG 

Reduction

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

Nitrogen 

fertilizer

Rationalization in the 

use of nitrogen 

fertilizer

N2O Regulatory Implemented Government 0.79 0.79

Animal 

storage

Recovery of biogas 

from animal storage 

system

CH4 Regulatory Implemented Government 0.4 0.4

Source: ISPRA 

4.5.3 Waste sector

Emission reduction in waste sector is mainly related the improvement of waste management regarding 

the composition of waste disposed into landfills. In fact, the Landfill European Directive 1999/31/EC has 

been transposed in national decree in 2003 by the Legislative Decree 13 January 2003 n. 36 and applied 

to the Italian landfills since July 2005, but the effectiveness of the policies will be significant in the future. 

Moreover, a recent legislative decree (Legislative Decree 30 December 2008, n.208) shifts to December 

2009 the end of the temporary condition regarding waste acceptance criteria, thus the composition of 

waste accepted in landfills is hardly changing and the amount of biodegradable waste disposed of into 

landfills is not complying with the target of landfill directive.

For the waste sector two measures are proposed:

Compliance with separate collection targets and biodegradable waste disposed of into landfills:

o fulfilment of the deadlines set for MSW separate collection;

o fulfilment of the deadlines set for biodegradable waste sent to landfill.

Only bio-stabilized waste disposed of into landfills: a further measure regard the pre-treatment of 

all the biodegradable wastes which will be disposed into landfills, encouraging the anaerobic 

digestion of MSW also in co-digestion with other type of waste such as sludge from municipal 

waste water treatment plants and animal waste. This practice will increase also the energy 

recovery from the biogas production.
92

Table 4.15 - Summary of policies and measures in the waste sector

Name of 

PAM

Target and/or 

activity affected

GHG 

affected

Type of 

instrument Status

Implementing 

entity or 

entities

TOTAL GHG 

Reduction 

(Mt CO2 eq.) 

2015 2020

Separate 

collection

Compliance with 

separate collection 

targets and reduction 

of biodegradable 

waste disposed of into 

landfills

CH4 Regulatory Implemented Government 3.7 3.7

Source: ISPRA

4.5.4 Forestry

LULUCF sector is actually excluded from ESD; Recently The European Parliament and the Council have 

adopted the Decision n. 529/2013/EU on accounting rules on greenhouse gas emissions and removals 

resulting from activities relating to land use, land-use change and forestry and on information concerning 

actions relating to those activities. This Decision sets out accounting rules applicable to emissions and 

removals of greenhouse gases resulting from LULUCF activities, as a first step towards the inclusion of

those activities in the Union’s emission reduction commitment, when appropriate. It sets out the 

obligation for Member States to provide information on their LULUCF actions to limit or reduce emissions 

and to maintain or increase removals. This Decision provides for accounting rules applicable on a 

mandatory basis to the activities of afforestation, reforestation, deforestation and forest management, as 

well as to the activities of grazing land management and cropland management, subject to specific 

provisions with a view to improving Member States’ reporting and accounting systems during the first 

accounting period. This Decision also provides for accounting rules applicable on a voluntary basis to 

revegetation and wetland drainage and rewetting activities. 

In the following a description of the LULUCF sector in Italy is given.

Definition of forest and national circumstances

Forest is defined by Italy under the Kyoto Protocol reporting using the same definition applied by the 

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for its Global Forest Resource assessment (FAO 

FRA 2000). This definition is consistent with definition given in Decision 16/CMP.1. Forest is a land with 

following threshold values for tree crown cover, land area and tree height: 

a. a minimum area of land of 0.5 hectares;

b. tree crown cover of 10 per cent;

c. minimum tree height of 5 meters.

Forest roads, cleared tracts, firebreaks and other open areas within the forest as well as protected forest 

areas are included in forest. Plantations, mainly poplars, characterized by short rotation coppice system 

and used for energy crops, are not included under KP-LULUCF activities, as they do not fulfil national 

forest definition while other plantation typologies, as chestnut and cork oak, have been included in forest 

and therefore included under KP-LULUCF activities.

Total forest area, in 2011, was equal to 9,073 kha, 30% ca of national territory. 

It has to be noted a steady increase since the 70’s: forest expansion rate was about 78 kha y-1in 2000 

and it was 53.8 kha y-1in 2010. Concerning the ownership, the following table shows the amount of 

public and private forest land.
93

Table 4.16 - Amount of public and private forest land

FRA 2010 Categories38

Forest area

(1000 hectares)

1990 2000 2005 2010

Public ownership 2,549 2,811 2,942 3,073 

Private ownership 5,041 5,558 5,817 6,076 

...of which owned by individuals 4,442 4,898 5,126 5,355 

...of which owned by private business entities and 

institutions 599 660 691 721 

...of which owned by local communities 0 0 0 0 

...of which owned by indigenous / tribal communities 0 0 0 0 

Other types of ownership 0 0 0 0 

TOTAL 7,590 8,369 8,759 9,149 

Elected activities under Article 3 of the Kyoto Protocol

Italy has elected Forest Management (FM) as an activity under Article 3.4. In accordance with the Annex 

to Decision 16/CMP.1, credits from Forest Management are capped in the first commitment period. 

Following the Decision 8/CMP.2, the cap is equal to 2.78 Mt C (10.19 MtCO2) per year, or to 13.9 Mt C 

(50.97 MtCO2) for the whole commitment period. According to the latest submission under Kyoto 

Protocol, the annual average estimate of net removals related to activities under art. 3.3 is equal to 6.97 

MtCO2.

Afforestation and reforestation areas have been estimated on the basis of data of the two last Italian 

National Forest Inventories (IFN1985 and IFNC2005). Deforestation data have been derived from 

administrative records at NUT2 level collected by the National Institute of Statistics. 

The definition of forest management is interpreted in using the broader approach as described in the 

GPG LULUCF 2003. All forests fulfilling the definition of forest, as given above, are considered as 

managed and are under forest management. The total Italian forest area is eligible under forest 

management activity, since the entire Italian forest area has to be considered managed forest lands. 

Concerning deforestation activities, in Italy land use changes from forest to other land use categories are 

allowed in very limited circumstances, as stated in art. 4.2 of the Law Decree n. 227 of 2001. 

Article 3.3

Changes in forest area were detected on the basis of national forest inventories data. 

The following afforestation/reforestation activities that occurred or could have occurred on or after 1990 

are included in the reporting of these activities:

Planted or seeded croplands;

Planted or seeded grasslands;

Abandoned arable lands which are naturally forested, through planting, seeding and/or

the human-induced promotion of natural seed sources

In Italy all land use categories (cropland, grazing land, forest) are to be considered managed; therefore 

any land use change occurs between managed lands and, consequently, is direct human-induced. 

 

38 FAO FRA 2010, Italy Country report: http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/al537E/al537E.pdf
94

Afforested/reforested areas are to be considered legally bound by national legislation. Extensive forest 

disturbances have been rare in Italy, except for wildfires. Land-use changes after damage do not occur; 

concerning wildfires, national legislation (Law n. 353 of 2000, art.10.1) doesn’t allow any land use 

change after a fire event for 15 years. Harvesting is regulated through regional rules, which establish 

procedures to follow in case of harvesting. Although different rules exist at regional level, a common 

denominator is the requirement of an explicit written communication with the localization and the extent 

of area to be harvested, existing forest typologies and forestry treatment. Concerning deforestation 

activities, in Italy land use changes from forest to other land use categories (i.e. in construction of 

railways the last years) are allowed in very limited circumstances, as stated in art. 4.2 of the Law Decree 

n. 227 of 2001, and has to follow several administrative steps before being legally permitted. In addition, 

clear-cutting is a not allowed practice (Law Decree n. 227 of 2001, art. 6.2).

Article 3.4

Forests in 1 January 1990 were under forest management, since Italy considers all forest land managed, 

and, therefore, human-induced.

Italian forest resources are totally legally bound; the two main constraints, provided by the laws n. 3267 

of 1923 and n. 431 of 1985, compel private and public owners to strictly respect limitations concerning 

use of their forest resources. As a matter of fact, each exploitation of forest resources must not 

compromise their perpetuation and therefore, any change of land use, for hydro-geological, landscape 

and environmental protection in general (the same limitations apply also to burnt areas, following the law 

n. 353 on forest fires approved in 2000). Consequently unplanned cuttings are always forbidden and local 

prescriptions fix strict rules to be observed for forestry.

Methods for carbon stock change and GHG emission and removal estimates

The 2003 IPCC Good Practice Guidance for LULUCF has been entirely applied for all the LULUCF 

categories as detailed data were available from national statistics and from researches at national and 

regional level.

Methods for estimating carbon stock changes in forests (for Article 3.3 afforestation/reforestation and 

Article 3.4 forest management) are the same as those used for the UNFCCC greenhouse gas inventory: a 

growth model, For-est39, is used to assess data concerning the growing stock and the related carbon, 

estimating the evolution in time of the Italian forest carbon pools, according to the GPG classification and 

definition: living biomass, both aboveground and belowground, dead organic matter, including dead wood 

and litter, and soils as soil organic matter; it was conceived on an eco-physiological basis since it uses 

growing stock as drive variable, growth relationships and measured forest parameters.

The model has been applied at regional scale (NUTS2); input data for the forest area, per region and 

inventory typologies, were the First Italian National Forest Inventory (IFN1985) data and the Inventory of 

Forests and Carbon pools (INFC2005). Following the main finding of 2011 UNFCCC review process, Italy 

has decided not to account for the soil carbon stock changes from activities under Article 3.4, providing40

transparent and verifiable information to demonstrate that soils pool is not a source in Italy, as required 

 

39 Federici S, Vitullo M, Tulipano S, De Lauretis R, Seufert G, 2008. An approach to estimate carbon stocks change in 

forest carbon pools under the UNFCCC: the Italian case. iForest 1: 86-95 URL: http://www.sisef.it/iforest/

40 ISPRA, 2013. National Inventory Report 2013 – Italian greenhouse gas inventory 1990-2011. ISPRA 
95

by par. 21 of the annex to decision 16/CMP.1. Concerning carbon stock changes resulting from 

deforestation activities, due to a lack of detailed information on the land use of the deforested area, a 

conservative approach was applied, assuming that the total deforested area is converted into 

settlements. Carbon stock changes related to the forest land areas, before deforestation activities, have 

been estimated, for each year and for each pool (living biomass, dead organic matter and soils), on the 

basis of forest land carbon stocks deduced from the model For-est. In addition, it should be noted that 

land use changes due to wildfires are not allowed by national legislation (Law Decree 21 November 2000, 

n. 353, art.10, comma 1). The loss, in terms of carbon, due to deforested area is computed assuming 

that the total amount of carbon, existing in the different pools before deforestation, is lost.

Carbon amount released by forest fires has been included in the overall assessment of carbon stocks 

change. Not having data on the fraction of growing stock oxidised as consequence of fires, the most 

conservative hypothesis has been adopted: all growing stock of burned forest areas has been assumed to 

be completely oxidised and so released. The amount of burned growing stock has been calculated 

multiplying average growing stock per hectare of forest typology for the assigned burned area. Assessed 

value has been subtracted to total growing stock of respective typology.

National Registry for forest carbon sinks

Italy has decided to account for the emissions and removals under Article 3 paragraphs 3 and 4 at the 

end of the commitment period. The National Registry for forest carbon sinks, instituted by a Ministerial 

Decree on 1st April 2008, is part of National Greenhouse Gas Inventory System in Italy and includes 

information on units of lands subject of activities under Article 3.3 and activities elected under Article 3.4 

and related carbon stock changes. The National Registry for forest carbon sinks is aimed to estimate, in 

accordance with the COP/MOP decisions, the IPCC Good Practice Guidance on LULUCF and every further 

IPCC advise, the GHG emissions by sources and removal by sinks in forest land and related land-use 

changes and to account the net emission in order to allow the Italian Registry to issue the relevant 

amount of RMUs.

Activities planned in the framework of the registry for carbon sinks are still in progress, therefore 

methodologies for area changes detection and the related uncertainties will be further developed. The 

inventory of land use (IUTI) has been completed, resulting in land use classification, for all national 

territory, for the years 1990, 2000 and 2008. A process of validation and verification of IUTI data, related 

to 1990, 2000 and 2008, has been carried out, comparing IUTI with the official statistics. IUTI has been 

planned to supply data with reference to 2012. For 2012, IUTI data will be carried out through a sample 

of 301,300 points covering the entire country in the framework of the NFI. On the basis of the IUTI data 

(for the period 1990-2008) and the results of the NFI (related to 2012), taking into account the 

verification and validation activities, a time series, for the IPCC categories, will be elaborated, and used 

for the next annual submission under UNFCCC.

4.6 Summary of policies and measures

A summary of implemented and planned measures are reported in table 4.17 and table 4.18 respectively. 
96

Table 4.17 - Summary of implemented policies and measures

Name of PAM Target and/or activity 

affected

GHG affected Type of instrument Status Implementing

entity or entities

TOTAL GHG Reduction 

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

Renewable

Third "Conto Energia" (art.3 

paragraph 1, decree 6 august 

2010) and Fourth "Conto 

Energia" (Decree 5 may 2011)

Supporting the expansion of 

photovoltaic plants through 

feed in tariffs until a maximum 

capacity of 8000 MW 

CO2 Economic Implemented Government 2.3 2.3

Third "Conto Energia" : 

photovoltaic (art.3 paragraph 

2, decree 6 august 2010)

Supporting the expansion of 

photovoltaic plants through 

feed in tariffs until a maximum 

capacity of 3000 MW 

CO2 Economic Implemented Government 0.9 0.9

Green Certificate - budget law 

2008

Green Certificate increased 

every year by 0,75% for 2007 -

2012 and establish 

"omnicomprensiva" rate for 

plants <1 Mwe

CO2 Economic Implemented Government 4 4

European regional 

development fund (ERDF), 

National Strategic Framework 

2008-2013 

Supporting system for RES whit 

Regional operative program 

(POR) and Interregional 

operative program (POIN)

CO2 Economic Implemented Government 1.4 1.4

Cogeneration

White certificates - decree 

December 2007

Supporting CHP and district 

heating plants for 2008-2012 CO2 Economic Implemented

Government, GSE 

and electricity and 

gas distributors

0.97 0.97

National Strategic Framework 

2007-2013 - ERDF

Supporting CHP and energy 

savings with POR and POIN CO2 Economic Implemented Government 0.24 0.24

Industry
97

Name of PAM Target and/or activity 

affected

GHG affected Type of instrument Status Implementing

entity or entities

TOTAL GHG Reduction 

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

White certificates - decree 

December 2007 - Industry

Supporting electric energy 

saving for the period 2008-

2012

CO2 Economic Implemented

Government, GSE 

and electricity and 

gas distributors

2.02 2.02

Legislative decree 201/07 

(transposition of directive 

2005/32/EC- first regulations) 

Installation of highly efficient 

electric motors and inverters 

through minimum mandatory 

standards

CO2 Regulatory Implemented Government 0.54 1.92

European regional 

development fund (ERDF), 

National Strategic Framework 

2008-2013 

Supporting electric energy 

saving with POR and POIN CO2 Economic Implemented Government 0.66 0.66

Nitric acid Reduction of N2O emissions in 

nitric acid production plants

N2O Voluntary/Economic Implemented Industrial plant 0.74 0.74

Civil

Building Regulation 

(Legislative decree 192/05 as 

amended by legislative decree 

311/06)

Minimum mandatory standards 

on new and existing buildings 

(Energy Efficiency)

CO2 Regulatory Implemented Government 2.18 3.61

Budget law 2007 and budget 

law 2008

Supporting of energy saving in 

existing buildings through tax 

deduction of 55%

CO2 Fiscal Implemented Government 0.61 0.61

Budget law 2009

Supporting of energy saving in 

existing buildings through tax 

deduction of 55%

CO2 Fiscal Implemented Government 0.44 0.44

White certificates - decree 

December 2007 - Commercial

Supporting of energy saving 

2008-2012 (Energy Efficiency) CO2 Economic Implemented

Government, GSE 

and electricity and 

gas distributors

3.12 3.12
98

Name of PAM Target and/or activity 

affected

GHG affected Type of instrument Status Implementing

entity or entities

TOTAL GHG Reduction 

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

Legislative decree 201/07 

(transposition of directive 

2005/32/EC-first regulations )

First regulation on mandatory 

energy efficiency standards for 

energy-using products 

CO2 Regulatory Implemented Government 0.87 2.6

National Strategic Framework 

2007-2013 - ERDF -

Residential energy saving

Supporting electric energy 

saving with POR and POIN CO2 Economic Implemented Government 0.42 0.42

Transport

Infrastructural measures 

High Capacity and High Speed 

road. Regional networks for 

passengers and freight, subway

CO2 Planning Implemented Government 3.75 5.7

National Strategic Framework 

2007-2013 - FESR

Intermodal infrastructure 

projects: metropolitan railways CO2 Planning Implemented Government 5.4 10.2

Emission standard for new car 

(Regulation (EC) No 

443/2009)

Fleet update at 120 g CO2/km 

in 2015 and 95 g CO2/km in

2020

CO2 Regulatory Implemented Government 0.32 1.28

Legislative decree 

128/05(transposition of 

directive 2003/30/EC)

Mandatory use biofuels (target 

4.5% to 2012) CO2 Regulatory Implemented Government 1.49 1.49

Directive 2009/28/EC Mandatory use biofuels (target 

10% to 2020) CO2 Regulatory Implemented Government 0.59 1.58

Agriculture

Nitrogen fertilizer Rationalization in the use of 

nitrogen fertilizer N2O Regulatory Implemented Government 0.79 0.79

Animal storage Recovery of biogas from animal 

storage system CH4 Regulatory Implemented Government 0.4 0.4

Waste
99

Name of PAM Target and/or activity 

affected

GHG affected Type of instrument Status Implementing

entity or entities

TOTAL GHG Reduction 

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

Separate collection

Compliance with separate 

collection targets and reduction 

of biodegradable waste 

disposed into landfills

CH4 Regulatory Implemented Government 3.7 3.7

Total 37.85 51.09
100

Table 4.18 - Summary of planned policies and measures

Name of PAM Target and/or activity affected GHG 

affected

Type of 

instrument Status Implementingentity or entities

TOTAL GHG Reduction 

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

Renewable

National Action Plan for 

Renewable Energy 2010 

Measures under the NAP - RES 2010 

reducing energy losses through the 

modernization of the national electricity 

transmission grid and of the distribution grid

CO2 Regulatory Planned Government 0 0.99

National Action Plan for 

Renewable Energy 2010 -

Legislative decree 28/2001 -

Kyoto fund

Measures to achieve the 2020 target 

provided by the NAP 2010 and further 

incentives for the implementation of the 

Decree. 28/2011 to reach the 110 TWh 

target from renewable sources, including the 

development of smart grid. Supporting small 

interventions for renewable energy with 

capital loans at subsidized interest rate.

CO2 Regulatory Planned Government 0.8 6.32

New measure of promoting and 

supporting RES-E

Measures to be determined after the 

achievement of 130 TWh renewable 

electricity target, as indicated in the 

"National Energy Strategy" report

CO2 Regulatory Planned Government 3.5 10

National Action Plan for 

Renewable Energy 2010 and 

National Action Plan for Energy 

Efficiency 2011

Measures for the promotion of thermal 

energy from renewable sources and 

incentives to small-scale interventions to 

increase the production of thermal energy 

from renewable sources

CO2 Economic Planned Government 0 10.6

Cogeneration

National Action Plan for Energy 

Efficiency 2011 - 2006/32 

Directive - Supporting of High 

efficiency CHP (09/05/2011 Law) 

with white certificates - Kyoto 

fund

Promotion of cogeneration and trigeneration CO2 Economic Planned

Government, GSE 

and electricity and 

gas distributors

1.05 2.26
101

Name of PAM Target and/or activity affected GHG 

affected

Type of 

instrument Status Implementingentity or entities

TOTAL GHG Reduction 

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

National Action Plan for Energy 

Efficiency 2011 - 2006/32 

Directive - Supporting of High 

efficiency CHP (09/05/2011 Law) 

with white certificates 2012-2016 

- Kyoto fund

Promotion of cogeneration and trigeneration CO2 Economic Planned

Government, GSE 

and electricity and 

gas distributors

0.46 1.49

Industry

National Action Plan for Energy 

Efficiency 2011 - 2006/32 

Directive - White certificates 2012 

- 2016

Further extend of energy saving targets 

(White certificates 2016-2020) CO2 Economic Planned

Government, GSE 

and electricity and 

gas distributors

1.31 3.5

National Action Plan for 

Renewable Energy 2010 and 

National Action Plan for Energy 

Efficiency 2011 - White 

certificates 2016 - 2020 - Office 

equipment

Promoting energy efficiency in implementing 

the actions foreseen in the NAP 2010 

(efficient lighting systems, ICT systems, 

replacement of electric heating systems) for 

the period 2016-2020

CO2 Economic Planned

Government, GSE 

and electricity and 

gas distributors

0 3.58

National Action Plan for 

Renewable Energy 2010 and 

National Action Plan for Energy 

Efficiency 2011 - White 

certificates 2016 - 2020 -

Industry

Further use up to 2020 of the white 

certificate system to promote measures of 

mechanical vapour compression, energy 

saving in the chemical industry, glass, paper 

and heat recovery in industrial energy 

intensive processes 

CO2 Economic Planned

Government, GSE 

and electricity and 

gas distributors

0 3.69

Reformulation of energy taxation

Promoting the use of products and services 

with low carbon content also with measures 

of information

CO2 Information Planned Government 0 1.5
102

Name of PAM Target and/or activity affected GHG 

affected

Type of 

instrument Status Implementingentity or entities

TOTAL GHG Reduction 

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

Legislative decree 28/2011 Promotion of renewable thermal energy use 

in industry CO2 Economic Planned Government 0.61 1.64

Civil

Legislative decree 28/2011

Promoting energy saving in the residential 

sector (public, domestic, tertiary): insulation, 

replacement windows and boilers, installation 

of heat pumps and solar thermal panels

CO2 Economic Planned Government 1.76 4.69

National Action Plan for Energy 

Efficiency 2011 - White 

certificates 2012 - 2016

Promoting energy saving CO2 Other Planned

Government, GSE 

and electricity and 

gas distributors

0.8 1.23

National Action Plan for 

Renewable Energy 2010 and 

National Action Plan for Energy 

Efficiency 2011 - White 

certificates 2016 - 2020

Promoting energy saving CO2 Economic Planned

Government, GSE 

and electricity and 

gas distributors

0 2.53

Directive 2010/31/EC - New 

standards of efficiency in 

buildings

Further reduction of energy consumption in 

buildings and promotion of renewable energy 

in the building and incentive mechanism 

through the tax deduction

CO2 Fiscal Planned Government 0 4

Budget law 2009 - Extending tax 

deduction of 55% Energy saving in existing buildings CO2 Fiscal Planned Government 0.34 1.15

Reformulation of energy taxation 

- civil sector

Promoting the use of low carbon products 

and services also with measures of 

information

CO2 Economic Planned Government 0 1

Transport

Intermodal measures 

National Action Plan for Renewable Energy 

2010 - Infrastructures, intermodal and 

increasing of the electric public transport 

CO2 Planning Planned Government 1.17 3.5
103

Name of PAM Target and/or activity affected GHG 

affected

Type of 

instrument Status Implementingentity or entities

TOTAL GHG Reduction 

(Mt CO2 eq.)

2015 2020

Measures to improve the fleets 

update - Regulation (EC) No 

443/2009

Reduce the average emissions CO2 Economic Planned Government 0 1.8

Reformulation of energy taxation

Promoting the use of low carbon products 

and services also with measures of 

information

CO2 Economic Planned Government 0 0.5

Total 11.81 65.97
104

4.7 Costs analysis

An assessment of the costs of the implementation of the planned measures is available in the National 

Energy Strategy and can be summarized as follows:

1. Energy efficiency

a. Tax deduction – 55% scheme : the cost for this deduction from 1.1 billion of euro 

in the 2012 to 1.5 billion of euro in the 2020, stimulating private investment for about 

20 billion;

b. Conto termico: The cost of Conto termico should be on about of 200 millions of 

euro per year for the public administration sector. This amount should make able 

investment on about 5 billions of euro starting from now up to 2020. In the Conto 

termico also 700 millions of euro by year is dedicated for renewable thermal energy in 

the private sector.

c. White certificates: The cost of this measure to € 1 billion per years for the whole 

system at 2020 respect the € 400 million estimate in the 2012.

These measures could stimulate €50-€60 billion of aggregate investment in energy efficiency by 

2020, with major spin-offs in an industrial sector where the aim is to achieve international 

leadership, and savings of about €8 billion/year in fuel imports.

2. Renewable energy:

a. Electricity sector: to achieve the 2020 targets, around € 12.5 billion are being 

made available each year (from the approximately € 9 billion already earmarked at the 

end of 2011), over a 20-year period. The remaining resources will be allocated on the 

basis of priority criteria that favour efficiency, technological innovation, lower 

environmental impact and the national supply chain.

b. heating and cooling sector : the Conto Termico is being introduced to incentivise 

small-scale projects, with up to approximately €1 billion/year being made available

c. transport sector : in view of the price differential for biofuels the impact by 2020

could amount to around €1billion/year.

These measures could stimulate €60-€70 billion of aggregate investment in renewable by 2020

4.8 Minimization of adverse effects in accordance with art.2 paragraph 3 of the Kyoto 

Protocol

Each Annex I Party shall also provide information on how it strives to implement policies and 

measures under Article 2 of the Kyoto Protocol in such a way to minimize adverse effects, including 

adverse effects of climate change, effects on international trade, and social environmental and 

economic impacts on other Parties under Article 4, paragraphs 8 and 9, of the Convention, taking into 

account Article 3 of the Convention. 

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in pursuit of the ultimate objective of the Convention, and hence its 

full implementation is intended to contribute to preventing dangerous anthropogenic interference with 

the climate system. Ambitious mitigation goals are necessary to ascertain a future for all countries. 
105

Adverse impacts on developing countries are reduced if global temperature increase is limited to 2 

degrees Celsius, if dependence on fossil fuels decreases, and if Annex I Parties are able to develop 

low-carbon energy systems and reduce fossil fuel consumption.

The European Community actively undertakes a large number of activities to have positive impacts on 

third countries and their ability to tackle climate change, specifically capacity building and technology 

transfer activities. 

Climate policies in Italy are formulated and implemented in a way that minimise the potential adverse 

impacts on specific sectors of economic activity, industrial sectors or other Parties to the Convention, 

including the adverse effects on the international trade, social, environmental and economic impacts in

developing countries. As concerns domestic action, mitigation measures included in the national 

climate change strategy do not focus exclusively on CO2 from fossil fuels, but cover all sectors of 

economic activity which are related with GHG emissions or with carbon sinks.

Furthermore, Italy has ensured that the measures implemented in order to increase the differentiation 

of energy sources do not contradict full liberalization of its energy markets. In particular, the 

promotion of natural gas consumption improves the safety of energy supply of the country, while new 

commercial relationships are developed with those countries from which natural gas is imported (e.g. 

Russia, Algeria, etc.).

Other policies and measures might have potential positive impacts on third countries. However the 

flexible mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol are tools incorporated into the Protocol in order to share 

efforts in reducing greenhouse gases, to ensure that investment is made where the money has 

optimal greenhouse gas-reducing effects, thus ensuring minimal impact on the world economy, and to 

enhance the development of new commercial relationships between developed and developing 

countries. In such respect the use of CERs/ERUs by Italian operators and airlines operators under the 

EU ETS in order to comply with their surrender obligations (see paragraph “The European Union 

Emission Trading Scheme”) as well as by the Italian Government (see paragraph “The Kyoto 

mechanisms: Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism”) is a way to reduce potential 

adverse effects.

At European level, changes to subsidies under the EC Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) now link 

payments to environmental, food safety and animal welfare standards, not to agricultural production 

volume. This encourages responsible agricultural practices. In addition, expectations are that the 

worldwide use of biomass in the energy supply will increase considerably in the coming decades. 

Countries and producers will see opportunities for new activities. But at the same time there is a 

growing concern that this must not be at the expense of other important values for nature, 

environment and society. To accommodate these feelings, criteria will be needed that indicate whether 

biomass has been produced in a responsible manner.

Updated information on the minimization of adverse impacts in accordance with art.3 paragraph 14 of 

the Kyoto Protocol is reported in the National Inventory Report transmitted to the UNFCCC in the 

framework of the 2013 annual inventory submission.

4.9 Aviation and marine bunker fuels 

According to Article 2 of the Kyoto Protocol, paragraph 2, on aviation and marine bunker fuels, each 

Annex I Party shall identify the steps it has taken to promote and/or implement any decisions by the 
106

International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to limit 

and reduce associated emissions.

As part of the European Union, Italy supported the European Commission's proposal to incorporate 

aviation into the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), which was approved in 2008 (Directive 

2008/101/CE). In order to prevent negative effects on the EU's relationship with other countries, it 

urged that implications in the area of international law, by ICAO, should be taken into account. 

Directive 2008/101/CE sets a ceiling for CO2 allowances and establishes that a certain quantity of 

allowances is allocated through auctioning. Furthermore airlines operators are allowed to buy 

allowances from other sectors covered by EU ETS and to use JI or CDM credits to comply with their 

surrender obligations. 

As regards the maritime sector on 28 June 2013, the European Commission adopted a 

Communication41 setting out a strategy for progressively including greenhouse gas emissions from 

maritime transport in the EU's policy for reducing its overall emissions. The strategy consists of the 

following consecutive steps:

Establishing a system for monitoring, reporting and verifying (MRV) of CO2 emissions;

Setting reduction targets for the maritime transport sector;

Applying further measures, including market-based instruments, in the medium to long term.

Relating to the first of these three steps, the Commission proposed a Regulation42 of the European 

Parliament and of the Council establishing an EU-wide MRV system for large ships.

This proposal addresses ships above 5000 gross tons in respect of emissions released during their 

voyages from the last port of call to a port under the jurisdiction of a Member State and from a port 

under the jurisdiction of a Member State regardless of their flag. According to the proposed 

Regulation, ship owners will have to monitor and report the verified amount of CO2 emitted by their

ships on voyages to, from and between EU ports, Owners will also have to provide certain other 

information, such as data to determine the ships’ energy efficiency. It is proposed that the rules apply 

from 1 January 2018. They are designed to support a staged approach towards setting global energy 

efficiency standards for existing ships, as supported by several members of the International Maritime 

Organisation.

With regard to economic effects on third countries, the impact assessment of this proposal concludes 

that “based on the pass-through of costs and savings in maritime transport and on the price building 

mechanisms in different sectors, measurable increases of commodity prices (with transport costs 

being only an insignificant element of the commodities' prices) are expected to have minor effects43.

In the impact assessment, several policy options – from an MRV system to levies and to emission 

trading schemes – were assessed.

Given the large cost-effective abatement potential of the sector, the above mentioned emission 

reductions would lead to net cost savings for the maritime transport sector. Other expected impacts 

 

41 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and 

Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Integrating maritime transport emissions in the EU’s 

greenhouse gas reduction policies. COM(2013) 479 final.

42 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the monitoring, reporting and 

verification of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013. 

COM(2013) 480 final.

43 Impact Assessment – Part 1 Accompanying the document Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament 

and of the Council on the monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime 

transport and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013. Commission staff working document SWD(2013) 237 

final/2.
107

are the creation of additional jobs in ship yards and the maritime supply industry as well as health 

benefits due to reduced emissions of SOX, NOX and particulate matter.
108

5 PROJECTIONS AND EFFECTS OF POLICIES AND MEASURES

44

5.1 Introduction

The present chapter shows the scenarios of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions up to 2030. Projections 

of future emissions are divided into two scenarios:

WM (with measures) national base scenario that includes all measures implemented or adopted

up to 2010;

WAM (with additional measures), that includes all planned measures.

2010 is the base year for the projections elaborated by the National Energy Strategy (Strategia 

Energetica Nazionale, SEN). The projections of SEN scenario have been elaborated starting from 2011 

followed by stakeholder participation and public consultation. The National Energy Strategy has been 

approved in March 2013 by the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Environment. 

The SEN scenario is a WAM scenario, as it includes the effects on emissions of a series of actions not 

yet enforced to reach EU objectives and some other national objectives.

In this report it is not possible to examine a without measures scenario for many reasons. Most of 

data are not available starting from 1990, moreover and more important many measures adopted in 

the last years are structural and linked with many sectors so that is impossible to separate the effects 

of past measures and upcoming measures. Fuel shift toward low carbon fuels for the electricity 

generation is one of the most important dynamics that makes impossible to examine the effects 

without measures on national emissions. Since 1990 there has been a steady increase of natural gas 

share and a corresponding decrease of oil products share (see chapter 4, figure 4.2). Moreover a

relevant technological change in the electricity generation sector happened after 2000, when many 

combined cycle plants, mainly fed with natural gas and synthesis gas by oil products gasification,

became operational.

However the emission projections of WM scenarios reported in the previous National Communications, 

mainly the second and the third one, could supply esteems of emissions without the measures 

implemented after 2000 (see par 5.12).

Concerning the measures considered in the WM scenario, the cross-cutting nature of EU Emissions

Trading System does not allow to easily consider such measure in the analysis by gas and by sector 

provided from paragraph 5.2 to paragraph 5.7. However the effect of EU Emissions Trading Scheme 

and its impact on the “with measures” scenario is treated in paragraph 5.8. Emissions from 

international transport are reported separately in the paragraph 5.5, “Transport sector”. Information 

on the expected use of the Kyoto Protocol mechanisms is also reported in the paragraph 5.9.

The emission scenario has been elaborated by a joint working group composed by members of 

Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea, Ministry of Economic Development, ISPRA - Institute for 

Environmental Protection and Research, ENEA - Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy 

and the Sustainable Economic Development. 

In particular ENEA has developed a set of different energy scenarios, to evaluate the effects of many 

energy policies and GHG mitigation measures. Starting from analysis of ENEA the Ministry of Economic 

Development together with the Ministry of environment adopted a single scenario which is the result 

 

44 Lead author: Antonio Caputo (ISPRA). Contributing authors (ISPRA): Mario Contaldi (ISPRA), Riccardo De 

Lauretis (ISPRA), Eleonora Di Cristofaro (ISPRA), Barbara Gonella (ISPRA), Monica Pantaleoni (ISPRA), Emanuele 

Peschi (ISPRA), Daniela Romano (ISPRA), Ernesto Taurino (ISPRA), Marina Vitullo (ISPRA).
109

of the effects of a subset of policies and measures that were envisaged feasible in the timeframe up to 

2020 and represented separately in various energy scenarios. The resulting scenario (SEN scenario) is 

the one that better represents the implementation of all the feasible measure envisaged. 

The emissions resulting from “SEN Scenario”, reported in this submission as “WAM scenario”, have 

been calculated by ISPRA, in collaboration with the other institutions involved in the National Energy 

Strategy, with a model based on the well known Markal software45. This working group also extended 

the scenario up to 2030. The emission projections at sectoral level are elaborated by ISPRA and

IMELS.

The model is a partial equilibrium model and represents the domestic energy system and its main 

emissions. It contains over 70 independent demands for energy services in four main sectors –

agriculture, industry, transport, commercial and household – split by sub-sectors, type of service and 

material. Emissions of CO2 are directly accounted for in the model using IPCC “reference approach” 

methodology and national Emission Factors.

The model follows a bottom-up technological approach: start from a single sector, or sub-sector, and 

identify the derivative aggregate data. This approach yields greater accuracy and details compared to 

the top-down approach, where sector variables are derived from a macro-variable (ex. income). The 

model is also “integrated” in the sense all economic sectors are represented and it “produces” and 

“distributes” the electricity and the fuels that are needed for final consumption, starting from primary 

sources. This approach avoid in principle the so called “double counting” of effects of the 

implementation of policies, so the model evaluates the impact and interactions of measures as a 

package. Therefore the emissions difference between WM and WAM scenario is not the sum of the 

effects of each measure as reported in table 4.17. 

Structure and data of the full model, including the very detailed parts on end use devices that satisfy 

the 70 demands for energy services are summarized in Contaldi and Gracceva, 200446. 

5.1.1 The European context

In considering national intervention strategies to mitigate climate changes, it is important to consider 

also other countries’ perspective, in particular EU Countries. Italy is a member of EU and its 2010 

GHGs emissions account for about 10.6% of European Union (EU 27) actual emissions47. Moreover 

many mitigation policies are coordinated at the EU level.

The European Commission started since year 2000 a monitoring mechanism of the greenhouse gas 

emissions, which summaries the emissions and the mitigation measures implemented by Member 

States on an annual basis. In the more recent reports (with 2010 data) a summary of the ongoing 

situation at EU48 and National49 level is provided.

 

45 Markal (MARKet ALlocation) has been developed by the Implementing agreement of the International Energy 

Agency for a programme of Energy Technology System Analysis (IEA/ETSAP). The “Second Assessment Report” of 

IPCC (IPCC, 1995) suggests using Markal models to evaluate impact of mitigation policies. Source code is open, 

regularly maintained and documented.

46 ENEA "Scenari energetici per l’Italia da un modello di equilibrio generale (Markal- macro)", M. Contaldi, F. 

Gracceva, Enea Technical Report, ENEA, 2004, ISBN 88-8286-108-2.

47 Data from CRF, year 2010, of National Inventory Submission 2013 of European Union and Italy to the UNFCCC 

Secretariat.

48 EU references, papers: Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in Europe 2012. Tracking progress 

towards Kyoto and 2020 targets - EEA Report No 6/2012

49 2013 Italy Climate policy progress report. Submitted to the European Commission pursuant to Decision No 

280/2004/EC, Article 3(2), May 2013.
110

The Kyoto objective for EU15 (the 15 pre-2004 EU Member States) is to achieve an 8% emissions 

reduction. The latest data show that this target could be met taking into account the measures in the 

forestry sector and the use of flexible mechanisms.

With reference to mitigation measures the EU is implementing the recommendations of European 

Climate Change Programme (ECCP), that identified a certain number of common mitigation policies, 

more details can be found in the paper COM(2009)630 final50.

5.2 WM scenario

Table 5.1 shows the WM scenario projections up to 2030. Emissions are disaggregated by source of 

emissions sector.

Emissions data from 1990 to 2011 are reported in CRF of 2013 submission to UNFCCC. Emissions data 

for year 1990 refer to actual emissions. Emissions for 2012 represent provisional esteems based upon 

draft National Energy Balance issued by Minister of Economic Development. Data for 2010 year 

represents the average emissions in the Kyoto period (2008-2012), indicated as 2010kp.

Table 5.1 - WM Scenario’s GHG emissions from 1990 to 2030, disaggregated by source of

emission sector

51 (MtCO2 eq.)

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010kp 2015 2020 2030

FROM ENERGY USES, of which: 417.7 431.1 449.7 471.9 411.4 404.3 427.1 433.0

Energy industries 137.2 140.5 152.6 160.6 135.9 130.3 140.0 153.5

Industry 86.9 86.6 83.8 80.2 61.4 65.0 74.1 68.2

Transport 103.1 114.1 122.4 127.5 117.3 110.2 114.6 120.8

Residential and Commercial 69.4 68.7 72.1 85.2 80.7 83.3 83.5 76.4

Agriculture (energy use) 9.2 9.6 8.9 9.3 8.1 7.9 7.4 7.1

Other 11.9 11.6 9.9 9.1 8.0 7.6 7.5 6.9

FROM OTHER SOURCES, of which: 101.2 99.1 101.6 102.5 85.7 85.8 89.0 90.9

Industrial Processes + F-gas 38.4 35.9 36.2 42.6 31.9 33.3 37.4 42.4

Agriculture 40.7 40.5 40.1 37.4 34.2 33.5 33.4 33.4

Waste 19.7 20.4 22.9 20.5 17.9 17.4 16.5 13.3

Other 2.5 2.2 2.3 2.1 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8

TOTAL 519.0 530.2 551.3 574.4 497.1 490.2 516.1 523.9

Source: ISPRA

With regard to historical data, the increasing trend of emissions since 1990 up to 2005 must be 

noticed (+10.7%). Emissions in 2005 show remarkably high values, mainly in the civil sector, due to 

exceptionally cold climate conditions. Emissions from 2005 to the Kyoto period show a strong 

decrease. 

The emissions for each year of Kyoto period are shown in table 5.2, where downward trends are 

registered for each sectors, mainly due to the effects of economic crisis that hit all economic sectors 

since 2008. 

Figures show downturn trend giving lower values than those foreseen in the “updated 2009 with 

measures scenario” for the V National Communication, when the first effects of the economic crisis 

 

50 Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council COM (2009)630 final. EU reference

internet sites:http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/;http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/

51 Projections do not include the effect of the EU Emissions Trading Schemes as such effect and its impact on the

“with measures” scenario is highlighted in paragraph 5.8 due to its cross-cutting nature.
111

was taken into account. 

Table 5.2 - GHG emissions 2008 to 2012, disaggregated by source of emission sector

(MtCO2 eq.)

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012*

FROM ENERGY USES, of which: 449.2 405.2 415.3 404.5 382.8

Energy industries 156.8 131.8 133.2 131.2 126.5

Industry 72.5 55.9 61.4 61.3 56.1

Transport 123.8 119.3 118.9 117.9 106.5

Residential and Commercial 79.5 81.5 85.6 78.3 78.4

Agriculture (energy use) 8.5 8.6 8.1 7.9 7.6

Other 8.1 8.1 8.2 7.9 7.7

FROM OTHER SOURCES, of which: 92.0 85.6 85.0 84.3 81.8

Industrial Processes + F-gas 35.7 30.7 31.8 31.6 29.6

Agriculture 36.0 34.8 33.7 33.5 33.0

Waste 18.3 18.2 17.8 17.5 17.5

Other 2.0 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.7

TOTAL 541.2 490.8 500.3 488.8 464.6

Source: ISPRA

* Provisional data

Emissions after the Kyoto period up to 2020 show upward trends both from energy uses and other 

sources. The overall increase is 3.8% mainly driven by emissions from energy industries (+3.0%). 

The industry and industrial processes sectors show the higher rate of increase of 20.6% and 17.2%, 

respectively. The projections from 2020 to 2030 show further increase of emissions from energy use 

sources (+1.4%) and a more significant increase from other sources (+2.2%). Figure 5.1 and 5.2 

show the emissions by energy and other sources since 1990 up to 2030.

Figure 5.1 - Actual (up to 2010) and projected GHG emissions from energy (MtCO2 eq)

Source: ISPRA

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Energy industries Industry Transport Civil Agriculture Other

MT CO2eq.
112

Figure 5.2 - Actual (up to 2010) and projected GHG emissions from other sources (MtCO2 eq)

Source: ISPRA

5.3 WAM scenario

The “with additional measures” scenario has been geared taking into account the energy scenarios 

described in the paragraph “Energy scenarios and effects of policies and measures” and specific 

estimates on non-energy source emissions. Starting year for the scenario is 2010. Annual emissions 

data, average annual emissions in the Kyoto period (2008-2012) indicated as 2010kp emissions, and 

projections for subsequent years, disaggregated by gas, are reported in Table 5.3 (it has to be 

underlined that projections shown in the table do not discern the effects of the EU Emissions Trading 

Schemes due to its cross-cutting nature, such effects and impacts on the “with measures” scenario 

are highlighted in paragraph 5.9). The table shows a downward trend of the overall greenhouse 

emissions of -4.2% from 1990 to the Kyoto period and further decrease of -8.5% up to 2020 with 

respect to 2010kp. The decline of emissions continues in the 2020-2030 period (-5.3%).

HFCs emissions show the higher growth rate between 1990 and 2010kp (from 0 to 8.7 MtCO2eq.), also 

SF6 emissions show increase of +12.7% in the same period, while all other gases show downward 

trends. From a quantitative point of view the change in carbon dioxide emissions, -2.9%, is much 

more relevant. The decrease in overall emissions between 2010kp and 2030 continues, with only HFC 

gases still showing increases (+44.3% in 2010kp-2020 period, and +31.8% in 2020-2030 period). 

Again CO2 is the most important gas, with a reduction in emissions of -16.1% between 2010kp and 

2030. Energy related emissions constitute most of CO2 emissions and they will be analyzed in details 

at sector level in the following paragraphs. Methane emissions decrease in the period 2010kp-2030 

with 18.2% rate, while nitrous oxide emissions show 2.5% increase in the same period.

Among F-gases the most important contribute comes from HFCs. The increasing emissions are mainly 

attributed to the fact that these gases are CFCs substitutes, so its actual emissions are linked to the 

expansion of air conditioning in the car fleet and cooling systems in the civil sector, using HFCs. 

Moreover the stock of this equipment is expanding every year, due to improvements in the food chain 

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Industrial Processes + F-gas Agriculture Waste Other

MT CO2eq.
113

but also for people comfort, fuelled by heat waves during summer in recent years.

Table 5.3 - WAM Scenario’s GHG emissions from 1990 to 2030, disaggregated by gas.

(MtCO2 eq.)

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010kp 2015 2020 2030

Carbon dioxide 434.7 444.9 462.3 488.1 421.9 405.9 377.8 354.1

Methane 43.8 44.3 45.8 41.1 37.3 35.9 34.4 30.5

Nitrous oxide 37.4 38.4 39.5 37.7 27.6 27.8 28.7 28.2

HFCs 0.4 0.7 2.0 5.4 8.7 10.7 12.6 16.6

PFCs 2.5 1.3 1.2 1.7 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.3

SF6 0.3 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4

TOTAL 519.0 530.2 551.3 574.4 497.1 482.0 455.0 431.0

Changes with respect to the

base year, 6 gases

6.2% 10.7% -4.2% -7.1% -12.3% -17.0%

Changes with respect to the

2010kp, 6 gases

-3.1% -8.5% -13.3%

Source: ISPRA.

5.4 Sector emissions

The emissions in the various sectors of society and economy are reported in Table 5.4, using the 

standard UNFCCC reporting format, following a point source methodology, and not showing the effect 

of the EU Emissions Trading Schemes. Most of GHGs emissions are caused by fossil fuel use in the 

various sectors (about 83% in 2008-2012 period) and are characterized by an upward trend up to 

2005, followed by decrease during the Kyoto period. GHGs emissions from energy uses have increased 

by 13.0% over the 1990-2005 period, with the highest growth rate recorded by the transport sector 

(23.6%), followed by residential and commercial sector (+22.9%), and energy industries sector 

(+17.0%). On the contrary, the emissions from the manufacturing industry sector have decreased by 

-7.7%.

GHGs emissions from energy use decline after 2005, in particular with the economic crisis started in 

2008. During the Kyoto period all energy sectors show consistent decrease. In the following years 

(2010kp-2020) only manufacturing industries show remarkable increases of emissions, +11.8%, while 

emissions in all other energy sectors, including transport, continues to decline. In the following period 

(2020-2030) all energy sectors show decreasing emissions. The underlining reasons of emission 

trends will be analyzed sector by sector in the following paragraph.

The emissions from non energy sources show a slight increase in the 1990-2005 period (+1.3%) and 

a turnaround trend up to Kyoto period (-16.4% with respect to 2005). In the following 2010kp-2020 

period the trend is reversed, with an increase in emissions of 3.8% due to industrial processes 

emissions (+17.2%). Also after 2020 the non energy emissions continue to increase (+2.2%), driven 

by emissions increase in industrial processes (+13.5%). 

In order to show the underlining driving forces of the emissions increase, in terms of final 

consumptions, GHGs emissions disaggregated by end use sector are shown in Table 5.5. In this table 

the emissions from the electricity production and transport are distributed in relation to the final 

consumption sector. Such disaggregation shows a significant change in the role of sectors in driving 

total emissions if compared to the one shown in Table 5.4:

the industrial sector, that accounts for about 30.2% of total emissions during the Kyoto period, 

represents the most important source of emissions; civil sector emissions increase significantly 
114

and become the second source with share of 28.7%, followed by transport sector with 26.6%; 

also land use and cultivation emissions become significant (9.0% of total emissions).

a decrease is recorded for the industrial sector (Industry, industrial processes and F-gases)

between 1990 and 2010kp (-22.5%), higher than the one shown in Table 5.4 (-12.7%, taking into 

account energy industries, industry, and industrial processes sectors), with further decrease up to 

2030 (-4.5%); 

emissions from the transport sector increase up to 2010kp (+13.0% from 1990), while in the 

period from 2010kp to 2020 the decrease is comparable (-13.6%), due to the progressive 

reduction of oil based fuels, and up to 2030 further decrease is registered (-3.5% from 2020 to 

2030);

the domestic and services sectors emissions increase remarkably from 1990 to 2010kp (+15.0%), 

decrease of 12.6% from 2010kp to 2020 and further decrease is recorded from 2020 to 2030 (-

9.3%).

Table 5.4 - WAM Scenario’s GHG emissions from 1990 to 2030, disaggregated by source of

emission sector (MtCO2 eq.)

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010kp 2015 2020 2030

FROM ENERGY USES, of which: 417.7 431.1 449.7 471.9 411.4 396.1 366.0 340.1

Energy industries 137.2 140.5 152.6 160.6 135.9 128.6 106.4 97.1

Industry 86.9 86.6 83.8 80.2 61.4 62.1 68.7 66.0

Transport 103.1 114.1 122.4 127.5 117.3 110.0 102.2 99.0

Residential and Commercial 69.4 68.7 72.1 85.2 80.7 79.9 74.1 64.0

Agriculture (energy use) 9.2 9.6 8.9 9.3 8.1 7.9 7.3 7.1

Other 11.9 11.6 9.9 9.1 8.0 7.6 7.4 6.9

FROM OTHER SOURCES, of which: 101.2 99.1 101.6 102.5 85.7 85.8 89.0 90.9

Industrial Processes + F-gas 38.4 35.9 36.2 42.6 31.9 33.3 37.4 42.4

Agriculture 40.7 40.5 40.1 37.4 34.2 33.5 33.4 33.4

Waste 19.7 20.4 22.9 20.5 17.9 17.4 16.5 13.3

Other 2.5 2.2 2.3 2.1 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8

TOTAL 519.0 530.2 551.3 574.4 497.1 482.0 455.0 431.0

Source: ISPRA

Table 5.5 - WAM Scenario’s GHG emissions from 1990 to 2030, disaggregated by end-use

sector (MtCO2 eq.)

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010kp 2015 2020 2030

Industry, industrial processes and Fgases

192.8 186.7 191.6 197.3 149.9 150.6 147.3 143.2

Transport (include 70% of refineries 116.5 127.7 137.6 142.6 132.1 120.8 114.1 110.1

Residential and commercial 123.6 127.4 135.6 153.8 142.6 140.0 124.7 113.1

Agriculture and change in soil use 52.1 52.4 51.4 49.0 44.8 43.9 43.3 42.5

Waste 19.7 20.4 22.9 20.5 17.9 17.4 16.5 13.3

Other 14.3 13.8 12.2 11.2 9.8 9.3 9.1 8.7

TOTAL 519.0 528.4 551.2 574.4 497.1 482.0 455.0 431.0

Source : ISPRA

5.5 Emissions from energy use

Emissions from energy uses are due to the combustion of fossil fuels and encompass the greatest 
115

share of total GHGs emission (the average share in the 2008-2012 period is 82.8%). Due to its 

importance, the number of policies involved and the differences in trends among its subsectors will be 

analyzed for each subsector (see also Figure 5.3).

Figure 5.3 - GHG emissions from energy use (MtCO2 eq)

Source: ISPRA

For the scenarios described in the introduction the model used computes directly the CO2 emissions 

from energy use, while other GHGs and non energy GHG emissions are estimated on the basis of 

estimated evolution of activity data and average emission factors. Emissions up to 2011 are final data, 

2012 figures are provisional, 2015-2030 are model estimates. 

Figure 5.4 shows actual and projected CO2 emissions from energy sector emissions. CO2 emissions 

account for more than 97% in the energy sector with a quite steady share. A remarkable reduction of 

CO2 emissions is shown in 2010, and then a further decrease. The reduction in emissions is due to 

many different factors, some of them structural and other only temporary. The most important are:

higher than expected share of renewable sources in gross inland consumption, due to 

anticipated development of photovoltaic production and diffusion of biomass for heating;

increased efficiency of electricity generation, with the entry in service of many combined cycle 

plants;

the reduced fuel consumption in transportation due to high fuel prices and low activity levels;

the sharp reduction of energy consumption in the industrial sector due to crisis and structural 

changes in production;

increase in efficiency of final end use devices.

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010* 2015 2020 2025 2030

Energy industries Industry Transport Civil Agriculture Other

MT CO2eq.
116

Figure 5.4 - Actual and projected CO2 emissions from energy sector, Mt CO2

Source: ISPRA

With reference to the detailed data reported in tables 5.1 and 5.4, the sector by sector analysis for the 

period 2010kp-2020 shows that:

the slight increase in emissions from energy industries (+3.0%) in the WM scenario turns to a 

reduction of -21.7% in the WAM scenario; in historical years up to 2005 there was a steep 

growth of emissions (+17.0% since 1990); in this sector the emissions growth is directly linked 

to the increase of electricity demand and thermoelectric production by fossil fuels, that outpaced 

the efficiency improvements in historical years; in projection years only a limited further 

increase in thermoelectric efficiency is expected, electricity import should be reduced and 

renewable production is limited in WM scenario. In WAM scenario the planned expansion of 

renewable production, the stability of electricity consumption, and a reduced activity of 

refineries, due to the increased efficiency of vehicles, will reduce the emissions. A further 

reduction of emissions is expected between 2020 and 2030 in WAM scenario, because the 

increase of electricity consumption is fulfilled by renewable sources, while thermoelectric 

production remains quite constant, with further efficiency increases in end users.

In the transport sector the WM scenario already foresees a reduction of -2.3%; in historical 

years, 2000–2010kp there has been a decrease in emissions of -4.2%, but a huge increase was 

registered from 1990 to 2000 (+18.7%); in WAM scenario the decrease in emissions from 

2010kp to 2020 increases to -12.8%: this result is linked to a reduced road demand growth 

(moved to other modes) and to the effect of national commitment to the ongoing policies to 

increase efficiency of cars (EU regulation on cars CO2) and further expansion of natural gas use. 

Between 2020 and 2030 the emissions show only a slight decrease in WAM scenario because of 

the increase in activity that will balance further efficiency improvements.

Emissions from the civil sector were increasing in historical years, (+11.8% in 2000–2010kp), 

notwithstanding the sharp decrease of emissions in the last years. A slight increase of emissions 

for WM scenario is registered in the period 2010kp–2020 (+3.5%); the emissions increase in the 

past is mainly linked to the expansion of the services sector and the expansion of residential 

300

350

400

450

500

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

2010 Reference scenario (DG ENV)

Primes: Reference scenario Jan 2013

V NC - WM scenario

VI NC - WM scenario

VI NC - WAM scenario

CO2 (Mt)
117

building stock (second and third houses), also increased house size and higher internal 

temperature play an important role; in projection years planned policies have a relevant effect 

in curbing emissions; in WAM scenario reduction of emissions between 2010kp and 2020 

increase up to -8.2% due to higher efficiencies planned for building stocks and expansion of 

renewable use (biomass / geothermal / solar thermal / heat pumps). A further reduction of 

13.6% is foreseen between 2020 and 2030 (WAM scenario) due to further improvements in 

building thermal isolation and expansion of heat pumps. Climate data are kept constant in the

model.

Industry emissions register a deep decrease in historical years, 2000–2010kp (-26.7%), because 

of the effect of economic crisis; the emissions are planned to increase, +20.6%, between 2010kp

and 2020 in WM scenario. Increase of activity data, or better a partial recovery of the activity 

level registered between 2005 and 2008, is the main driving force (see paragraph 5.8.5). In the 

WAM scenario the increase is almost halved, +11.8% between 2010kp and 2020. The reduced 

increase is due mainly to increase in efficiency and cogeneration use. Emissions should stay 

almost constant up to 2030 due to a slight expansion in activity balanced by further increase in 

efficiency.

It is noteworthy to underline that the emissions computed by the model do not match 100% with the 

inventory estimate for the base modelling year, currently 2010, because of the unavoidable 

simplifications in the modelling of the energy system. The discrepancies are reduced to 1-2% in total 

and up to 4% in the single sectors. Those estimates are in any case the best available to project 

emissions.

5.5.1 Energy industries sector

According to IPCC guidelines the energy industries sector includes the electricity production from fossil 

fuels, refineries and the production of coke and of electricity from coal gases in integrated steel plants. 

Self-generated and self-consumed electricity are not included in the energy industries sector (see also 

chapter 3 and in particular CRF data in section 1.A.1 a-c) as they are included among industrial 

emissions (see also chapter 3 and in particular CRF data in section 1.A.2). The emissions from selfgenerated and self-consumed electricity were relevant in the past, but in recent years they only 

amount to about 10% of emissions from total electricity production, as reported in the NIR52. The 

emissions from refineries are relevant but the increase in the efficiency of vehicles foreseen in the 

next years will reduce the refineries activity. The emissions from energy industry sector are linked to 

electricity production, especially for trends.

Between 1990 and 2005 a noticeable increase of 17.0% has been registered by the energy industries 

sector, more than 1% yearly. From 2005 to 2010kp the trend shows an inversion and the emissions 

sharply decrease (-15.4%). The declining trend in the last years is mainly driven by reduced activity in 

the years of economic crisis and increasing share of renewable sources to produce electricity. A 

significant role is also played by increasing fossil fuels efficiency for the electricity generation. After 

the Kyoto period up to 2020 further decrease of emissions is expected (-21.7%), the declining trend 

continues up to 2030 with -8.7% of reduction due to increasing share of renewable sources for 

 

52 See Annex 2 and table A2.3 of National Inventory Report 2013, ISBN 978-88-448-0609-5 - ISPRA 2013, 

http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it
118

electricity generation, lesser contribute is expected by efficiency factor due to limited scope remaining 

for technologies to increase the energy generation efficiency and for fossil fuel switch to gas.

5.5.1.1 Electricity production

The increase of emissions from electricity production is lower than the growth of electricity production 

itself (Figure 5.5), due mainly to fuel shift on lower carbon content fuels, increasing share of 

renewable sources in the last years and relevant increase in efficiency of electricity production since 

1990. The growth rate of gross electric energy production was quite high from 1990 to 2012 (about 

1.7% per year), a sharp decline is observed during the Kyoto period (-5.2% in the 2012 as compared 

to 2008 level, without considering electricity by pumped storage units), corresponding with the 

economic crisis. The average gross electric energy production for years 2008-2012 is 39.3% higher 

than 1990 level. As regards the carbon dioxide emissions, the amount for years 2008-2012 is 3.1% 

lower than 1990 level. 

According to the WAM scenario the expected increase in demand will be covered by strong increase in 

installed power of renewable sources. A limited expansion of coal generation capacity is also planned. 

Total power capacity, including renewable capacities, goes from 102,339 MW (gross efficient power) in 

2008 to 128,134 MW in 2012. Renewable sources represent the main component of the power 

increase (23,486 MW out of 25.795 MW). The growth has been essentially affected by photovoltaic 

and wind capacity (15,988 MW and 4,582 MW, respectively). As concern the electricity from 

renewable sources the European target for Italy to be achieved in 2020 is 26,4%, expressed as a 

percentage of gross final consumption of electricity, including import share of electricity. Such target 

is overachieved in 2012 with about 92 TWh, 27.1% of gross final consumption of electricity53. In 

calculating the contribution of hydropower and wind, the effects of climatic variation are smoothed 

through the use of a normalization rule according to Directive 2009/28/EC. The steep increase of 

renewable electricity production is foreseen to continue in the next years. The National Energy 

Strategy planned about 130 TWh from renewable sources in 2020, including the import from abroad of 

about 24 TWh. The projection for 2030 is about 140 TWh with a decreasing share of imported 

electricity from renewable sources to 10 TWh. Total electricity production without electricity by 

pumped storage units grows from 299 TWh in 2010 to 311 TWh in 2020 and 341 Twh in 2030. As the 

thermoelectric production is quite constant in the period 2010-2030 the growth of electricity 

production will be produced by renewable sources.

 

53 GSE, 2013 - Impianti a fonti rinnovabili in Italia.
119

Figure 5.5 - Power sector, GHG emissions growth (MtCO2 eq.) and activity data (WAM)

Source: ISPRA

5.5.1.2 Refinery sector

As far as the refinery sector is concerned, the demand of energy consumption and emissions slightly 

decreased (-3%) between 1990 and 2000 notwithstanding an increase of throughput (+9%), due to 

increase efficiency of the process. After year 2000 up to 2010 the throughput was 3% lower but 

emissions did increase of about 7% driven by an increase in production of cleaner fuels, fuels for 

transportation and the “complexity” of the process. The increased “complexity” of the process is 

needed to produce transportation fuels and reduce production of residual fuel oil and results in 

increased energy consumption with the installation of deep conversion units or integrated gasification 

units that can use heavy residuals from processing to produce electricity, heat and hydrogen.

In WAM scenario from 2010 to 2015 the overall activity data is projected to decrease substantially, 

with a corresponding reduction in emissions. A partial recovery of production is foresee up to 2020 

and stability in the following period. Emissions will increase in 2020 and 2030 due to the increased 

complexity of refineries.

Table 5.6 - Projections of emissions from refineries for WM and WAM scenarios (Mt CO2)

2010 2015 2020 2030 %

2010-2030

Refineries

WM

19.0

21.9 22.9 27.1 +42.6%

WAM 16.2 18.2 18.6 -2.1%

Variation WAM/WM (%) -26.0% -20.5% -31.4%

Source: ISPRA

5.5.2 Final uses of energy

The next table reports the projections, for both WM and WAM scenarios, for final uses of energy (PJ)

according to Eurostat methodology.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Activity data (TWh, gross prod.) Carbon dioxide (Mt) Emission factor (g CO2/kWh)
120

Table 5.7 - Projections of energy for final use for WM and WAM scenarios (TJ)

2010 2015 2020 2030 %

2010-2030

Total final uses

WM

5,309.4

5,224.1 5,553.4 5,608.7 +5.6%

WAM 5,095.6 5,170.9 5,176.4 -2.5%

Variation WAM/WM (%) -2.5% -6.9% -7.7%

Source: ISPRA

The scenario with existing measures shows increasing final uses after 2015, when the effects of 

economic crisis will end. As concern WAM scenario, the effects of additional measures are already 

evident from 2015. The reduction of final uses of WAM scenario compared to WM scenario increase in 

the next years.

The amount of final energy uses and the methodology used to define it is relevant because the 

renewable energy target is expressed as a percentage (17% for Italy) of final uses of energy 

computed following Eurostat methodology with a few differences specified in Directive 28/2009. 

In the Italian administrative system the responsibility for authorization of energy uses is divided 

between national and regional authorities, so, to guarantee the fulfilment of EU objective the national 

objective of final uses of energy has been subdivided for each Italian Region with the Decree of the 

15th March 2012, see chapter 4, paragraph 4.4.1, tables 4.7 and 4.8.

The National energy strategy has then decided more ambitious national objectives for the renewable 

sources (20% of gross final consumption in 2020), for the total final energy use (from about 133 Mtoe 

to about 126-127 Mtoe), and for energy efficiency (24% less than primary energy in 2020 reference 

level, Primes 2008 Model). The SEN objectives have not been subdivided at regional level, to date.

5.5.2.1 Industry sector

According to the IPCC guidelines and data reported in section 1.A.2 of CRF, the industrial sector 

considered herein excludes refineries and includes blast furnaces and emissions due to the electricity 

self-production. Reference is made only to emissions connected to energy use, excluding process 

emissions reported in section 2.A-C of CRF (see paragraph 5.6 “Projection of emissions from industrial 

processes”).

The next table reports the projections for final uses of energy in industry sector (PJ) for WM and WAM 

scenarios:

Table 5.8 - Projections of energy for final use in industry sector for WM and WAM scenarios

(TJ)

2010 2015 2020 2030 %

2010-2030

Industry

WM

1,345.6

1,371.8 1,472.6 1,446.1 +7.5%

WAM 1,327.1 1,357.8 1,298.9 -3.5%

Variation WAM/WM (%) -3.3% -7.8% -10.2%

Source: ISPRA

The emission trend is reported in Figure 5.3. The industrial sector is going through a period of 

emission reduction because of the economic crisis. Many emission reduction techniques have already

been exploited in the previous years: the measures implemented include additional use of natural gas 
121

and a drive to expand “lighter” sub-sectors as mechanical, food, specialized chemicals manufacture 

and other light industries at a higher rate than the average. The low emissions levels registered during 

the Kyoto period are mainly due to a low production of steel from BOF plants and reduction of 

construction material production. Moreover an expansion of the share of natural gas in the fuels used

contributes to further emissions reduction.

A primary tool to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases is by improving the level of energy 

efficiency of the industrial processes. Italy is one of the world’s most energy-efficient countries (with 

primary energy intensity 15% lower than the European average). In 2012 the American Council for an 

Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) placed Italy third in the biggest economies after Great Britain and 

Germany in its comparison of countries’ efforts to increase their energy efficiency levels. Many 

improvements are technically feasible however they represent a real challenge for those sectors with

high levels of efficiency already reached with respect to biggest economies in European Union, mainly 

for energy intensive subsectors as steel, cement, tiles, paper. Those subsectors are included in the 

EU–ETS and concerns of international competition are addressed at EU level with the evaluation of the 

possibility of “carbon leakage” and the adjustment of the prices of emissions allowances for the 

involved sectors. 

5.5.2.2 Transport sector

In conformity with the IPCC Guidelines, the transport sector includes road and railway transportations 

(except for the emissions from the use of electricity), domestic air traffic, the national amount of 

international air flights (landing and take-off) and coastal navigation, as well as the consumptions in 

the harbour from ships travelling in international voyages. The emissions are those reported in Table 

1.A.3 of CRF and the historical and expected trend are reported in figure 5.3.

The next table reports the projections for final uses of energy (PJ). The WM and WAM scenarios

projections are reported:

Table 5.9 - Projections of energy for final use in transport sector for WM and WAM scenarios

(TJ)

2010 2015 2020 2030 %

2010-2030

Transport

WM

1,781.2

1,725.5 1,801.5 1,856.2 +4.2%

WAM 1,694.4 1,635.9 1,663.8 -6.6%

Variation WAM/WM (%) -1.8% -9.2% -10.4%

Source: ISPRA

The GHGs emissions from this sector register a strong historical growth (+13.7%) from 1990 to Kyoto 

period. In the more recent years the trend has changed direction and a reduction is expected by 2015.

The two presented scenario diverge for this sector: the trend is expected to continue to grow after 

2015 in the WM scenario and it should be reversed in the WAM scenario, as shown in above table.

The passenger transport is responsible for 64.1% of emissions (2010), while goods and other use of 

fuels (Public administration, fisheries) account for the balance. Road transport is responsible for 

93.9% (2010) of sector GHGs emissions.

The projections have been carried out by estimating the effects of the following planned measures:

efficiency gain: includes the development of low consumption vehicles (new EU directive on 

gCO2/km emissions of new cars, with the objectives for the years after 2019 still under 
122

discussion and estimated to be 105 g/CO2-km);

fuel optimization: enforcement of protocols agreed on between government and producers for 

the deployment of low carbon fuels in the market (natural gas, LPG, liquids from biomass). 

National Energy strategy confirms the objective of 10% of biofuels in transportation and the 

strong drive for natural gas use;

modal optimization: car sharing, car pooling and shared taxi initiatives for passenger transport;

increase the direct use of electricity in transport, as envisaged by SEN, with the objective to 

double its use;

infrastructures: extension and modernization of the local railway network.

The modal split is foreseen to stay substantially unchanged from 2010 to 2020 for passengers, 

whereas a significant increase in goods railway / ship transport is expected. Specific average 

consumptions of cars and LDV vehicles are expected to decrease by 18 and 30% in 2020, 

respectively for diesel and petrol with reference to 2004. Further reductions of 15-20% are 

expected by 2030 in WAM scenario. The growth of mobility demand will be partially offset by 

the expected reduction in unit consumptions.

Table 5.10 shows historical emissions and emission projections related to fuels sold to ships and 

aircrafts for international transport. The projections take into account only existing measures because 

no additional measures are planned for this sector. A relevant increase of emissions is foreseen after 

the Kyoto period up to 2020 both for international aviation (+15.4%) and for international maritime 

transport (+20.1%). The upward trend continues up to 2030 with acceleration for aviation (+18.2%) 

and a slow down for marine transport (+2.3%).

Table 5.10 - Emissions from international bunkers

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010kp 2015 2020 2030

International Bunkers 8.6 9.8 12.3 16.2 17.0 18.7 20.0 22.2

Aviation 4.2 5.7 8.1 9.2 9.6 10.3 11.1 13.1

Marine 4.4 4.1 4.2 7.0 7.4 8.4 8.9 9.1

Source: ISPRA

5.5.2.3 Civil and agricultural sectors

The next table reports the projections for energy final uses (PJ) in civil and agriculture sectors. The 

WM and WAM scenarios projections are reported:

Table 5.11 - Projections of energy for final use in civil sector for WM and WAM scenarios (TJ)

2010 2015 2020 2030 %

2010-2030

Commercial (Tertiary) and 

agriculture

WM

867.8

872.2 947.2 1,027.4 18.4%

WAM 834.0 849.3 892.0 2.8%

Variation WAM/WM (%) -4.4% -10.3% -13.2%

Residential

WM

1,314.8

1,254.5 1332.1 1,279.0 -2.7%

WAM 1,240.2 1,328.0 1,321.6 0.5%

Variation WAM/WM (%) -1.1% -0.3% 3.3%

Civil and agriculture sector 

(total)

WM 2,182.6 2,126.7 2,279.3 2,306.4 5.7%

WAM 2,074.2 2,177.3 2,213.6 1.4%

Variation WAM/WM (%) -2.5% -4.5% -4.0%

Source: ISPRA
123

The sectors are characterized by the following features:

agriculture: moderate penetration of gas in agricultural sector results in slight decrease of CO2

emissions from energy uses (from 8.1 Mt in 2010kp to 7.3 Mt in 2020 and to 7.1 Mt in 2030);

buildings (residential and tertiary): it is expected a slight yearly increase in the total square 

meters of all residential and services buildings. The increase in heating demand will be offset by 

the estimated natural gas expansion, by higher electricity penetration, and by the expected 

efficiency gains, with a consequent decrease of CO2 emissions (from 80.7 Mt in 2010 to 74.1 Mt 

in 2020 and to 64.0 Mt in 2030); the scenario is based on average weather conditions, in case 

of cold winter emissions could be much higher, as was the case in 2005.

energy consumptions: the civil and agriculture sector show energy final uses in WAM scenario 

4.0% lower than final uses in WM scenario in 2030, essentially due to the reduction of energy 

consumption in commercial and agriculture sectors. As concerns residential sector, the 

consumption of energy is 2030 in higher for WAM scenario than WM scenario because of 

increase of biomass consumption in the former scenario that substitute more efficient natural 

gas of WM scenario.

5.6 Emissions from other sectors

In figure 5.6 the emissions of GHGs from non energy sector are reported. As can be seen there is a 

sharp emissions reduction between 2005 and 2010. The reduction is due to the effect of (in order of 

importance):

implementation on N2O emission control in the adipic acid and nitric acid production;

reduction of emissions from landfills due to increased recovery of methane;

reduction of other process emissions due to a reduction of related industrial production; 

increase of recovery of animal wastes for biogas production.

According to the scenario the emissions are projected to further reduction from 2010 up to 2015,

reaching a stable level afterward. The overall trend represents the combination of different evolution 

of underlining sectors and gasses, in particular: 

a stable trend in emissions for solvent, agriculture and waste sectors;

an increase in industrial process emissions;

a sizeable reduction of emissions of greenhouse gasses other than CO2 from energy use of fossil 

fuels between 2010 and 2015, due to technology improvements.

Additionally we underline that there are no differences between WM and WAM scenario emissions in 

Industrial processes, Solvent, Agriculture and Waste sector because no additional measures are 

actually planned in those sectors. The increase in emissions in industrial processes is connected to a 

sizeable increase in use of substitute of ozone depleting substances and, for a minor part, to an 

increase of industrial production. For all other sectors the emissions are stable or continue to decline 

slightly. Between 2020 and 2030 we observe a similar evolution.
124

Figure 5.6 - Actual and projected net GHG emissions , Mt CO2 eq

Source: ISPRA

5.6.1 Projections of emissions from industrial processes

Emission projections to 2020 and 2030 for most industrial processes have been calculated using the 

growth rates shown in the Table 5.12 to estimate the expected activity production levels. They are 

consistent with those used for the energy sector in the WAM scenario. Information directly 

communicated from industry has been used for aluminium production and for F-gases production and 

consumption. For SF6 used in magnesium and aluminium foundries and for solvent and other product 

use, future trends have been estimated by means of an extrapolation of most recent data and taking 

in account the implementation of the European Regulation n. 842/2006 regarding some F-gases, the 

European Directive 2006/40/EC regarding air emissions from air conditioning system on vehicles (MAC 

Directive), European Directive 1999/13/EC regarding the reduction of VOC emissions due to the use of 

solvent (Solvent Directive) and the European Directive 2004/42/EC to reduce VOC emissions due to 

the organic solvent use in decorative paint (Deco Paint Directive)

80

90

100

110

120

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

2010 Reference scenario (DG ENV)

V NC - WM scenario

VI NC - WM/WAM scenario

GHG (Mt CO2eq)
125

Table 5.12 - Growth rates for the industrial processes 2012-2030

2012 2013 

2015

2016 

2020

2021 

2025

2026 

2030

A. Mineral Products

1. Cement Production -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

2. Lime Production -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

3. Limestone and Dolomite Use -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

4. Soda Ash Production and Use -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

Glass Production 

(decarbonising) -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

B. Chemical Industry 

1. Ammonia Production -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

2. Nitric Acid Production -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

3. Adipic Acid Production -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

5. Other

Carbon Black -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

Ethylene -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

Styrene -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

Titanium dioxide -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

Propylene -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

C. Metal Production

1. Iron and Steel Production

Steel -3.20% -0.03% 0.34% 0.34% 0.30%

Pig Iron -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

Sinter -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

2. Ferroalloys Production -3.20% -0.03% 0.40% 0.34% 0.30%

3. Aluminium Production -3.20% -0.10% -0.10% -0.10% -0.10%

Source: ISPRA

The “with measures” scenario includes the reduction of N2O emissions from the nitric acid production 

due to the installation of SCR (selective catalytic reduction) systems for the treatment of process 

gases with the adoption of the most advanced technologies to be applied to the main existing nitric 

acid production plants by 2015.

For the other categories emission factors have been considered constant for the whole time series 

assuming that no further additional measures will be implemented.

The resulting GHGs emission scenarios by sector and by gases for 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2030 are 

reported respectively in Table 5.13 and in Table 5.14.

Table 5.13 - Emission trend scenario of GHG emissions by sector from the industrial

processes and solvent use (MtCO2 eq)

2010kp 2015 2020 2030

Mineral products 17.6 17.8 20.1 22.8

Chemical industry 2.2 2.0 2.2 2.5

Metal production 1.7 1.8 2.1 2.3

Production of halocarbons and SF6 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.7

Consumption of halocarbons and SF6 9.2 10.3 11.5 13.1

Total Industrial Processes 31.9 33.3 37.4 42.4

Solvent use 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8

Total Industrial Processes and Solvent Use 33.6 34.9 39.1 44.2

Source: ISPRA
126

Table 5.14 - Emission trend scenario by gases from the industrial processes and

solvent use (MtCO2 eq.)

2010kp 2015 2020 2030

CO2 21.8 21.3 23.5 24.5

CH4 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

N2O 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.4

HFCs 8.7 10.7 12.6 16.6

PFCs 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.3

SF6 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4

Total GHGs 33.6 34.9 39.1 44.2

Source: ISPRA

5.6.2 Projections of emissions from the agriculture sector

Greenhouse gas (GHGs) emission figures from the agriculture emission inventory are updated and 

improved thanks to different national research studies54. Methodologies for the preparation of national 

inventories under the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution and the United Nations 

Framework Convention on Climate Change are kept consistent (Cóndor and De Lauretis, 2007; Cóndor 

et al., 2008; Cóndor and De Lauretis, 2009). Between 1990 and 2010kp, GHGs emissions from the 

agriculture sector have decreased by 16.0%. Emission trends are due to the reduction in activity data 

such as the number of animals, the variation of cultivated surface/crop production and use of nitrogen 

fertilizers, mainly linked to Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) measures. Historical activity data trends 

from 1990 to 2011 are described in Chapter 2.

Emission projections for 2015, 2020, and 2030 were estimated with the same model used for the 

preparation of the national emission inventory submitted in 2013.

Moreover, activity data used for emission projections is consistent with information utilized for 

GAINS/RAINS Italy projections (communicated to the UNECE/Gothenburg Protocol). To estimate the 

number of the different animal categories, a model has been developed by ENEA55 and information is 

updated every year56. For the use of fertilizers, ENEA has based assumptions on the European 

Fertilizer Manufacturers Association (EFMA) forecast. For the surface/production agricultural 

production, a trend has been estimated on the basis of the 1990-2011 time series.

In Table 5.15 the assumptions for fertilizers consumption are shown. A increase of 12.7% of

total consumption of nitrogen fertilizers has been estimated in 2020

57 with respect to 2010kp

.

The baseline assumption presented by EFMA was that Italy will have a stabilization of 

consumption of nitrogen fertilizers between 2011 and 202158.

 

54 NIR 2013, Chapter 6 - ISPRA, 2013

55 ENEA, 2005. Valutazione del potenziale di riduzione delle emissioni di ammoniaca. Rapporto Intermedio. ENEA

UTS- PROT, Unità Inquinamento Atmosferico. Dicembre 2005. 

Personal commucation – Activity data: number of animals and fertilizers consumption (18/04/2012).

56 D’Elia et al., 2008. Nitrogen related research and policy activities in Italy: The Ammonia experience in

Italy. Presentation Task-force on Reactive Nitrogen, Wageningen, 21 – 23 Maggio 2008. Updated scenarios are 

available at the link http://gains-it.bologna.enea.it/gains/IT/index.login.

57 After 2020, the data are assumed to be constant in the absence of other indications.

58 EFMA, Forecast of food, farming and fertilizer use in the European Union 2011-2021. Annual forecast 2011.
127

Table 5.15 - Assumptions used for estimating GHG emission projections with respect to

fertilizers consumption

Fertilizers (kt nitrogen*) 2010kp 2015 2020 2030

Consumption of urea 238.63 269.06 290.83 290.83

Consumption of other nitrogen fertilizers 302.83 319.38 319.38 319.38

Total consumption of nitrogen fertilizers 541.45 588.44 610.21 610.21

* Nitrogen content in synthetic fertilizers

Source: ISPRA

In Table 5.16 assumptions for the main animal categories (cattle, swine and poultry) are shown. The

CAP 2014-202059 agenda, such as the milk quota reform will lead to a revision to these estimates in

the next future.

Table 5.16 - Assumptions used for estimating GHG emission projections with respect to the 

number of animals

Animal category (kheads) 2010 kp 2015 2020 2030

Dairy cattle 1,802 1,730 1,653 1,631

Non-dairy cattle 4,105 4,178 3,999 3,740

Swine 9,272 9,463 9,526 9,693

Poultry 199,401 199,646 201,310 205,590

Source: ISPRA

In Table 5.17, GHGs emission projections by source category are shown. It is expected for 2015,

2020 and 2030 a reduction of emission equal to -2.0%, -2.3%, and -2.5% with respect to 2010kp.

The main drivers for GHGs emission reductions are given by the manure management (-17.6% in 

2030), this source accounts for 18.3% of total agricultural emissions in 2010kp.

Table 5.17 - Emissions projections for the agriculture sector (MtCO2eq)

2010kp 2015 2020 2030

Enteric Fermentation 10.81 11.03 10.94 10.89

Manure Management 6.25 5.54 5.24 5.15

Rice Cultivation 1.52 1.54 1.60 1.71

Agricultural Soils 15.61 15.40 15.63 15.60

Field Burning of agricultural residues 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02

TOTAL GHGs 34.21 33.52 33.43 33.37

Source: ISPRA

A qualitative assessment done by Ispra at the end of 2008 has identified that the agrienvironmental measure (code 214) included in Rural Development Plans (RDPs) 2007-2013 will

likely contribute to N2O emission reduction. RDPs have mainly specified and proposed to reduce

nitrogen surplus. However, the future CAP reforms could probably further affect emission trends. In 

2009, the 21 RDPs from Italy including Health Check targets were revised and approved.

Analyzing the measures implemented that have been included in the 21 RDPs a complete and 

definitive panorama of the regional choices is available and an assessment of GHG emissions 

reductions at a regional level for the agriculture sector could be quantified.

 

59 On 26 June 2013 the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament reached a political agreement on the 

reform of the CAP 2014-2020.
128

5.6.3 Projections of emissions from the LULUCF sector

The driving forces for projections estimations are activity data linked to the LULUCF sector; in 

particular, given the decision about the elected activities under Article 3.4 of Kyoto Protocol, “Forest 

Land” activity data constitute the key variables to project removals by sinks.

Key drivers have been identified in:

• forest management: assessment of forest area for the period 2011-2020 was made through 

data extrapolation, starting from the consolidated time series 1990-2011.

• afforestation/reforestation: area has been defined following the positive trend individuated in

the period 1990-2011.

• harvested area, burned area by forest fires: data extrapolation was made, from the available

time series.

For a conservative assessment of annual accountable credits from LULUCF sector, in the first 

commitment period, we refer to the assigned cap of 10.2 MtCO2 under art. 3.4.

5.6.4 Projections of emissions from the waste sector

The following projections have been prepared in conformity with most recent inventories and 

evaluations on the implementation of the mitigation measures. The driving forces for projections 

estimations are especially activity data linked to the whole waste sector and the reduction of 

biodegradable waste in landfills. In particular, the municipal waste cycle has been studied, analyzing 

its evolution trough the years on the basis of actions that have already been put into effect.

In the reference scenario the total amount of waste has been estimated on the basis of official 

population forecasts provided by the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) and on the assumption of 

a 1.4% annual increase of the waste production until 2020 and a 1.2% annual increase from 2020 to 

2030 (European Topic Centre on Resource and waste Management – Environmental Outlooks: 

Municipal Waste). Starting from the production, waste fluxes have been analyzed on the basis of the 

following waste management options: recycling, landfilling, incineration, mechanical biological 

treatments and composting.

Focusing on recycling and not only, national circumstances are very different from northern to 

southern regions. The southern regions are late with the complying of national targets for separate 

collection, whereas some northern cities have already reached and exceeded the fixed target. Despite 

in 2011 the percentage of waste separation is 37.7%, efforts of the government in the improvement 

of waste management lead to an optimistic outlook of the fulfilment of the deadlines set up by the 

current legislation.
129

Table 5.18 - Emission forecasts for the waste sector

Carbon dioxide emissions (Gg) 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010kp 2015 2020 2030

Waste incineration 507.2 453.9 201.6 225.6 217.7 220.4 199.8 158.7

Total waste sector 507.2 453.9 201.6 225.6 217.7 220.4 199.8 158.7

Methane emissions (Gg)

Landfills 726.4 757.6 874.1 738.8 613.4 584.8 536.9 374.4

Wastewater treatment 94.8 105.6 112.7 129.7 130.2 131.5 136.0 144.3

Waste incineration 2.1 2.4 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7

Waste composting 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.4

Total waste sector 823.2 865.6 989.3 871.2 746.2 719.2 675.8 521.7

Nitrous oxide emissions (Gg)

Wastewater treatment 5.9 5.7 6.2 6.1 6.3 6.5 6.7 6.9

Waste incineration 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

Total waste sector 6.0 5.9 6.3 6.2 6.4 6.6 6.8 7.0

Carbon dioxide emissions in the

energy sector (Gg)

Waste incineration 526.1 791.3 1,330.8 2,781.5 4,312.5 6,113.2 7,759.0 11,050.5

Source: ISPRA

Regarding the landfills, the total amount of waste disposed into landfills will increase in line with the 

actual trend, whereas the composition of waste has varied as a consequence of the compliance with 

the separate collection. Notwithstanding, the amount of biodegradable waste disposed of into landfills 

is not totally complying with the target of landfill directive (D.lgs. 36/2003). The share of landfill gas 

collected will reach 60% in 2030. Furthermore, from 2010, each municipal waste incinerator is

equipped with an energy recovery system: thus, only industrial waste could still be treated without 

energy recovery. The total amount of waste incinerated will increase in line with the actual trend. 

Finally, the amount of waste treated in MBT plants will increase in line with the strategy to pre-treat 

wastes in order to obtain a bio-stabilized waste to dispose of into landfills and a dry-fraction and RDF 

to burn in waste to energy (WTE) facilities. As a consequence of this waste cycle projection, also 

biological waste treated in composting plants will increase following the trend up to 2020. According to 

these projections, as shown in the with measure scenario in Table 5.2, a 11.5% reduction can be 

expected in overall greenhouse gas emissions from the waste sector, expressed in terms of CO2

equivalent, essentially as a result of a reduction in methane emissions from landfills.

5.7 The Kyoto mechanisms

The supplementarity principle embodied in the Kyoto Protocol was interpreted by the EU and its 

Member States as the possibility to use CERs/ERUs60 up to 50% of the GHGs emissions reduction 

efforts. Flexible mechanisms considered by supplementarity principle are Emissions trading (and EU 

Emissions trading), Joint Implementation (JI) and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)61 and 

 

60 CERs: Certified Emission Reduction Units; ERUs:Emission Reduction Units

61 Eligible projects in the energy and end use sectors are: Re-phasing of electric systems; Electric motors and their 

applications; Lighting systems; Reduction of electricity leaking; Switching from electricity to other fuels when this 

produces primary energy savings; Reduction of electricity consumption for heating purposes; Reduction of 

electricity consumption for air conditioning; High efficient electric appliances; High efficient office equipment; 

Switching from other fuels to electricity when this produces primary energy savings; Reduction of primary energy 

consumption for heating, ventilation and air conditioning system; Promotion of end-use technologies fuelled by 

renewable sources; Electric and gas-fuelled vehicles; Information campaigns to raise awareness and promote 
130

LULUCF. For more details see chapter 4 on policies and measures and paragraph 5.9 for Kyoto period, 

see paragraph 5.10 for post Kyoto period.

5.8 Energy scenarios and effects of policies and measures

5.8.1 Formulation of new scenarios – methodology

The scenarios of greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of energy sources are drawn from 

the Markal – Italy model, based on the well known Markal software. The scenario used for this 

submission is an update of the latest reviewed output of the model available, published by ENEA in 

200962. The update consist in the use of 2011 final data and 2012 provisional energy consumption 

data as an additional input to the model, with the objective to improve reliability of its results. This 

published research scenario has been adapted for the NC considering the government policies aiming 

to keep stable industrial production levels.

The model is a partial equilibrium model and represents the domestic energy system and its main 

emissions. It contains over 70 independent demands for energy services in four main sectors –

agriculture, industry, transport, commercial and household – split by sub sectors, type of service and 

material. For instance the industrial sector is split in the following sub sectors: iron and steel, non 

ferrous, bricks and tiles, chemical, paper, mechanical, textile, building, and others. The demand for 

space heating is expressed in square meters of new or existing households, single or multi-family, 

central or small boilers, at different level of insulation. Demand and supply curves of each commodity 

are specified stepwise by set of technologies, for a total of over one thousand. Import and export 

options are include in most demand / supply curves. Emissions of CO2 are directly accounted for using 

IPCC “reference approach” methodology and national Emission Factors.

The basic year of the energy model is 2010, the latest update has modified the 2011 results on the 

basis of the 2011 actual data and 2012 provisional data, and modelled years go up to 2050. The 

model follows a bottom-up technological approach: starts from a single sector, or sub-sector, and 

identifies the derivative aggregate data. This approach yields greater accuracy and details compared 

to the top-down approach, where sector variables are derived from a macro-variable (i.e. Gross 

Domestic Product).

Structure and data of the full model, including the very detailed parts on end use devices that satisfy 

the 70 demands for energy services are summarized in [Contaldi, Gracceva, 2004]. Below some 

additional details are reported for the two most important sectors from the GHGs emissions trend 

point of view:

Transport: modelling is based on detailed demand growth, which accounts for both goods and 

passenger transport. All modes are included, road, railway, air and water. With regard to road, 

the modelling of the Italian car fleet (petrol, diesel, gas-powered cars), 2–wheelers, heavy 

vehicles and busses is provided. The analysis also considers such variables as passengers-km, 

tons-km, mileage, occupancy rates and unit consumptions (litres-km).

Energy supply: the technologies represent all fossil fuels power plants in operation in 2010. In 

the following periods, when existing power plants gradually go out of service, the growing 

demand is met by copies of the main existing technologies or more efficient combined cycles, 

 

energy savings.

62 ENEA – 2009, Rapporto energia e ambiente 2008, analisi e scenari
131

integrated coal gasification, fluid bed cycles, fuel cells, CHP plants or renewable power plants 

(geothermal, wind, PV, hydro run of the river, mini hydro, solid waste, biogas and biomass). 

CO2 sequestration and nuclear power plants are modeled, but not active up to 2020.

5.8.2 With additional measure scenario, main variables and energy consumptions

The WAM scenario underlying the emission projections described in this chapter is the SEN scenario as 

reported in the paragraph 5.1. 

The scenario takes into account the effects of the ongoing economic crisis that hit all national activities 

and the evolution trend is based on planned recovery from the economic crisis and development of 

low carbon technologies, mainly for the electricity generation sector. It comes in particular from 

certain assumptions relating to social, demographic and economic circumstances of the country, 

assumptions used to determine the evolution of the demand for energy services, which is the basis of 

the scenarios. The main driving variables used for projections of demand for energy services, in the 

end-use sectors, are:

for industry: economic growth and industrial production (at sub sector);

for tertiary: added value (of three major sub-sectors);

for residential: demographic trends of the system (primarily the population and the number of 

households), some assumptions on the expected evolution of demand characteristics, the 

expansion of number appliances per household and the growing demand for summer cooling;

for the electricity generation: continuation of the ongoing growth of renewable sources;

for the transport: dynamics of active population (along with assumptions about mobility per 

capita) and the growth of national products (especially for transporting goods).

The actual demand development of energy services changes according also to energy prices 

established on different energy markets.

5.8.3 Energy prices and national production

Up to 2030 an increase of energy costs is expected. Average global electricity prices increase by 15% 

to 2035 in real terms, driven by higher fossil fuel costs, a shift to more capital-intensive generating 

capacity, subsidies to renewable sources and CO2 pricing in some countries.63

The recent National Energy Strategy planned to boost the national oil and natural gas production of 

gas, pushing the share of domestic production from 7% to 14% up to 2020. A strategy to diversify the 

access points of fossil resources is planned (mainly with new regasification plants of LNG and gas 

pipeline). Moreover a plan for reduction of energy consumption and evolution of the mix towards 

renewable sources is scheduled. The goals of planned measures are the costs reduction and 

compliance of energy prices to the European levels. 

5.8.4 Technologies for electricity generation

The choice of electric generation technologies is driven by the minimization of costs, but also taking 

into account the constraints local environmental and/or national (partially internalized in the model as 

additional costs). The new generating capacity built in the coming years will be made primarily by 

 

63 IEA, World Energy Outlook, 2012.
132

renewable sources. As concerns fossil fuelled plants one sizeable coal power plants has entered in 

service in 2010 and other two are planned after 2015. Older coal units’ substitution with smaller new 

units is planned. The new plants will substitute old coal/oil fired power plants (see Chapter 4, 

paragraph 4.4.3). In the WM scenario the emissions from the new plants are balanced with the 

phasing out of less efficient coal plants. 

5.8.5 The economic system

For the GDP is assumed a economic growth from 2014 with an average rate of +1.1% up to 2020, in 

line with the value reported for Italy in the EC - Commission report “The Ageing Report 2012”. The 

growth rate of GDP is about 1.0% until 2030.

Table 5.19 - Actual (up to 2010) and projected GDP

109 € 2005 

constant prices basis 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2030

GDP 1,367.8 1,436.4 1,418.4 1,449.3 1,538.4 1,699,3

annual rate (%) 1.0% -0.3% 0.4% 1.2% 1.0%

Among the factors that motivate this "prudent" vision, in particular with regard to the industrial 

sector, there is above all the rigidity of the Italian model of specialization, characterized by a low 

average size of company and by the continuation of the difficulties and the competitive disadvantage 

compared to high- tech sectors and in high economies of scale64. These elements determined the loss 

of competitiveness of the production system in recent years.

5.8.6 Population and transport

The population has growth significantly from 2005 to 2010, due to immigration. It is estimated to 

further increase up to 2015 considering the input of immigrants, however is considered to stay more 

or less stable thereinafter and up to 2030. The last Census by National Statistical Institute, published 

at the end of 2012 and not considered in the projections, has pointed out that population has gone 

down to about 59,600 in year 2011. Table 5.20 shows population trend up to 2030 that has been used 

for the projections. On the average, due to a population that is becoming older, the numbers in the 

period 2010-2030 are quite stable with only slight increase (less than 0.15% / year).

Table 5.20 - Actual (2005, 2010) and projected population

2005 2010 2015 2020 2030

IV NC 58,462 58,531 58,471 58,123 -

V NC 58,462 60,190 61,130 61,160 -

VI NC 58,462 60,340 61,138 61,634 62,129

Source: ISPRA

Table 5.21 shows data of transport demand for passengers and freights. The expected activity 

 

64 ENEA, L’Italia nella competizione tecnologica internazionale, Quinto rapporto, Sintesi e scenari generali, 2006; 

Centro Europa Ricerche, Crisi delle esportazioni: quello che la lira ci aveva nascosto, Rapporto CER 4/2004; 

Confindustria, Tendenze dell’industria italiana, 2004, Editore SIPI Srl, Roma.
133

scenario for transport declines until 2015 and rebound in the next years. The transport demand 

increase up to 2030 compared to 2010 of 6.7% for passengers and 22.6% for goods. Because of a 

population that is growing older, the overall increase of passenger transport till 2020 is only 0.20% 

per year, with increase in the next ten years (0.47% per year). For goods, considering that estimates 

on GDP growth for between 2010 and 2020 are +0.8% per year and 1.0% per year in the next ten 

years, an average growth of 0.68% per year and 1.47% per year is foreseen, respectively. In 

particular the scenario takes account of the effects of the upward trend in the transport sector due to 

EU enlargement. It is estimated, in fact, that a significant increase in transported goods will be 

recorded on account of the enlargement of the free trade area and the high impact on transport of 

globalization.

Table 5.21 - Transport demand for passengers and freights

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2030

%

2010-

2030

Passenger person 

kilometers

billion pass-km, 

excluding civil 

aviation

943.0 931.0 918.6 909.4 936.7 980.6

Freight ton 

kilometers

billion tonkm>50km, only 

national vectors

215.9 239.5 211.4 208.0 225.8 259.1

Source: ISPRA

5.8.7 Consumption of primary energy

The gross inland consumption in 2020, estimated according to Eurostat methodology, will be about 

184 Mtoe for the WM scenario, with an average yearly growth rate of 0.7% from 1990. The average 

growth rate in 2000-2008 was 0.6%, a decrease of 7% was observed between 2008 and 2009, 

followed by an increase of 4% in 2010 and stability in 2011. In 2020 the gross inland consumption 

should be similar to 2009 level. The weight of natural gas will exceed the oil one around year 2015. 

With reference to Figure 5.7 there are relevant changes in the estimated total energy consumption 

between the new energy scenario with measures (VI NC – WM measures) and the previous ones (V 

NC – WM measures), due to the ongoing economic crisis. The results from SEN scenario (VI NC –

WAM scenario) are quite similar to the preliminary elaborations of Primes model, distributed in 

January 2013. According to the WAM scenario there will be a decrease of gross inland consumption of 

10.1 Mtoe from 2010 to 2020 and a slight increase of 0.4 Mtoe up to 2030.
134

Figure 5.7 - Projection of gross inland consumption65

Source: ISPRA

In Table 5.22 the fossil fuel costs and the gross domestic product for the projections are reported.

Table 5.22 - General Economic Parameters

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2030 %

2010-2030

Gross Domestic

Product Value 2005 (G€) 1,367.8 1,436.4 1,418.4 1,449.3 1,538.4 1,699.3 y

Coal prices 2005 € / toe - 78.5 126.0 126.0 149.0 179.0

Oil prices 2005 € / toe - 335.3 357.8 481.1 541.5 685.0

Gas prices 2005 € / toe - 189.3 251.5 310.1 352.8 445.0

Carbon price 2005 € / t CO2 - 0 10.0 13.0 22.0 30.0

5.9 Total effect of policies up to 2012

To evaluate the total effect of measures a preliminary step is to separate the emissions estimate of 

the installations subject to EU ETS from the other sectors affecting national emissions. The rationale is 

that the EU ETS sectors have already an emissions cap in the period 2008-2012 and a cap is expected 

also for the years up to 2020. So the effects of the implemented/planned measures influence the 

prices of carbon but not the contribution of the sectors to the achievement of the national target. 

Moreover the non–ETS sectors are subject to the effort sharing decision of EU, that sets a reduction 

objective for Italy of -13% in 2020 with reference to 2005 emissions. 

Tables 5.23 and 5.24 summarize the effects of the existing measures described for the Kyoto period 

and for the 2013-2020 period, respectively. The potential overall emissions reduction achievable 

through the implementation of all those measures is reported separately for the existing and the 

additional measures and the estimated reduction values take into account the potential double 

counting of emission reduction of renewable sources, see chapter 4, paragraph 4.4.1.

In the 2008-2012 period the yearly average of total emissions estimated taking into account all the 

 

65 Notes: energy consumption estimated according to Eurostat methodology.

140

160

180

200

220

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

2010 Reference scenario (DG ENV)

Primes: Reference scenario Jan 2013

V NC - WM scenario

VI NC - WM scenario

VI NC - WAM scenario

Gross inland consumption (Mtoe)
135

reductions achievable by existing measures (including the purchase of CERs / ERUs), will be equal to 

497.2 Mt CO2.

The contribution of ETS sectors to meet the Kyoto Protocol target is 201.6 MtCO2/year, corresponding 

to the total quantity of AAU allocated to the sector. This value includes only CO2 (other gases account 

for little amount compared to the total emissivity of the areas ETS). ETS sectors can also use CERs / 

ERUs up to 15% of the amount of shares allocated to them during the 2008-2012 period, that is 30.2 

MtCO2/year.

The actual emissions of non-ETS sectors are determined as the difference between the National 

emissions (from Inventory or scenario) and the verified/estimated emissions of the ETS sector.

The distance from the Kyoto objective (483.3 MtCO2/year) is equal, on average, to the sum of the 

allocated emissions to ETS sector and the actual emissions of non ETS sector, see Table 5.23, line 

“Non ETS sector (WM scenario - CERs/ERUs use)”. According to the latest emission estimates available 

in April 2013, this “gap” is equal to 20.2 MtCO2/year.

The options identified to fill the gap are summarized as follows:

Further purchase of CERs / ERUs (in respect of the supplementarity principle)

Purchase of AAUs

In addition, to reach the Kyoto target should be considered the Removal Units (RMUs) by LULUCF 

activities pursuing article 3, paragraph 3 and 4 of the Kyoto Protocol (for more details see chapter 4, 

paragraph 4.7.4).

Table 5.23 – Total effect of policies for the 2008-2012 period

1990 1995 2000 2005 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

1

National emissions (WM 

scenario) 516.5 530.2 551.3 574.4 541.2 490.8 500.3 488.8 464.6

2

ETS Sector (verified 

emissions/WM scenario)

 

207.6 

 

213.1 

 

221.6

 

226.0 

 

220.7 

 

184.9 

 

191.5 

 

190.0 

 

179.1 

3 Non ETS sector 308.9 317.1 329.7 348.4 320.5 305.9 308.8 298.8 285.5

4

CERs/ERUs estimated by 

the Government 2 2 2 2 2

5 Kyoto objective 483.3 483.3 483.3 483.3 483.3

6

AAU allocated at ETS 

sector (average) 201.6 201.6 201.6 201.6 201.6

7

AAU available for non ETS 

- sectors 281.7 281.7 281.7 281.7 281.7

8

Non ETS sector (WM 

scenario - CERs/ERUs 

use )

308.9 317.1 329.7 348.4 318.5 303.9 306.8 296.8 283.5

9

Gap (non-ETS WM scenario 

- AAU available for non 

ETS)*

36.8 22.2 25.1 15.1 1.8

Source: ISPRA

Notes:

1=2+3; 7=5-6; 8=3-4; 9=6+8-5

* Without considering RMU by LULUCF activities.

5.10 Total effect of policies post 2012

The so called third phase of EU-ETS, running from 2013 to 2020, brings significant change in 

European carbon market and is based on rules which are far more harmonised than before. The main 

changes are:
136

A single, EU-wide cap on emissions applies in place of the previous system of national caps;

Auctioning, instead of free allocation, is now the default method for allocating allowances. In 

2013 more than 40% of allowances will be auctioned, and this share will rise progressively each 

year;

For those allowances still given away for free, harmonised allocation rules apply which are based 

on ambitious EU-wide benchmarks of emissions performance;

Some more sectors (including civil aviation) and gases are included. 

Table 5.24 summarizes the total effect of policies for the post-2012 period, with reference to the 2020 

EU objectives. The separated emissions for ETS and non–ETS sectors are reported. 

Under the ESD the emissions target for non-ETS sectors in year 2013 and 2020 is 310.1 and 296.3 

MtCO2eq respectively (see par. 4.1.5 for detailed methodology). Considering the emissions according 

to the WM scenario (line “Non ETS sector (WM scenario)” and “Effort sharing decision targets” in the 

table) the targets should be achieved in 2013 and 2015, while the gap should be about 3.1 MtCO2eq in 

2020.

The mitigation options identified to "fill" the gap are reported in table 4.17; the total potential of the 

measures identified are about 65.97 Mt CO2 in 2020, but some of those effects are related to ETS 

sectors. In addition to the measures reported in table 4.17, Government can use credits from projectbased mechanisms to meet its reduction targets (according to limitations introduced by the ESD 

Decision for supplementarity the quantity of credits to be used by the Government is about 14,6 Mt, 

4% of the emissions occurred in 2005).

Table 5.24 – Total effect of policies for the 2013-2020 period (i)

1990 2005 2010 2013 2015 2020

1 National emissions (WM scenario) 516.5 574.4 500.3 477.3 490.2 516.1

2 ETS Sector (WM scenario) 207.6 226.0 191.5 179.3 193.2 203.3

3 ETS Sectors (additional activities and gases) 19.2 10.0 10.2 10.5 10.8

4 Civil Aviation (included in ETS from 2013) 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.5

5

ETS sector 2013-2020 (WM scenario + 

additional activities) 247.4 203.8 191.6 206.0 216.7

6 Non ETS sector (WM scenario) (ii) 308.9 327.0 307.2 285.7 284.1 299.4

7 Effort sharing decision targets 310.1 306.2 296.3

8 Gap -24.4 -22.0 3.1

9 Planned P&M (electricity and heat), 1.78 11.81 65.97

10 of which in Non ETS sector (heat) 0.58 4.62 31.94

11 Non ETS sector (WAM scenario ) 327.0 307.2 285.1 279.5 267.5

12 Gap -25.0 -26.7 -28.8

Source: ISPRA

Notes:

i all data in the table are preliminary ISPRA estimates subject to EU Commission approval

ii the data are different from table 5.23 because the separation of ETS and non ETS emissions follows different 

rules for post Kyoto period.

5=2+3+4; 6=1-5; 8=6-7; 11=7+8-10; 12=11-7

Total effect of policies is summarized in Figure 5.8. Data up to 2011, the green line, are inventory 

data. The blue line, starting from 2011, shows the emissions in WM and the red line, starting from 

2011, shows the emissions in WAM scenarios. 
137

Figure 5.8 - Historical and projected emissions, Mt CO2 eq

Source: ISPRA

5.11 Sensitivity analysis and uncertainty

Different developments in socio-economic parameters have been considered to evaluate the sensitivity 

of projections. 

A bottom-up analysis of uncertainties in energy market developments and structural physical and 

technological developments on a sector by sector basis has been performed in order to provide 

information about the impacts of those uncertainties on emissions.

Four different sources of uncertainties have been identified:

uncertainties in monitoring and historic data carry through into projections; examples of such 

uncertainties include incomplete or incorrect information regarding historic starting points, 

activity data or emission factors; these uncertainties are described in detail in the National 

Inventory Reports of Italy and in the next paragraph;

policies change over time under the influence of European policies, political preferences and new 

information may not be captured adequately in the analyses;

uncertainties associated with future economic, social and technological developments which are 

the driving forces in the scenarios; they include in particular uncertainties relating to 

international energy price developments, growth in world trade, the behaviour of actors in the 

market, technological developments and the effectiveness of policies. These uncertainties are 

generally the ones with greatest impacts on the overall uncertainty margins.

The latter two sources of uncertainty have been evaluated by Ministry of Economic Development for 

the SEN scenario, as described in paragraph 5.1, developing a comprehensive set of different energy 

scenarios to evaluate the effects of many energy policies and GHG mitigation measures. The 

evaluation of uncertainty of activity data and emission factors is described in the following 

paragraph.

350

400

450

500

550

600

WM Scenario WAM Scenario

GHG (Mt CO2eq)
138

5.11.1 Uncertainty ranges of inventory

The IPCC Good Practice Guidance (IPCC, 2000) defines the Tier 1 and Tier 2 approaches to estimate 

uncertainties in national greenhouse gas inventories. Quantitative estimates of the uncertainties for 

the Italian GHGs inventory are calculated using a Tier 1 approach, which provides a calculation based 

on the error propagation equations. In addition, a Tier 2 approach, corresponding to the application of 

Monte Carlo analysis, has been applied to specific categories of the inventory but the results show 

that, with the information available at present, applying methods higher than the Tier 1 does not 

make a significant difference in figures.

The Tier 1 approach estimates, for the 2011 total emission figures without LULUCF, an uncertainty of 

3.4% in the combined GHG emissions, whereas for the trend between 1990 and 2011 the analysis 

assesses an uncertainty of 2.6%. Including the LULUCF sector into the national figures, the 

uncertainty according to the Tier 1 approach is equal to 5.1%, whereas the uncertainty for the trend is 

estimated to be 4.2%.

The assessment of uncertainty has also been applied to the base year emission levels. The results 

show an uncertainty of 3.5% in the combined GHGs total emissions, excluding emissions and 

removals from LULUCF, whereas it increases to 4.1% including the LULUCF sector.

QC procedures are also undertaken on the calculations of uncertainties in order to confirm the 

correctness of the estimates and that there is sufficient documentation to duplicate the analysis. The 

assumptions on which uncertainty estimations are based are documented for each category. Figures 

used to draw up uncertainty analysis are checked both with the relevant analyst experts and with 

literature references and are consistent with the IPCC Good Practice Guidance (IPCC, 2000; IPCC, 

2003).

The emissions projection estimates are based on a very detailed model output, the bottom up 

technological model produces a set of energy consumption data similar to the sector approach of 

emission inventory. So the scenario has the same range of uncertainties of the inventory.

5.12 Comparisons with previous National Communications

As required by the methodology an outline of the emission scenarios contained in the previous 

National Communications is reported.

Table 5.25 below reports CO2 emissions from energy sector and total GHGs emissions in II, III, IV and 

V National Communications. It was not possible to use the WOM scenario (without measures scenario) 

for all projections because a WOM scenario is not reported in this National Communication and in the 

previous one. However the emission projections of scenarios with measures reported in the second 

and third National Communications could supply esteems of emissions without the measures 

implemented after 2000.

The projections from scenarios with measures have been considered. For VI National Communication 

also projections from scenario with additional measures are reported.

As can be seen the effects of economic crisis started in 2008 has shocked the previous projections for 

2010 and for the Kyoto period. There was a certain stability of projections of the emissions from the 

energy sector for the year 2010, with a range of ±2%, between the II, III and IV National 

Communications. In the fifth National Communication the emission projections changed appreciably, 

with a sizeable reduction with respect to the historical path, due to the first effects of the economic 

crisis and of the measures implemented between in the 2006–2008 timeframe. Data of VI NC show

emissions drastically reduced in the Kyoto period with respect to the previous projection due to the 
139

seriousness of economic crisis. The emission estimates for year 2020 show higher range of 

uncertainty.

For the other sectors and the other gasses it has to be underlined that the methodology for the 

emissions calculations (IPCC guidelines) has been deeply changed between 1997 and 2004, therefore 

projection have been developed with different methodology and assumptions. The effect of changes 

can be seen in the changes in historical total GHGs emissions between the various NC.

Table 5.25 - Projected emissions from with measures scenarios, Mt.(for VI NC also the 

WAM scenario is reported)

1990 1995 2000 2005 201066 2015 2020 2030

GHGs energy, Mt, II NC 424.3 436.3 442.6 478.8 491.8

GHGs energy, Mt, III NC 424.9 435.2 452.3 456.0 484.1 513.1 553.9

GHGs energy, Mt, IV NC 419.4 432.6 452.8 480.1 490.8 510.4 524.1

GHGs energy, Mt, V NC 419.5 432.4 451.7 474.4 450.2 452.2 441.0

GHGs energy, Mt, VI NC 417.7 431.1 449.7 471.9 411.4 404.3 427.1 433.0

GHGs energy, Mt, VI NC (WAM) 417.7 431.1 449.7 471.9 411.4 396.1 366.0 340.1

GHGs no energy, Mt, II NC 118.7 122.5 118.2 109.0 123.2

GHGs no energy, Mt, III NC 96.1 92.0 94.5 92.4 95.6 101.2 106.3

GHGs no energy, Mt, IV NC 97.4 98.3 98.8 99.4 96.1 97.4 99.3

GHGs no energy, Mt, V NC 97.4 97.8 98.8 99.2 91.6 90.9 93.2

GHGs no energy, Mt, VI NC 101.2 99.1 101.6 102.5 85.7 85.8 89.0 90.9

GHGs no energy, Mt, VI NC (WAM) 101.2 99.1 101.6 102.5 85.7 85.8 89.0 90.9

TOTAL GHGs, II NC 543.0 558.8 560.8 587.8 615.0

TOTAL GHGs, III NC 521.0 527.2 546.8 548.3 579.7 614.4 660.3

TOTAL GHGs, IV NC 516.8 530.9 551.6 579.5 587.0 607.8 623.4

TOTAL GHGs, V NC 516.9 530.1 550.4 573.6 541.8 543.1 534.2

TOTAL GHGs, VI NC 519.0 530.2 551.3 574.4 497.1 490.2 516.1 523.9

TOTAL GHGs, VI NC (WAM) 519.0 530.2 551.3 574.4 497.1 482.0 455.0 431.0

Source: ISPRA

Similar approaches were used to estimate the emission scenarios in the various National 

Communications.

Basically the energy sector projections were based on energy model, in the Second, and Fourth

National Communications the Markal-Italy bottom up model and in the Third National Communication 

the Ceprig model. The use of models, in particular the optimization models, allows to capture the 

underling evolution of technology, relevant in Italy in recent years in the electricity generation, 

transport and industrial production, for example. Since the Fourth National Communication the same 

methodology has been used.

The non energy emissions are estimated at sector level, using as main parameters the recent trend of 

related activity data. The estimation is based on simulation models, one for each sector, implemented 

on calculation sheets.

 

66 For the VI NC the average emissions in the Kyoto period are reported.
140

The driving forces for emission projections, basically the evolution of main parameters concerning 

economic development, population and travel demand are described in the respective National 

Communication and vary according to the model used.
141

6 VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND 

ADAPTATION MEASURES67

6.1 Expected impacts of climate change and vulnerability assessment

According to international and national studies and publications68 the Mediterranean region is expected 

to undergo particularly negative climate change impacts over the next decades, which, combined with 

the effects of anthropogenic stress on natural resources, make this region one of the most vulnerable 

areas in Europe. The anticipated negative impacts are mainly related to possible extraordinary heat 

spells (especially in summer), increased frequency of extreme weather events (heat waves, droughts 

and severe rainfalls) and reduced annual precipitation and river flow.69 70 In this context, Italy may 

undergo some expected climate change impacts that would critically affect the following national 

circumstances, including: 

water resources and areas at risk of desertification;

coastal areas prone to erosion and flooding and susceptible to alterations of marine 

ecosystems;

Alpine regions and mountain ecosystems experiencing glacial loss and snow cover loss; areas 

prone to flood and landslide risk (i.e. hydro-geological risks including the risk of flash floods, 

flash mud/debris flows, rock falls and other mass movements related to soil and land 

management) and, in particular, the hydrographical basin of the Po River. 

Climate change is likely to magnify the regional differences in terms of quality and availability of 

natural resources and ecosystems in Europe and also in Italy. 

6.1.1 Agriculture and food security 

In Italy water shortages during specific crop development stages may reduce the productivity of most 

crops (e.g. corn, soybeans and wheat). The decline in agricultural productivity could especially 

concern wheat yield and fruit and vegetables production, as a consequence of water scarcity, 

pathogens species increasing and soil degradation. Conversely olive, citrus, vine and durum wheat 

cultivation could become possible in the North of Italy. Wine production, an activity of particular 

economic relevance in Italy, could undergo major changes too. The suitability of cultivation areas for 

specific crops might modify, which could lead to displacements of agricultural productions.

71 72

6.1.2 Biodiversity and natural ecosystems

Italy is characterized by one of the most significant natural heritages of animal and plant species in 

Europe in terms of both the total number of specimens and the high rate of endemism. Furthermore, 

50 Italian sites are recognized as internationally important wetlands in the Ramsar Convention’s list. 

 

67 Lead authors: Sergio Castellari (CMCC/INGV), Silvia Medri (CMCC) and Sara Venturini (CMCC). Contributing 

authors: Daniela Pasella (IMELS), Luisa Pierantonelli (IMELS).

68 IPCC (2007); EEA (2012a); EEA (2012b); EEA (2010); EEA (2010b); Menne B. and Wolf T. (2007); Antonioli F., 

et al. (2007); Carraro C. (2008); Castellari S. and Artale V. (2009); Medri S. et al. (2013).

69 IPCC (2007).

70 EEA (2012b).

71 Cecchi L. et al. (2007).

72 Miglietta F. et al. (2009).
142

Climate change can threat Italian biodiversity at the level of species and habitats especially in the 

mountain environments. Therefore, Italy is expected to face an extremely high risk of biodiversity and 

natural ecosystems loss under future climate change.

Terrestrial ecosystems

Mediterranean-type terrestrial ecosystems are likely to be especially affected by climate change,73

with the following changes:

advancing trends in plant phenology;

changes in spatial distribution of flora and fauna;

increased risk of extinction for several terrestrial species, changes in the structure of the 

biological community and biodiversity loss;

loss of wetlands ecosystems; 

reduction in forests extension and biodiversity loss, especially in the South and in the 

mountains.

Italian mountain (Alps and Apennines) environments are considered vulnerable to climate change.74

European mountains ecosystems could face:75 76

shift of plant and animal species towards higher elevations (with changes in the composition 

and structure of alpine and nival communities)77, with consequent changes in the structure of 

mountain communities and high risk of extinction for mountain flora and fauna;

alteration of the hydro-geological cycle, with impacts on the water balance of rain-collecting 

basins and the stability of mountain slopes, resulting in higher risk of rock falls and soil 

erosion;

glaciers retreat and permafrost reduction;

decrease of duration of snow cover (by several weeks for each degree of temperature 

increase) at middle elevations; 

significant reduction in snow mass in the Italian Alps;78

potential formation of Alpine large lakes as glaciers retreat, which might cause glacier lake 

outburst floods.

Aquatic (marine and freshwater) ecosystems

Marine ecosystems - Mediterranean marine organisms, communities and ecosystems might be 

further altered by climate change, including with spreading of invasive species driven by water 

warming, which would cause a general threat and possible decline of marine biodiversity. Many 

biological processes are expected to be negatively affected by climate change especially in summer 

(possible mass mortality of invertebrates); simulations of these conditions indicate a biomass loss 

higher than 35%.79 In the last decades the increasing development of marine mucilage in Italian 

waters indicates altered environmental conditions for such aquatic system. This phenomenon might 

favour the spreading of pathogenic bacteria.80

Freshwater ecosystems - Freshwater ecosystems are also expected to undergo negative changes 

 

73 IPCC (2007).

74 IMELS (2010).

75 IPCC (2007).

76 Castellari S. (2008).

77 Cecchi L. et al. (2007).

78 Soncini A. and Bocchiola D. (2011).

79 Coma R. et al. (2009).

80 Danovaro R. et al. (2009).
143

such as loss of habitats, biotic components and processes. Higher temperatures might increase the 

risk of excessive growth of algae and cyanobacteria in the lakes and eventually of eutrophication 

processes in lake ecosystems, especially in late summer.81 The loss of wetlands would cause severe 

imbalances in the related biotic communities. 

6.1.3 Coastal zones

Climate change impacts on Italian coastal areas include:82

coastal erosion and instability, with risk of coastline regression;

loss of coastal land and of related economic activities, infrastructures, urban settlements, 

recreational areas and natural heritage sites, mainly where climate change combines with 

natural and/or anthropogenic subsidence;

reduction or loss of biodiversity and ecosystems (especially wetlands), and decrease of marine 

life caused by the combined effect of climate change and anthropogenic stress;

damages to coastal rural economy, due to salt water intrusion into coastal fresh-water beds;

negative impacts on tourism and possible displacement of tourism flows from the coasts in 

summer;

possible threat to human health posed by flood events.

Specifically, about 4500 km2 of Italian coastal areas are at risk of sea flooding from sea level rise 

(SLR) by the next 100 years; most of them are located in the North Adriatic Sea, but some Tyrrhenian

and Ionian coasts may be at risk too.83 The Northern Adriatic coast, characterized by the Po river delta 

and the Venice lagoon, is at high risk, as this area lies below sea level and hosts many residential 

settlements, cultural heritage sites as well as industrial establishments.84

6.1.4 Drought and desertification

About one third of the country is vulnerable to varying degrees to the processes of land degradation. A 

classification of the vulnerability of the Italian territory to land degradation and desertification, based 

on the Environmentally Sensitive Area Index (ESAI) showed that (in 2000) Sicilia was affected by a 

regional medium-high degree of environmental vulnerability (sensitive areas represented about 70% 

of the regional territory), followed by Molise (58%), Puglia (57%) and Basilicata (55%). Six regions 

(Sardegna, Marche, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria, Abruzzo and Campania) had similar conditions 

(between 30% and 50%); for seven other regions (Calabria, Toscana, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Lazio, 

Lombardia, Veneto and Piemonte) sensitive areas represented between 10% and 25%, while in three 

regions (Liguria, Valle d’Aosta and Trentino Alto Adige) the percentages were fairly small (2% - 6%). 

More recent studies show the sensitivity to desertification and drought of the Italian territory based on 

the Sensitivity to Desertification Index (SDI), which considers soil quality, climate and vegetation 

parameters. The gradual worsening of desertification trends, already observed in the whole country, 

can be accelerated from climate change by increasing the actions of erosion, salinization, loss of 

organic matter and drying up of soil.85 About 30% of the Italian territory can be considered at risk of 

desertification, with the key vulnerabilities located in the South. Furthermore, especially vulnerable 

 

81 Menne B. and Wolf T. (2007).

82 IPCC (2007).

83 Antonioli F. and Silenzi S. (2007).

84 Policy Research Corporation (in association with MRAG), 2009.

85 Carraro C. and Sgobbi A. (2008).
144

areas are farmlands with intensive and marginal production, areas at risk of accelerated erosion (e.g. 

coastal areas), areas damaged by contamination, pollution and fires, and fallow and abandoned lands.

Severe indirect socio-economic impacts of this desertification process may follow, including: decline in 

agriculture and tourism productivity, growing unemployment in rural areas with consequent migration, 

conflicts over water uses, harm to properties and people, due to increased frequency of fires, overall 

biodiversity loss.86 87

6.1.5 Fisheries

Marine fishery

The following negative impacts can be expected:

fish stock movements, inducing changes in the composition of biological communities in a 

given area, also affecting the economic activities related to fishery, e.g. potentially less 

productivity;

trans-boundary aquatic infections, with potential increase and expansion of aquatic diseases in 

aquaculture and expansion of exotic pest species;

the resilience of many water ecosystems might be exceeded due to anthropogenic stress, e.g. 

from overfishing, pollution, tourism, fragmentation and loss of habitat, combined with climate 

change effects on temperature, salinity and density of water, with potential impact on 

ecosystems’ physiology, biology and ecology;

possible general reduction in the productivity of the fished species;88

bivalve and gastropod molluscs or shellfish and like species with calcified shares could suffer 

significant impacts from expected reduction of sea water pH; they could also suffer from 

anoxia or hypoxia events during summer heat waves, whose frequency and duration is 

supposed to increase;89 therefore all the economic activities based on the collection of these 

organism may be at particular risk.

Freshwater fishery

It is very likely that over the short term there could be negative effects on the physiology of 

freshwater fish due to local temperatures increase; this could result in changes in distribution and 

probably abundance of freshwater species, with significant impacts on aquaculture. Italian aquaculture 

could be particularly affected in North-Adriatic coastal wetlands and lagoon areas due to possible 

water heating and acidification, extreme weather conditions, increasing incidence of diseases and sea

level rise.

6.1.6 Forests

Forests cover about one third of the Italian territory90. Existing studies91 92 show that climate change 

could induce overall changes in the composition of species and habitats of Italian forests, resulting in 

local losses of biodiversity. Potential impacts of climate change include:

 

86 Perini L. et al. (2008).

87 Sciortino M. et al. (2009). 

88 Cheung W. W. L. et al. (2010); Cheung W.W.L. et al. (2012).

89 Cebrian et al. (2011); Vaquer-Sunyer and Duarte (2011).

90 MiPAAF, CRA (2005).

91 Valentini R. et al. (2009).

92 Petriccione B. et al. (2009). (BioRefugia website: http://sweb01.dbv.uniroma1.it/bruno/biorefugia/index.html).
145

northwards and altitudinal shift of the range of climatic and environmental conditions typical of 

the Mediterranean area;

reduction of growth and productivity rates in central-Southern Italy, where about 1/3 of the 

woodland could be threatened by reduced water supply and extended drought periods;

changes in the distribution of main tree forest species in central Italy mostly located in the 

central Apennines, over 1500 m, in 2080, such as: general upward (towards higher altitude) 

shift of the distributional area, strong reduction of the distributional area of the most 

mesophile and microtherm species; significant expansion of the range of the Mediterranean 

species into the inner pre-Apennine zones; phenologic changes in the timing of growth, with 

earlier onset of spring events;

higher risk of forest fires and droughts, with possible extension of burned areas, more 

ignitions and longer fire seasons (in particular in the Alpine area and in Calabria, Campania, 

Sicilia and Sardegna regions); 

some possible positive impacts, such as an increase in forest productivity in the Alps in 

relation to the expansion of the growing season.

The actual possibilities for the forest ecosystems to shift are scarce, because climate change rate far 

exceeds the rate of colonization of new areas and the potential corridors are often obstructed by 

territorial fragmentation. Hence, a progressive disruption of forest ecosystems could be expected.93

A study94 on scenarios for the spreading of forest species in response to climate change with a focus 

on the Alps show a possible reduction of about 50% of the habitats at the national level, with a 

progressive decline of mountain habitats for high altitude conifers (red fir, larch, Swiss pine) in favour 

of beech, oak chestnut and deciduous oaks.95

6.1.7 Human health

Expected impacts of climate change include96 97 98 99 100:

increased heat-related mortality and morbidity, related to summer heat waves;

slight reduction of cold-related mortality, linked to expected milder winter temperatures (but 

the extent is not known);

increased risk of injuries, morbidity (e.g. enteric infections, post traumatic stress disorder and 

vector-borne diseases) and deaths, from floods, heavy precipitation and fires events;

increased respiratory diseases and allergic disorders, as a result of the effects of changes in 

air pollution concentrations that may be aggravated by climate change;

adverse consequences of potentially more frequent and prolonged extreme ozone events and 

increasing toxicity of pollutants particularly in summertime;

possible increase of the cases of West Nile fever and leishmania, of risks for malaria and 

dengue fever and of the spreading of vector borne diseases.

The groups of population that are more vulnerable to such impacts include the elderly, the children, 

 

93 Valentini R. et al. (2009).

94 Valentini R. and Santini M. (2008).

95 Valentini R. et al. (2009).

96 Michelozzi P. et al. (2007).

97 Funari E. et al. (2007).

98 Forestiere F. (2007).

99 Menne B. et al. (2009).

100 Majori G. (2007).
146

people suffering from different diseases and marginalized people.

6.1.8 Water

Water resources (in terms of annual precipitation and river discharge) are projected to decrease over 

Southern Europe, and this regional pattern could intensify in the last decades of this century. The 

existing conditions of high stress on water resources and of hydro-geologic disturbance in some Italian 

regions could be exacerbated by projected climate change including: reduced water availability and 

quality, increases in frequency and intensity of droughts especially in summer, increases in frequency 

and severity of river summer flows reductions and annual river flow decline and limited groundwater 

recharge101.

Water quantity and quality

Water quantity/availability and quality in Italy could be affected by102 103:

reduced water availability, especially in summer;

increased water stress;

severe negative impacts in the South, where vegetation and territory are already experiencing 

a marginal water supply regime;

increased seasonal water deficit due to significant pressures of summer tourism peaks in small 

Italian islands;

potential increased conflicts among multiple uses of water resources.

Hydro-geologic system

A mapping of the hydrological risk in Italy showed that in 2006: 5.2% of the Italian territory is 

exposed to the risk of landslides; 4.1% is under risk of flooding and 0.5% is prone to avalanches.104

According to a more recent (2008) assessment105 9.8% of the Italian territory is characterized by the 

highest level of hydro-geological criticality (that represents the states of “high” and “very high” risk 

and danger), of which 6.8% include areas with exposed properties (urban centres, infrastructures, 

industrial areas, etc.).

Climate change impacts on the Italian hydro-geological system include:

variations in the hydrologic regime related to e.g.:

progressive melting of the glaciers and reduction of seasonal snow cover in Alpine 

catchments, due to rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns;

increase in the aridity of soils and in the frequency of drought events in the plain 

areas;

changes in groundwater resources, related to SLR resulting in increased saltwater 

intrusion in coastal aquifers, accompanied by limited capacity of beach nourishment 

due to the lower river sediment transport (induced by reduced rivers medium ratings 

because of decreased precipitation but also by man-made dam works and 

withdrawals);

 

101 Portoghese I. et al. (2009).

102 Portoghese I. et al. (2009).

103 Funari E. et al. (2007).

104 Bigano A. and Pauli F. (2007).

105 IMELS (2008).
147

higher risk of inland flooding, due to increased events of river flood heights in relation to 

heavy precipitation events;106

increased winter run-off by 90% and decreased summer run-off by 45% in central Europe 

Alpine rivers,107 with consequent greater risk of flooding and drought respectively;

significant changes in the hydrologic balance (and water quality) of some studied river basins 

(Rio Mulargia in Sardegna and Alento river in Campania),108 with an estimated reduction in 

annual discharge as well as nutrients and sediments transport in the next decades;

increased risk of flash mud/debris flows, due to a potential increase of extreme weather 

events;

increased risk of landslides in the Alps, due to temperature warming and ice melting; risk of 

rock falls in the Apennines, because of possible more frequent and sudden temperature 

changes, especially in winter; risk of flash floods in both areas, due to severe precipitation 

events.

The areas most exposed to the hydro-geological risk include: the hydrographical basin of the Po River, 

subject to increased flood risk, and the Alpine and Apennine areas, subject to increased flash flood 

risk.

6.1.9 Infrastructure and economy

An assessment of the infrastructural capacity to adapt to climate change for Italy based on a 

combination of “indicators on the road network density, hospital beds and sustainable water use”109, 

carried out by the ESPON CLIMATE project110, shows how infrastructural capacity can change in Italy 

depending on the different regions, spanning the whole range of quintiles, from the “lowest capacity” 

(mainly insular and some south-eastern regions) to the “highest capacity” (mainly north-western 

regions). 

The Italian infrastructure and economy could face the following impacts. 

Energy – Potential reduction of hydropower production due to expected reduced water availability;111

summer cooling needs might increase up to 50% Italy by 2080;112 increasing energy demand for 

cooling needs in summertime could exceed the decreasing energy demand for heating needs in 

winter.113

Tourism – Possible reduced summer tourism, due to high temperatures and water scarcity, more 

expensive and/or reduced winter tourism, due to decreasing natural snow cover; on the other hand, 

improved conditions for spring and autumn tourism might occur. The impacts extent and entity is 

varying across Italian regions; Sicilia, Lazio, Toscana and Umbria may be the most affected ones; 

winter tourism losses may be high for the Alto Adige region while relatively smaller for Friuli Venezia 

Giulia and Valle d’Aosta.114

 

106 EEA (2012b).

107 Beniston M. (2006). 

108 Lo Porto A. et al. (2007) “Influenza dei cambiamenti climatici sul regime idrologico di due bacini idrografici in 

ambiente mediterraneo”. In Carli B., Cavarretta G., Colacino M., Fuzzi S. (eds) “Clima e Cambiamenti Climatici: Le 

attività di ricerca del CNR”, 577-580. CNR.

109 EEA (2012).

110 Greiving S. et al. (2011).

111 Gaudioso D. and Masullo A. (2009). 

112 Cecchi L. et al. (2007).

113 Mima S. et al. (2011).

114 Bigano A. and Bosello F. (2007).
148

Agriculture – Reduction in productivity for most crops due to water shortages; decline in agricultural 

productivity for wheat crop, fruit and vegetables yields, due to water scarcity and soil degradation.115

Fishery – Possible decrease in fishery productivity, due to fish stock movements and trans-boundary 

aquatic infections.116

Transport – Possible deterioration, disruption or inaccessibility of the transport network, due to a 

combination of factors including temperature rise, changing precipitation patterns, extreme weather 

events, increased risk of floods, flash floods, landslides and rock falls and flash mud/debris flows.117

Urban settlements – Possible damages to settlements and disruption of socio-economic activities, 

mainly due to extreme events like floods, storms, heat waves, droughts, melting of permafrost in 

some Alpine areas; possible decrease in water availability and quality as well as air quality affecting 

urban population and settlements.

Infrastructure – Pressures on urban and rural infrastructures and damages or loss of properties, 

mainly due to extreme events, such as flooding. 

6.1.10 Economic impacts of climate change

Only few studies assessed sector- or site-specific economic impacts of climate change in Italy by using 

different scenarios, approaches and methodologies. 

Agriculture –The average yield reduction due to the impacts of climate change is evaluated at 9.3%

and 23% respectively for a +2° C and a +4 °C temperature rise scenario in 2050. The value of lost 

production is estimated in the range 13 - 30 billion Euros per year in 2050, with a negative impact on 

the GDP around 0.1%.118 Based on another analysis119 the decrease in the value of agricultural land

could be estimated between 87 and 162 billion Euros in 2100 under the IPCC A2 scenario.

Coastal areas120 – Existing studies121 on the expected costs of inaction for the coastal areas are 

limited to few vulnerable areas (the Fondi Plains, the Sangro River basin and the Grado and Marano 

Plains) for which the direct costs were calculated in terms of land loss. For the Sangro River basin122

the estimated costs are around 14 million Euros for the reference scenario at 2100; considering higher 

hydro-geological vulnerability besides SLR, the estimated costs would increase to about 73 million 

Euros.123 Furthermore, the CIRCE124 project estimated the loss of coastal areas in Italy in 2050 under 

the IPCC SRES A1B scenario at about 0.7% of the national territory, with an indirect economic impact 

on the Italian GDP at - 0.18%, in terms of loss of coastal infrastructures and agricultural land.125

Some studies126 addressing climate change impacts on coastal tourism, highlighted how “extremely 

hot summers could reduce tourism inflow to Italian regions on average by 1.22%” while possibly 

 

115 Miglietta F. et al. (2009).

116 FAO (2008).

117 Caserini S. and Pignatelli R. (2009).

118 Courtesy of Francesco Bosello (2013).

119 Van Passel S. et al. (2012).

120 Carraro C. (2008).

121 By Foundation Eni Enrico Mattei (Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei - FEEM) and Italian National Agency for New 

Technologies, Energy and Environment (Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie, l’Energia e l’Ambiente - ENEA); quoted in

Carraro C. (2008).

122 Breil M. et al. (2007).

123 Carraro C. (2008).

124 EU FP6 project CIRCE (Climate Change Impact Research: The Mediterranean Environment) 

(http://www.circeproject.eu/).

125 Courtesy of Francesco Bosello (2013).

126 Galeotti M. et al. (2004).
149

slightly increase tourism inflow to Italian coastal zones.127

Drought and desertification128 – The costs of desertification for Italy were estimated at about 60-

412 million US$/year, considering a 16500 km2 of land at risk.129

Fisheries – Some site-specific studies on Sacca di Goro Lagoon (one of the major European sites of 

aquaculture for Philippine clams) estimated that reduced rainfall and the incidence of certain seaweed 

could reduce clam production with an annual monetary loss of 10.4 – 16.5 million Euros on 

average.130

The SESAME131 project estimated the loss of aggregated productivity of fish stocks for Italy at about 

8.07% in 2030 under the IPCC A1B scenario. This would impact Italy’s GDP by -0.04% in 2030 

(equivalent to a loss of 25 million Euro per year in the period 2001-2030), considering only the 

potential impact of the reduced fish availability on the ability to produce goods and services in the 

future. The fishing industry would suffer a loss of production around 4% in 2030.132

Human health – the costs of impacts of heat waves for Italy in the absence of any adaptation 

strategy are estimated around 281 million Euros for 2020 in Rome alone;133 the damages caused by 

floods in the European countries in the Mediterranean area in the last decade are estimated at 12,3 

billion Euros, of which 96% can be attributed to events taking place in Italy.134

Water - hydro-geological system – River flooding costs related to impacts of climate change may 

increase in Italy.135 The direct costs of hydro-geologic risks (floods and landslides) for 3 Italian regions

(Calabria, Lazio and Lombardia) were estimated at 103 million Euros in terms of value of the land 

under flood risk and at 187 million Euros in terms of value of the land at risk of landslides.136 The 

expected direct costs of floods for Italy in 2050 under the IPCC SRES A1B scenario could be 1.6 billion 

Euros137. The related impact on the national GDP would amount to 457 million Euros in 2050.138

Tourism – The SESAME139 project estimated a reduction of tourism demand for Italy of 1.65% in 

2030 under the IPCC A1B scenario due to a potential loss of attractiveness from the deterioration of 

marine ecosystems. The CIRCE140 project estimated a reduction of tourism inflows for Italy potentially 

induced by rising temperatures at about 15% in 2050 under the IPCC A1B scenario; this could be 

partially offset by an increased domestic tourism demand, with a net negative impact on the sector of 

8.9%. The consequent GDP reduction would be of 0.25% in 2050.

Macro-economic impacts of climate change in Italy – The only available study141 assessing the 

costs of climate change impacts in Italy in an aggregated way was carried out by FEEM in 

collaboration with ISPRA and CMCC. The study focused on four vulnerable areas: Alps and glacier 

ecosystems; coastal zones; arid areas and areas threatened by desertification; areas prone to floods 

 

127 Gambarelli G. and Goria A. (2004).

128 Carraro C. (2008).

129 Carraro C. and Sgobbi A. (2008).

130 Viaroli P. et al. (2007); quoted in Carraro C. (2008).

131 EU FP6 project SESAME (Southern European Seas: Assessing and Modelling Ecosystem Changes).

132 Courtesy of Francesco Bosello (2013).

133 Alberini A., and Chiabai A. (2007); quoted in Carraro, C. (2008).

134 Sinisi L. (2009).

135 EEA (2012b).

136 Carraro C. and Sgobbi A. (2008).

137 Flörke M. et al. (2011); ClimWatAdapt (Climate Adaptation modelling water scenarios and sectoral impacts) 

(http://climwatadapt.eu/).

138 Courtesy of Francesco Bosello (2013).

139 FP6 project SESAME (Southern European Seas: Assessing and Modelling Ecosystem Changes).

140 Bosello F. et al. (2010).

141 Carraro C. (2008).
150

and landslides. According to this study, Italy may experience aggregated GDP losses induced by 

climate change around 0.12%-0.16% in the period 2001-2050, equivalent to approximately 20-30 

billion Euros, considering a temperature increase of 0.93°C; for a +1.2°C temperature rise scenario 

larger losses could be expected of 0.16% - 0.20% of GDP. The tourism and the economy of Alpine 

area could suffer significant damages. Large North-South differences could emerge in Italy in terms of 

economic impacts of climate change.

6.2 Adaptation

National Adaptation Strategy –

Italy is currently preparing a National Strategy for the adaptation to climate change (NAS), which will 

define priorities at sectoral level through the combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches.

The top down process started in 2012 with the aim to prepare a draft NAS scientifically based and 

shared at institutional level. In particular, to update existing information on impacts and 

vulnerabilities, in 2012 a Technical Panel of Experts (about 110 scientists coordinated by CMCC142) 

was established. This information was shared amongst an Institutional Committee (including 

Ministries, Civil Protection and representatives of regional and local authorities) in preparing the draft 

NAS. In December 2012 a draft resolution to the “Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning” 

was issued to individuate the economic allocation for priority actions with particular reference to the 

hydrogeological risk. 

The bottom-up approach has been implemented starting with an on-line survey on the perception of 

risks of climate change and on the “adaptation concept” in the country, launched in October 2012. In 

2013, both an on-line public review and “ad hoc” public consultations were organized, in order to 

promote the involvement of citizens and stakeholders such as: NGOs, municipalities, private sector 

and trade unions. The results of the activities are substantial in dealing with, inter alia, the future 

implementation of the NAS. 

The final approval of the NAS is foreseen in the first semester of 2014.

Sectoral adaptation – Despite the current lack of a NAS and of comprehensive economic 

assessments, a number of adaptation initiatives has been already implemented at the national level in 

the context of the policies for environment protection, natural hazards prevention, sustainable 

management of natural resources and health protection. These efforts include: legal frameworks, 

monitoring and surveillance systems and practical measures i.e. in the fields: human health, coastal 

areas, agriculture, desertification and water resources. Considerable actions were undertaken also at 

the regional and city levels. Italy also participates in research efforts on climate change adaptation at 

both international and national level, with a special focus on agriculture, biodiversity, coastal zones, 

desertification, health, water and cities. Furthermore, Italy is also active in international cooperation 

initiatives on climate change related topics, including transnational cooperation efforts (e.g. in the 

context of the Alpine Convention) and capacity building activities in developing countries, funded by 

the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the IMELS. All these initiatives are summarized in the 

following section.

 

142 http://www.cmcc.it/projects/snac-elements-to-develop-a-national-adaptation-strategy-to-climate-change .
151

6.2.1 Agriculture and food security

The Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies (MIPAAF) published in 2011 the White 

Paper: “Challenges and opportunities of rural development for mitigation and adaptation to climate 

change”.143 This document aims at increasing the resilience of the agricultural sector to the impacts of 

climate change as well as the investments in a low-carbon economy through the development and 

diffusion of renewable energy and green products. Furthermore this document identifies specific 

adaptation actions to be implemented at different levels in agriculture in four main areas: technology 

development; adoption of technologies; government programmes and insurance services; financial 

management of farms. 

Legal frameworks

Italy implemented a (2007-2010) National Plan for irrigation in support to the agricultural sector144

and allocated specific funds to alleviate the effects of extreme events, including droughts. 

Furthermore, specific adaptation actions are financially supported by the (2007-2013) 21 regional 

Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) focused mainly to water management and forestry measures.

Insurance system

Since 2010 Italy implemented specific support to the costs of insurance premiums covering the risks 

of climate change on crop production, animal diseases in livestock, diseases and pest infestations of 

plants145. A single system was created collecting all the relevant funds, including the CMO Wine funds

providing contributions to insurance for wine grapes crops and the National Solidarity Fund for natural 

disasters in agriculture.

146

Research

Relevant recent research efforts on climate change adaptation in agriculture in Italy include the 

following three national projects and one international project:

AgroScenari (Adaptation scenarios of Italian agriculture to climate change) - national 

Programme (2008-2012) aimed to address the subject of adaptation to current and projected 

climate change; 

Climesco (Evolution of cropping systems as affected by climate change) - national project 

(2006-2010) aimed also at “defining agronomic corrective actions to maintain or possibly 

increase the sustainability of the cropping systems used in Southern Italian regions”;

Soilsink (Climate change and agricultural and forestry systems: impact on the carbon 

reservoirs and on the soil microbic diversity) - national project (2006-2010) aimed also at 

providing advice to agricultural technicians and planners on the most appropriate decisions for 

agricultural land management;

Icarus (IWRM for Climate Change Adaptation in Rural Social Ecosystems in Southern Europe) –

international project (2010-2012) aimed to address efficient water use in agriculture and 

identifying innovative adaptation strategies, practices and tools for saving water in irrigated 

productions systems.

 

143 MiPAAF, Rete Rurale Nazionale (2011).

144 Further information: Rete Rurale Nazionale - RRN (http://www.reterurale.it/pianoirriguo). 

145 Thanks to Reg. (EC) 73/2009 issued after the CAP Health Check, allowing the use of Community funds for 

insurance benefits.

146 MiPAAF, Rete Rurale Nazionale (2011).
152

6.2.2 Biodiversity and natural ecosystems

Conservation and management of fauna and flora

At the national level, the DPNM147 of IMELS aims to the establishment of nature reserves and national 

parks, the definition of relative management criteria, the development of national action plans, 

guidelines and guidance documents for the conservation of species and habitats and the production of 

publications and databases on the natural heritage. The variety of implemented initiatives on 

terrestrial and marine148 protected areas149, national parks, landscape, terrestrial fauna and flora, and 

actions for limiting the impacts of alien invasive species can be considered beneficial also for adapting 

to climate change.

National Biodiversity Strategy

In 2010150 the IMELS launched the National Biodiversity Strategy to be implemented in the period 

2011-2020. The Strategy is built on three pillars: “biodiversity and ecosystem services”, “biodiversity 

and climate change”, “biodiversity and economic policies”. The Strategy provides indications on 

priorities for action based on intervention tools for the different working areas, either directly or 

implicitly linked to climate change adaptation. This Strategy explicitly aims at “reducing substantially 

the impact of climate change on biodiversity by 2020, by defining appropriate measures of adaptation 

and mitigation, also targeted at increasing the resilience of natural and semi-natural ecosystems to 

climate change”. Such identified adaptation actions are aimed e.g. at: “maintaining the range and 

variability of ecological habitats and species; facilitating the spread of species into new favourable 

habitats; maintaining the existing ecological networks; controlling the spread of invasive species”.

Research

Italy participated to a number of recent international projects related to biodiversity and climate 

change, including the following ones (reported as examples): 

several nature and biodiversity protection projects within the LIFE+ programme;

HABIT-CHANGE (Adaptive Management of Climate-induced Changes of Habitat Diversity in 

Protected Areas) project (2010-2013), aimed at assessing, improving and adapting existing 

management and conservation strategies in protected areas to pro-actively respond to likely 

effects of climate change as a threat to habitat integrity and diversity;

MANFRED (Management strategies to adapt Alpine Space forests to climate change risks)

project (2009-2012), aimed at defining management strategies for the protection of the Alpine 

forests ecosystems from climate change risks and for adaptation to climate change impacts; 

C3-Alps – Capitalizing Climate Change Knowledge for Adaptation in the Alpine Space project 

(2012-2014), aimed to synthesize, transfer, and implement in policy and practice the best 

available adaptation knowledge by building on the results of previous projects and initiatives 

on adaptation to climate change in the Alps.

6.2.3 Coastal zones 

The main competences and responsibilities for organising and administering coastal defence passed in 

 

147 Direzione per la Protezione della Natura e del Mare del Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del 

Mare.

148 http://www.orbicolare.it/works/eb_amp2010/mappa.html.

149 http://www.minambiente.it/pagina/elenco-ufficiale-delle-aree-naturali-protette-0.

150 By approval in October 2010 by the Standing Conference for relations between the State, Regions and 

autonomous Provinces.
153

2001 from the national government to the 15 coastal regions. 

Integrated coastal Zone Management (ICZM)151

At the national level, Italy is required to prepare a strategy on Integrated coastal Zone Management

(ICZM), which includes prevention and reduction of the effects of natural hazards and of climate 

change. The IMELS has already started an overall institutional coordination, through the involvement 

of regional and local authorities dealing with planning and management of coastal areas, with a view 

to define the required ICZM Strategy and to prepare the relevant Plans/Programs and/or Guidelines. 

Appropriate consultation of stakeholders is envisaged to ensure proper input and consideration of all 

relevant interests. The most recent status of activities in this respect is reported in the IMELS 2011 

report: “National Progress Report on integrated coastal zone management (2006-2010)”.152

At the regional level, some Italian regional governments started to focus on the ICZM e.g.: EmiliaRomagna and Marche (2005) and Liguria (2002), with the adoption of instruments having reference to 

the ICZM, and Toscana, Lazio, Abruzzo, Sardegna and Puglia, with preliminary testing of the ICZM 

approach or plans for land protection and spatial planning. Basilicata and Sicilia just started 

preparatory activities for their regional coastal plans. 

Implemented adaptation actions and measures

Over the years, regional action focused on interventions aimed at stabilizing and fixing the coastline to 

protect coastal zones from increased erosion and flooding. The implementation of several of these 

initiatives is also beneficial for adapting to climate change. They include:153 154

traditional coastal defence measures, such as artificial reefs (rock mound structures, flood 

walls), near-shore breakwaters, bulkheads, artificial channelling and drainage and, more 

recently, beach nourishment generally in high-profit touristic areas and dune restoration (e.g. 

Campania, Lazio, Emilia-Romagna, Toscana);

a cutting-edge system of mobile barriers against exceptionally high tides (Veneto);

a real-time wave monitoring network in support to civil protection decisions during extreme 

weather events (Campania) and/or other monitoring systems (Emilia-Romagna);

land use planning;

managerial interventions, such as changing agricultural practices in areas prone to floods and 

changing location of recreational facilities.

Examples of advanced coastal protection

Veneto155- Following a 1984 national law, the Venice Water Authority (under the Ministry of 

Infrastructure and Transport) is implementing through the Consorzio Venezia Nuova a General Plan of 

Interventions, whose costs are supported by the government, to achieve protection measures 

safeguarding the city and its lagoon from the sea tides. In addition, a specific project called MOSE

(MOdulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico)156, was designed to temporarily divide the sea from the 

lagoon during high tides. For this purpose, a system of mobile barriers was built at three lagoon inlets 

to be activated during exceptionally high tides. The defence structure, whose works started in 2003, 

was designed to cope with an increase of up to 60 cm in sea level. 

 

151 http://www.minambiente.it/pagina/gestione-integrata-delle-zone-costiere-gizc.

152 IMELS (2011).

153 Carraro C. and Sgobbi A. (2008).

154 Policy Research Corporation (in association with MRAG) (2009).

155 Policy Research Corporation (in association with MRAG) (2009).

156 MOSE project (http://www.salvemose.it/index.php).
154

Emilia-Romagna157- Emilia-Romagna is the first Italian region to have implemented beach 

nourishment (a “soft” kind of intervention) in 1983 as an alternative to the environmentally 

unsustainable “hard” protection works. Later, in 2002 and 2007, two major beach nourishment 

interventions were carried out using off-shore submerged sand deposits. In 1983 the region also 

approved its first Coastal Plan and established a subsidence monitoring network of the coastal territory 

and shoreline movements. The second Coastal Plan was issued in 1995 which was followed by two 

Coastal Status Reports in 2000 and 2007. The latest Coastal Plan, including a ten-year Management 

Plan (2010-2019), includes some considerations on climate change. Starting from 2000 a GIS-based 

Coastal Information System was developed in support to coastal studies, monitoring and planning. In 

2002 the region started experimenting a pilot video monitoring system of the littoral processes in 

support of coastal zone management through the development of video-derived Coastal State 

Indicators (CSI).158 Furthermore, the region is the only one to have developed and adopted Guidelines

for an ICZM in 2005. 

Research

Italy has been and is involved in these recent international research projects, relevant to some extent 

to adaptation to climate change over its regional coasts: 

INTERREG IIIC Beachmed-e MedPlan subproject (2005-2008), focused on risk assessment and 

the establishment of integrated plans for Mediterranean coastlines;

COASTANCE (regional COmmon Action STrategy Against Coastal Erosion and climate change 

effects for a sustainable coastal planning in the Mediterranean basin) project (2009-2012), 

focused on regional action strategies for adaptation to climate change in the coastal zones;

MedLab (Mediterranean Living Lab for Territorial Innovation) project (2009-2011), focused on 

innovative Information and communication Technology services in support to regional policy;

SHAPE (Shaping an Holistic Approach to Protect the Adriatic Environment between coast and 

sea) project (2011-2014), aimed at creating the basis for the protection and the sustainable 

development of the Adriatic coastal-marine environment, by promoting the implementation of 

the ICZM Protocol and the Roadmap for Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP).

Also Italy has been involved in relevant national projects, such as:

• CAMP (Coastal Area Management Programme Italia) project (2009), supporting also the ICZM, 

carried out in the framework of the Barcelona Convention; 

• VECTOR (VulnErability of the Italian coastal area and marine Ecosystems to Climatic changes 

and Their rOle in the Mediterranean caRbon cycles) project (2006-2009), aimed to study the 

most significant impacts of climate change on the Mediterranean marine environment and the 

role of this basin on the planetary CO2 cycle.

6.2.4 Drought and desertification

National Action Programme (NAP) to Combat Drought and Desertification

As requested by the United Nation Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD), in 1999 Italy 

developed and approved the National Action Programme to Combat Drought and Desertification159

aimed at reducing losses of soil productivity caused by climate change and other human activities in 

 

157 Policy Research Corporation (in association with MRAG) (2009).

158 Within the EU 5th FWP RTD (2002-2005) CoastView Project (http://141.163.79.209/web/index.html).

159 IMELS (1999) “Programma di Azione Nazionale per la Lotta alla Siccità e alla Desertificazione (PAN)”.
155

the context of sustainable development, following the ad hoc Guidelines160 elaborated by the National 

Committee to Combat Desertification (CNLSD). The NAP, that calls for the creation of links and 

synergies with other global conventions on climate, biodiversity and the protection of international

waters, provides a coherent set of indications that are beneficial also to adapting to climate change. 

Local Action Programmes (LAPs) to Combat Drought and Desertification

The National Action Programme to Combat Drought and Desertification entrusted the Regional 

Governments and Watershed Authorities161 with the responsibility to develop Local Action Programmes 

to Combat Drought and Desertification. Currently, ten Italian Regional Governments adopted these 

programmes: Campania (2010), Liguria (2010), Toscana (2010), Emilia-Romagna (2009), Puglia 

(2008), Sardegna (2008), Calabria (2008), Abruzzo (2007), Basilicata (2007) and Sicilia (2007)162. 

Pilot projects to combat desertification

The IMELS promoted Pilot projects to combat desertification163, which make use of experimental 

techniques and methods for actions aimed at improving knowledge (e.g. environmental monitoring, 

maps and boundaries of sensitive areas/at risk of desertification of different phenomena and 

indicators) and at directly intervening in the territory. Currently, 6 Italian Regional Governments 

conducted such Pilot projects: Abruzzo (2010), Piemonte (2010), Sardegna (2009), Sicilia (2009), 

Calabria (2009) and Puglia (2008).

Other initiatives

The “Good practices for combating desertification”

164 report by IMELS and Research Nucleus on 

desertification of Sassari University (2009) provides a methodological and operational tool for the 

identification of good practices for combating desertification.

6.2.5 Fisheries

Existing adaptation strategies for the fisheries sector are mainly on sustainable management of 

fisheries at national and international level and on enhancement of complementary activities such as 

aquaculture. It is worth mentioning the 2007-2013 Operational Programme for the Italian fisheries 

sector, run under the responsibility of MiPAAF and focused on 5 priority lines that involve some degree 

of adaptation and sustainability (e.g. interventions directed to the protection of the marine ecosystem 

and the competitiveness of national fisheries)165.

6.2.6 Forests166

Adaptation in the forest sector in Italy is mainly related to the protection of forests from wild fires. The 

IMELS, through the DPNM, developed the following initiatives for the protection of forests from fires:

“Framework law on forest fires” (2000);

Guidelines for sustainable forest management in State natural parks and reserves (2005);

Schemes for plans against forest fires for State natural protected areas (2002/2009);

specific plans for State natural reserves;

 

160http://www.arpa.emr.it/cms3/documenti/_cerca_doc/siccita_desertificazione/linee_guida_piano_azione_nazional

e_99.pdf.

161 Autorità di Bacino.

162 Programmi di azione locale di lotta alla siccità e alla desertificazione (PAL).

163 Progetti Pilota di Lotta alla Siccità e alla Desertificazione.

164 Seddaiu G. et al. (2009). 

165 http://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/311.

166 http://www.minambiente.it/pagina/attivita-antincendi-boschivi.
156

provision of scientific and technical support to planning the detection of wild fire in State 

protected natural areas and national parks of priority intervention areas (including an on-line 

GIS-bases cartography).

6.2.7 Human health

Efforts undertaken in the national health sector that are beneficial also for adapting to climate change 

are most developed in the field of prevention of and response to heat health effects from heat waves

and are implemented mainly under the direction of the Department for Civil Protection and the Italian 

Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health launched the National Programme for the prevention of 

effects of heat waves on health, providing a framework for the implementation of prevention plans at 

the local level, with the technical support by the Department for Civil Protection. The main objective of 

this initiative was the implementation of Heat Health Watch Warning System (HHWWS) and the 

national system of rapid detection of daily mortality.

Implemented adaptation actions and measures

National network of city-based HHWWSs,

167 covering 34 cities (in February 2012), including: a 

daily mortality surveillance system; a vulnerability registry, local action plans, national 

working group of experts for the preparation of local surveillance, response plans and the 

vulnerability registry; 

National Operational Plan for the prevention of the effects of heat on health,

168 extending the 

city-specific forecasting systems, defining the mortality surveillance system and the local 

response plan and identifying the categories at risk (for the Vulnerability registry) and the 

reference centres; 

(2006) “Guidelines for preparing monitoring and response plans for the health effects of heat 

waves”;169

Regional initiatives against heat waves, including measures concerning heat waves, depletion 

of the stratospheric ozone layer, vector-borne diseases, water and food quality and pollen 

species by Emilia-Romagna.

In addition, the Ministry of Health conducted dissemination campaigns and awareness raising 

initiatives, such as:

Social Guardians Service (2004-2010) experimental project in 4 large cities (Roma, Torino, 

Milano and Genova) to verify the effectiveness of the assistance model of the “social guardian”

for fragile elderly people; 

“For a safe summer” initiative, disseminating to the citizens information and 

recommendations170 (including a “Heat Lab” website171 (2004) promoting the exchange of 

knowledge and local practical experiences, a National Call Centre Service, booklets and 

dedicated TV programmes).

 

167http://www.salute.gov.it/emergenzaCaldo/paginaInternaEmergenzaCaldo.jsp?menu=sistema&id=410&lingua=it

aliano.

168 Ministry of Health (2005) “Piano Operativo Nazionale per la Prevenzione degli Effetti del Caldo sulla Salute”

169 Ministry of Health (2006) “Linee guida per preparare piani di sorveglianza e risposta verso gli effetti sulla salute 

di ondate di calore anomalo” 

170http://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_pubblicazioni_1959_allegato.pdf.

171http://www.google.it/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDoQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fw

ww.trapianti.salute.gov.it%2Fresources%2Fstatic%2Ffocus%2F6%2Fheat_lab_documentazione.pdf&ei=vhjVUrGYI

7Tb7AapuoCwDA&usg=AFQjCNECNHa0Axf7TD_t8Wzig3uwPwCXdw&sig2=zqhdaIDjEr5lGQddIds5dg&cad=rja. 
157

Research

Research on adaptation to heat waves carried out in Italy includes epidemiologic studies carried out by 

Office of Statistics of Istituto Superiore di Sanità’ to calculate the excess mortality due to the summer 

2003 heat wave, and activities undertaken in the context of the international cCASHh Climate 

Change and Adaptation Strategies for Human Health in Europe172 project (2001-2004).

6.2.8 Water

Water scarcity and drought

The projected increase of droughts frequency and water scarcity, especially in Southern Italy, are very 

high on the policy agenda. These drive the development of suitable responses in combination with the 

other components of EU water regulation.

173 Implemented initiatives include the following ones.

Following the (2000) EU Water Framework Directive (WFD),174 Italy issued water emergencies 

regulations to address water crises, providing both technical and financial support for 

emergency measures. 175

On 5 March 2007, the Council of Ministers approved “Practical guidelines to deal with possible 

water crises”, that provide indications to all water management structures for undertaking 

monitoring and appropriate enforcement activities.176

Ad hoc organizations for crisis management were established, such as a “Drought control 

room” for drought events in the Po River basin, and a “Coordination Unit for the management 

of water resources” shared between Puglia and Basilicata Regions, to regulate water usage 

and to take the necessary measures to prevent water crisis.

A number of Italian structural funds include irrigation networks as well as drinking-water 

distribution networks, not only for water emergencies.

In terms of cohesion funds, Italy has a water programme, also useful in providing necessary 

information for water crisis prevention.

At the catchment level, the River Basin Management Plan of the Po River catchment (adopted in 2010 

and approved in 2013177) aims, among its objectives, at the identification of shared strategies for 

water management and adaptation to climate change; in addition, the Watershed Authority of the 

Arno River Basin took into account climate change impacts in mapping flood hazard and risk in support 

to river Basin planning (pursuant to Directive 2007/60/EC on flood risks assessment and 

management).178

Hydro-geological risk

Legal frameworks

Law 267/1998, also known as Legge Sarno, is the main legal mechanism involving the 

implementation of hydro-geological protection in line with the WFD and requires the 

authorities responsible for hydrological basins management to detect risk areas, set up 

 

172 Results of the cCASHh project are reported in Menne, B.; Ebi, K. L. (Eds.) (2006) “Climate Change and 

Adaptation Strategies for Human Health”.

173 EEA (2007).

174 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32000L0060:EN:NOT.

175 http://www.direttivaacque.minambiente.it/. 

176 Gaudioso D. and Masullo A. (2009).

177 http://www.adbpo.it/on-multi/ADBPO/Home/articolo1425.html. 

178 http://www.appenninosettentrionale.it/dist/?p=1240. 
158

prevention plans and establish regulations to avoid additional risk due to anthropogenic 

factors; it is also the legal basis for identification and funding of urgent preventive measures;

(2004) Prime Minister Directive179 provides operational guidelines for the organizational and 

functional management of the national and regional warning system for the hydro-geological 

and hydraulic risk for the purpose of civil protection; it requires the establishment of an 

integrated warning system at the national and regional level, based on the activities of 

Functional Centres devoted to the collection, processing and assimilation of climate-related, 

hydrological, geological and geo-morphological data.

Implemented adaptation actions and measures

The main activities coping with the hydro-geological risk are implemented at the national level by the

Department of Civil Protection, including: 

monitoring of hydro-pluviometric data and water availability, in order to anticipate possible 

future critical situations, in collaboration with Regional and Watershed Authorities;

establishment (in 2007) of a technical-scientific group of the main national experts in seasonal 

weather forecasting and climatology with the aim to update the scenarios for the next threemonth period;

managing, in accordance with the Regional governments, the network of functional centres, 

regional structures and competence centres for the collection, monitoring, and sharing of 

weather, hydro-geological and hydraulic data (the National System for early warning and 

monitoring), a key support tool for decision-making for civil protection and warning for hydrogeologic and hydrologic risk;

promotion, financing and coordination of technical and scientific initiatives aimed at widening 

knowledge base on extreme weather events and their application to the development of early 

warning, evaluation and real-time monitoring tools;

implementation of a national Radar Plan for nowcasting.

Research 

The main recent experiences of research on adaptation to climate change in the water sector in Italy 

are the following: 

ClimWatAdapt (Climate Adaptation - Modelling water scenarios and sectoral impacts)180

project (2010-2011) addressing also vulnerability assessment and potential key adaptation 

measures assessment;

STRADA (Climate change adaptation strategies for the management of natural hazards in the 

in trans-boundary areas)181 project (2010-2013), developing adaptation strategies in the ItalySwitzerland trans-boundary territory, with a focus on managing water resources and on 

adaptation to hydro-geological hazards in the context of climate change in Alpine 

environment.

TRUST (Tool for regional scale assessment of groundwater storage improvement in adaptation 

to climate change)182 project (2009-2011) addressing also the development of adaptation 

strategies for the ground water as well as of innovative actions to stop the slow but also 

progressive decline of the level of ground water of the Veneto and Friuli regions.

 

179 http://www.protezionecivile.gov.it/jcms/it/view_prov.wp?contentId=LEG21144.

180 ClimWatAdapt (http://climwatadapt.eu/).

181 STRADA (http://www.progettostrada.net/).

182 TRUST (http://www.lifetrust.it/cms/).
159

6.2.9 Infrastructure and economy183

Tourism – Artificial snowmaking systems are still the most applied response of the Italian winter 

tourism industry to the decrease in the snow-reliable ski zones. About 77% of Italian ski areas are 

already covered with artificial snow, reaching 100% in Friuli Venezia Giulia and Alto Adige regions. 

These interventions have high costs and are not considered sustainable options (due to energy 

consumption, water resources use, installation and maintenance). New and promising business 

models, including both snow-related and non snow-related offers (health tourism, congress tourism, 

other sports and popular activities, etc.) have been developed to some extent, leading to the 

diversification of winter tourism revenue. 

Urban settlements – As to the urban sector, a range of initiatives were either implemented or 

started by Provinces, Cities and Municipalities, such as.

Ancona Municipality184 developed a Local Adaptation Plan (in the framework of the ACT 

project185) in close collaboration with local stakeholders and based on a methodology designed 

by ISPRA with the aim to be applied also in other European cities.186

Genova Province developed an Adaptation Action Plan187 (under the GRaBS project188) to cope 

with the territory vulnerabilities that might be worsened by climate change and through 

planning strategies aimed at increasing the environment natural defences. The involvement of 

local stakeholders and citizens was a core pillar of the project.189

Faenza Municipality implemented a Bio-neighbourhood incentive programme for developers190

within the urban planning regulations to cope with rising temperatures related to climate 

change, with a focus on enhancing synergies between climate change adaptation and 

mitigation, quality of life and development. For this purpose, the incentive programme 

authorises additional building capacity with respect to the approved standards for buildings 

having distinctive features of environmental sustainability.

Sustainable Cities network and Coordination of Italian Local Agenda 21 developed in “2011 

Draft Guidelines for “local adaptation action plans of urban systems to climate change”.191 This 

document aims at facilitating the integration of mitigation and adaptation actions in local 

planning for resilient cities and territories in Italy. Furthermore, a national survey of best 

practices in Italian urban and regional planning was launched, with the aim to support the 

process of adapting the territories and cities to climate change.192

At the regional level, the Abruzzo Region and the National agency for new technologies, Energy and 

sustainable economic development (ENEA) conducted a “Feasibility study for the assessment of 

climate change impacts and vulnerabilities for the Abruzzo region and possible adaptation actions”193

focused to coastal marine environment, coastal zones, mountain areas and production activities. This 

 

183 Carraro C. et al. (2008).

184 http://www.actlife.eu/EN/project-partners/municipality-of-ancona.xhtml. 

185 EC LIFE Environment ACT (Adapting to climate Change in Time).

186 http://www.a21italy.it/medias/2091-bpadattamento-al-cambiamento-climaticocomune-ancona.pdf.

187 EEA (2012a).

188 GRaBS (GReen and Blue Space adaptation for urban areas and eco towns) (http://www.grabs-eu.org/).

189 http://www.laprovinciaperilclima.info/index.php?Pg=238.

190 http://www.grabs-eu.org/membersArea/files/faenza.pdf.

191 http://www.comune.modena.it/ilclimadellecitta/documenti/citta-resilienti-2011/modena/documento_indirizzi.

192 http://www.comune.modena.it/ilclimadellecitta/pagine/citta-resilienti.

193 ENEA (2011).
160

study aimed at identifying technical, scientific, methodological, procedural and public elements needed 

to tailor the methodologies and procedures put forward by IPCC and UNEP to the Italian case for the 

identification of possible adaptation options. The ultimate goal includes building a field-tested 

prototype that could be taken up as a reference method for analysis of climate change adaptation at 

the national level.

Energy – The promotion of the use of solar energy use started in Italy in February 2007.194

Research

Research on adaptation to climate change in the urban sector in Italy includes international projects 

such as: 

ACT (Adapting to Climate change in Time)195 project (2010-2012) supporting local authorities, 

in particular the ones of the European cities in the Mediterranean basin in developing a 

concerted Local Adaptation Strategy to increase cities resilience to climate change, taking into 

account environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change; in Italy it was carried 

out by the Municipality of Ancona196;

UHI (Urban Heat Island)197 project (2011-2014) aiming at developing strategies to mitigate, 

adapt to, prevent and manage the risks related to the urban heat island phenomenon, 

involving agencies, departments and directorates of Emilia-Romagna and Veneto Regions; 

their areas of intervention are the metropolitan cluster of Bologna–Modena and the urban 

corridor of Venezia–Padova. In this context the Veneto Region organized an international 

conference on climate adaptation in urban areas (Venice, 23-24 May 2013)198;

CHAMP (Local Climate Change Response) project199 (2009-2012) “aimed at training and 

supporting local and sub-regional authorities in implementing an integrated management 

system for climate change mitigation and adaptation, and to promoting the model Europeanwide”;

EU Cities Adapt (Adaptation Strategies for European Cities)200 project (2012-2013). Three 

Italian cities (Alba, Padova and Ancona) were selected to participate to the training and 

capacity building phase for developing and implementing an adaptation strategy. In particular, 

within the project Ancona is considered a “peer city” that is advanced in its adaptation process 

and will support the other “starting cities”.

6.2.10 Cost of adapting to climate change

In this topic only the already mentioned effort by FEEM-CMCC-ISPRA can be reported.201 This study 

covers just few specific adaptation measures that have been explored or undertaken in “four 

vulnerable areas: the Alps and glacier ecosystems, coastal zones, arid areas and areas threatened by 

desertification, and zones prone to floods and landslides”. 

Alps and glacier ecosystems - While a comprehensive economic evaluation over the Italian Alpine 

zones is missing, some estimates for adjusting the tourism industry to climate change were 

 

194 Gaudioso D. and Masullo A. (2009).

195 ACT (http://www.actlife.eu/EN/index.xhtml).

196 http://www.actlife.eu/EN/project-partners/municipality-of-ancona.xhtml.

197 UHI (http://www.eu-uhi.eu/index.php). 

198 http://www.iuav.it/Ateneo-cal/2013/05/Il-clima-c/index.htm.

199 CHAMP (http://www.localmanagement.eu/index.php/champ:home?language=en). 

200 EU Cities Adapt (http://eucities-adapt.eu/cms/).

201 Carraro C. (2008).
161

performed. The most common adaptation strategy for winter tourism involves artificial snowmaking; 

however, this kind of intervention implies high costs linked to energy consumption, water resources 

use, installation and maintenance and it is therefore not considered a sustainable adaptation option. 

Coastal zones - Economic assessments of adaptation measures for coastal zones are almost 

inexistent in Italy, with the exception of very specific issues (e.g. MO.S.E. project in the Venice 

lagoon). The European PESETA project provided some estimates, which could be assumed for the 

Italian case. According to these estimates, damages due to sea level rise could amount to 9-42 billion 

Euros per year, depending on the sea level scenario. In addition, adaptation could reduce the costs of 

adverse climate change impacts in the possible range of 7% - 50% in the medium run and up to 70% 

in the long period. 

Arid areas and areas threatened by desertification - At present, there are no available estimates 

concerning the adaptation costs in the sector of drought and desertification for Italy. The main 

reasons for that involve the lack of scientific literature as well as some specific features of the 

phenomenon, that hamper the identification of measures to combat desertification and their economic 

assessment.

Zones prone to floods and landslides - Urgent measures financed by Italy until 2006 for the 

hydro-geological risk amounted to 447.36 million Euros for flood risk and 667.88 million Euros for 

landslide risk. These figures could give an idea of the costs for the defence of the Italian territory from 

hydro-geological disasters. Nevertheless, they do not represent at all the cost of protection in the light 

of the increased risk associated with climate change.

6.2.11 Cooperation in preparing for adaptation202

Several trans-boundary initiatives have been undertaken in the context of the Alpine Convention.

In addition, several bilateral and multilateral initiatives (projects and programmes) on climate change 

research on impacts, adaptation and mitigation were carried out, including capacity building activities 

in developing countries, with the financial support by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 

IMELS. IMELS cooperation initiatives on climate change adaptation with industrialized countries as well 

as with developing countries in support of technology transfer (in the period 2006-2008) include 

multilateral cooperation on climate change, bilateral cooperation with developing countries and 

scientific and technological cooperation.

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7 FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING 

INFORMATION UNDER ARTICLES 10 AND 11 OF THE KYOTO 

PROTOCOL203

7.1 Provision of New and additional resources

Since the Fifth National Communication, Italy has contributed to approximately 13.270 million of USD 

in ODA, according to OECD DAC estimates.

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disbursed around 32 million EUR in bilateral cooperation with 

developing countries for climate change related activities.

The commitment of Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS) to tackle climate 

change and encourage technology transfer in the less developing countries is strongly expressed in 

the Decree (DLGS 13/03/2013). In fact, this latter will define the criteria for the allocation of the 

revenues from auctioning of CO2rights. In particular, it is established that the 50% of those revenues 

will be dedicated to projects addressed to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, 

to improve the technology transfer, as well as all the adaptation measures to climate change in the 

least developed countries. This Decree accomplishes to several targets. For instance, it reflects the EU 

Directive 2003/87/EC related to establish a scheme for greenhouse gas emissions allowance trading 

with the Community, contributes to the Global Fund on Climate Change created in Poznan (COP 14 / 

MOP 4), meets the commitment undertaken in the Durban Conference (COP 17/MOP 7), in favour of 

the less developing countries.

7.2 Multilateral cooperation on climate change 

Between 2009 and 2012, the Italian multilateral environmental activities were characterized as the 

following: supply of financial resources, design and implementation of programmes and projects, 

promotion of transfer of environmentally-sound technologies aiming at reducing the impacts of human 

activities on climate change and support to adaptation measures. 

In particular, IMELS multilateral performances were carried out with several relevant organizations or 

programmes, such as: UNESCO, UNIDO, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Regional 

Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), 

the World Bank (WB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNEP) and the Mediterranean 

Action Plan (MAP). 

In this paragraph, it will be described the activities that are particularly significant to the aim of the 

Communication. 

As mentioned in the previous National Communications, the IMELS continued its activity with 

UNESCO, under the Memorandum of Understanding, mainly the related partnership: “Water 

Programme for Africa, Arid and Water Scarce Zones”. In particular, it produced the second phase of 

the Programme entitled: “Water Programme for Environmental Sustainability – Towards adaptation 

measures to human and climate impacts”, addressing environmental sustainability through adaptation 

 

203 Lead authors: Emanuela Vignola (IMELS) and Alessandro Negrin (IMELS). Contributing authors: Giorgia 

Caropreso (IMELS), Alessandro Celestino (IMELS), Carmen Glorioso (IMELS), Roberta Ianna (IMELS), Vanessa 

Leonardi (IMELS), Alessandro Peru (IMELS), Federica Sprovieri, (IMELS), Fiamma Valentino (IMELS), Margherita 

Vitale (IMELS).

Special Thanks to: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Directorate General for Development Cooperation.
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measures to remediate human and climate impacts on groundwater resources. This programme was 

implemented in several areas (Algeria, Brazil, Caribbean, Iraq, Montenegro, Morocco, Southern Africa, 

Tunisia, Vietnam). In cooperation with the recipient countries, the project developed methodologies 

for the sustainable management of costal aquifer systems and for the protection of groundwater 

dependent ecosystems as well as prevention of contamination of marine ecosystem. The project 

ended in 2010.

IMELS signed an agreement with UNIDO ITPO for the technical assistance to Sub-Saharan African 

countries for the promotion of environmentally-sound technologies and share energy efficiency best 

practices. The purpose of the project is to contribute to the sustainable industrial development of 

selected countries such as Cameroon, Ghana, and Tanzania, especially in respect to the 

energy/environment nexus. The project seeks to identify and mobilize technical assistance measures 

and support the implementation of environmentally-sound investment and energy-efficient technology 

transfer. The project will promote energy efficiency as a method of strengthening the sustainability 

and reducing the carbon footprints of selected industrial processes through training, capacity-building, 

transfer of knowledge and know-how and technical assistance. Project objectives will be achieved by 

supporting the evolution of partnership opportunities into business proposals and providing relevant 

information about the investment potential of environmentally-sound and energy efficient 

technologies.

In Central Eastern Europe, multilateral activities continued to be mostly implemented through the 

Italian Trust Fund (ITF), established, in 2001, within the Regional Environmental Center for 

Central and Eastern Europe (REC), located in Budapest, Hungary.

Since the establishment of the ITF, Italy become a major partner in environmental and sustainability 

solutions in the region served by the REC. Italy’s financial contribution has exceeded EUR 12 million, 

backing the successful implementation of more than 200 projects, across Europe and beyond. 

The funded projects have raised awareness of far-reaching challenges related to the environment, 

climate change and health, and have provided fundamental help in identifying solutions. Cooperation 

between the ITF and the REC has also established and promoted strong networks among the 

beneficiary countries for regional and global solutions and has opened up new opportunities and 

channels for the involvement of Italian and other key stakeholders — government, business, academia 

and civil society. 

With particular reference to climate change and energy issues, several programs were carried out on 

training and capacity building, energy efficiency innovation, trans-boundary cooperation , promotion 

and awareness-raising regarding climate change mitigation and adaptation policies, development and 

promotion of low-carbon solutions

From 2009 to 2012 the following specific projects have been developed within this framework:

Eco-building programme (2010) - Supporting efforts to promote a carbon free society a 

campaign of activities with the aim of disseminating information for various target groups in 

the Central and Eastern European region was developed, channelling messages related to 

novel ECO-building solutions and possibilities to the relevant stakeholders and decision 

makers. The overarching goal was to promote an ECO-building campaign, using existing 

technologies in innovative and integrated design solutions, to demonstrate that significant 

reductions in the environmental impact of energy use in buildings and in greenhouse gas 

emission are possible. These activities increased awareness about the best way to balance two 

important requirements: to reduce the demand for heating, cooling and lighting, at the same 
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time as supplying the necessary heating, cooling and lighting in the most efficient way, based 

as much as possible on renewable energy sources. With the aim of presenting and 

disseminating all the relevant information to as wide an audience as possible, the initiative 

focused on a presentation and an exhibition on ECO-building solutions to be delivered at 

various events in different regions. These events allowed sharing the best available 

technologies and expertise with the industry, stakeholders and decision makers, across

national borders. Activities included: workshops, presentations, discussions and business 

networking with the organisations of various regions, principally concerning the drivers, 

barriers, funding solutions, design principles and best practices of ECO-building. They brought 

local, regional and international entrepreneurs, decision makers and stakeholders together, 

allowing them to exchange views and develop business opportunities for a low carbon future.

Certificate Programme on Corporate Sustainability (2009-2011) - The Certificate Programme 

on Corporate Sustainability objective’s was to promote the approach of sustainability and to 

encourage the integration of economic, social and environmental concerns in core business 

processes by delivering series of courses on sustainable development. The project also aimed 

at developing a better understanding of the role of businesses in attaining the goals of 

sustainable development and encouraging the change in business culture to implement 

patterns of sustainable production that reduces environmental stress. In order to reach to the 

defined objectives, the project developed a multi-faceted capacity building programme on 

sustainability with different training modules, research topics, case studies and site visits for 

the participation of mid-level managers working in different sectors of Turkish businesses. The 

programme was held at Bogazici University, which is one of the most prominent universities of 

Turkey. The programme was shaped up with different “must and elective courses” to increase 

the interest from different industrial and/or service sectors. There was three different training 

modules namely; introducing, financing and implementing corporate sustainability. 

Specifically, some of the modules touched upon how innovation in low-carbon technologies is 

critical to achieving the greenhouse gas emissions reductions necessary to addressing climate 

change while maintaining robust economic growth. In fact, businesses are an important 

engine of the low-carbon innovations that are vital to solving the global climate change 

problem. The aforementioned modules include: Financing Low Carbon Economy; Financial 

Options in the International Carbon Markets for the Energy Industry; Calculation of 

Greenhouse Gas Accounting – Climate Platform; Introduction to the Carbon Management.

Sustainable Development Academy (SDA) (2010 – ongoing) - The “Courses for Sustainability” 

run by the Sustainable Development Academy of the REC (SDA) are the fruit of a hugely 

successful Italian initiative spearheaded by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and 

Sea. They have now a prestigious, nearly ten years long track record. The main project aims 

and the institutional backbone of the programme remained the same throughout, while 

changes in detail reflected the adaptation to the needs of different constituents and to the 

shifts in priorities of environmental policy. The main project aim still is to bring together major 

stakeholders who share the responsibility for forming and implementing environmental policy, 

to do this on a regional basis so that useful and meaningful international and inter-sectoral 

links can be forged, and to offer up-to-date, high-quality and practice-oriented capacity 
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building. All programs have been developed through several modules, articulated in different 

topics and subjects, among which climate change has a prominent role. The training courses 

are carried out in cooperation with different partners, among which academies, such as Venice 

International University, Bosphorus University, and AgroInnova.

First International High-Level Conference on Water, Climate and Health (2012) -The HighLevel Conference on Water, Climate and Health, organised by the IMELS and the Regional 

Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe, was held in Arezzo (Italy), on 

November 23, 2012, under the framework of the Seventh Forum on Health Risk Management 

and the First International Forum on Development, Environment and Health. It provided a 

valuable opportunity to explore critical environmental factors, that endanger human health, to 

identify risk assessment challenges, and to discuss the main policy tools and possible joint 

actions. The conference built on high-level science-policy dialogue, and provided an 

opportunity for national and international discussion and trans-boundary cooperation on 

environment and health as new drivers for green economy and sustainable development. The 

aim of the conference was to identify future steps towards the development of joint 

programmes and activities to tackle key environment and health challenges such as climate 

change, extreme weather events, and water and land management, particularly in South 

Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean and Central Asia.

Europe-China Clean Energy Center (EC2) (2010 – ongoing) - The Europe-China Clean Energy 

Centre is a five-year cooperation project, funded by the European Union. In April 2010, it was 

initiated by the European Commission, the National Energy Administration of China and the 

Ministry of Commerce of China, with the support of IMELS, which is supporting the Chinese 

Government’s efforts to shape a more sustainable, environment-friendly and efficient energy 

sector while tackling climate change challenges. The Centre uses a combination of research 

and technological analysis on clean energy, identification and addressing of technological 

needs, potential projects, best practices and partnership opportunities. EC2 will act as a 

clearing house for new clean technologies, by facilitating the interaction among research 

institutions and by promoting technological analysis, best practices sharing and partnership 

opportunities building. The available knowledge on state-of-the art and emerging technologies 

will be mapped and collected. EC2 will also establish an innovative platform for capacity 

building for Chinese institutions in the field of energy policy and regulation and advise EU and 

Chinese decision-makers on how to develop and enforce policy-making, energy planning and 

reform. A special focus will be put on promoting and organising high level dissemination 

activities on clean energies projects and financing schemes.

USE Efficiency (2009 – 2012) -Energy use directly impacts the environment through the 

extraction and consumption of natural resources for fuel and air emissions and climate 

changes resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels. The environmental degradation resulting 

from climate change is multi-faceted. One simple way of addressing the complex issues 

related to climate change is to increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy, 

thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Within the framework of the Intelligent Energy 

Europe Programme (IEE), developed to help deliver on the ambitious climate change and 
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energy targets that the EU has set for itself, USE Efficiency created a common stream for 

energy efficiency systems in university buildings, where universities and students were 

proposed as shining examples both for energy efficiency solutions and for energy efficiency 

behaviour. The Project involved 10 EU countries (9 Universities and 4 market players), and 

had the aim to improve energy efficiency in university buildings and to establish training 

programs for students. Students were the main actors of the project, learning about energy 

efficiency, working and interacting together with professors and technicians. To act on 

students meant to act on direct future market players in diffusion of public opinions. The wide 

geographical and climatic coverage allowed an important crossover of methodologies even to a 

professional and technological level.

The partnership agreement between IMELS and World Bank is still in place. It consists of a number 

of funds dedicated at purchasing emission reductions from projects related global environmental

protection and transfer clean technologies for sustainable development in least developed countries.

The Global Bioenergy Partnership

GBEP was established to implement the commitments taken by the G8 in the 2005 in Gleneagles Plan 

of Action to support "biomass and biofuels deployment, particularly in developing countries where 

biomass use is prevalent".

Following a consultation process among developing and developed countries, international agencies 

and the private sector, the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) was launched at the 14th session of 

the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14) in New York on 11 May 2006, and in response 

to the 2005 G8 mandate (renewed in 2007, 2008 and 2009), GBEP initiated an international 

discussion on the issues related to bioenergy. 

From 2006 to 2012, GBEP received a renewed mandate by the G8, then, in 2013, a recognition and 

support by the G20.

The Partnership is a forum where voluntary cooperation works towards consensus in the areas of the 

sustainability of bioenergy and its contribution to climate change mitigation. It brings together public, 

private and civil society stakeholders and focuses its activities in three strategic areas: Sustainable 

Development, Climate Change, Food and Energy Security.

GBEP partners now comprise 23 countries and 14 international organizations and institutions: 

Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Mauritania, 

Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Russian Federation, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, 

United Kingdom, United States of America, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), 

European Commission, FAO, IDB, IEA, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UNCTAD, 

UN/DESA, UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, UN Foundation, World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE) and 

European Biomass Industry Association (EUBIA).

A further 26 countries and 11 international organizations and institutions are participating as 

Observers: Angola, Australia, Austria, Cambodia, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, 

Gambia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lao PDR, Madagascar, Malaysia, Morocco, Mozambique, Norway, 

Peru, Rwanda, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe, African Development Bank 

(AfDB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean 

(ECLAC), European Environment Agency (EEA), Global Environment Facility (GEF), International Fund 

for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Organization of American States (OAS), Union Economique et 

Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA), World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), World Bank and the World 

Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Chair of the Partnership is Corrado Clini, Director General, Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea, 

Italy; Co-Chair is André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Brazil. The 

GBEP Secretariat, hosted at FAO Headquarters in Rome with the support of Italy, is the principal 

coordinator of the Partnership communications and activities. 

Since its launch, GBEP has made significant advances in its programme of work toward sustainable 

bioenergy. In January 2011, GBEP released the "GBEP Common Methodological Framework for GHG 

Lifecycle Analysis of Bioenergy - Version One" for the use of policy makers and stakeholders when 

assessing GHG emissions associated with bioenergy and to make GHG lifecycle analyses (LCAs) more 

transparent.
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In December 2011, GBEP published its report on sustainability indicators for bioenergy, providing an 

invaluable resource in helping countries assess and develop sustainable production and use of 

bioenergy.

The GBEP Working Group on Capacity Building for Sustainable Bioenergy (Working Group) was 

established in May 2011 to promote the dissemination, use, and implementation of the outcomes of 

the GBEP Task Forces on GHG Methodologies and on Sustainability through activities and projects. 

Since its establishment the Working Group has been focusing on the followings:

- Sustainable Modern Bioenergy in the ECOWAS region. Three forums were organized: in Bamako 

(Mali) to initiate a regional dialogue to support the development of regional and national bioenergy 

strategies; in Rome to discuss biomass resource assessment and mapping, and in Brasilia to discuss 

agricultural productivity and feedstock conversion, in order to further facilitate effective policy 

planning for a sustainable bioenergy sector in the region.

- Raise awareness and share data and experience on the implementation of GBEP indicators. Three 

workshops were organized to share very interesting experiences and lessons learned from the pilot 

testing of the GBEP sustainability indicators in various countries. These events highlighted that the 

indicators are useful tools to catalyze flow of data from the bioenergy sector to research and 

government, that will then use it to develop policies to guide the industry practices.

- Study Tour for Capacity Building. A Bioenergy Week was held in Brasilia in 2013 consisting in short 

training courses analyzing technical and public policy aspects of bioenergy development, in line with 

GBEP 24 indicators of sustainability. Experts from developing countries in the Americas, Africa and 

Asia had the opportunity to learn from positive experiences in the sustainable production and use of 

bioenergy that could guide the design and implementation of bioenergy policies in their countries.

- Initial discussions on capacity building activities on woody biomass, bioenergy atlas and food 

security.

7.3 Bilateral cooperation with developing countries

Inspired by the Millennium Development Goals and by the targets set by the Multilateral 

Environmental Agreements, Italy is still keen to continue the activities mentioned in the Fifth National 

Communication. In order to be coherent with the huge efforts already made in the previous years, the 

geographical focus has not been changed. Therefore, the areas and countries benefiting from the 

Italian bilateral cooperation are: North Africa, China, India, the Mediterranean region, Central and 

Eastern European, Iraq, Latin America, Pacific islands. 

The following sub-paragraphs will provide the description of the most relevant projects.

7.3.1 Cooperation on climate change with Asian and Middle East countries 

IMELS started the Sino-Italian Cooperation Program for Environmental Protection (SICP) with the 

People's Republic of China, more than ten years ago. In this way, it was possible to develop over 

200 project lines, for the environmental monitoring and management, mostly contributed at 

strengthening Chinese national and local institutions, protecting and conserving natural resources, 

water management, waste-to-energy, developing renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, 

sustainable urban planning and eco-building, environmental protection in the poorest regions, 

developing low-emission transport systems and technologies, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity 

protection and forest management. About 60 projects were strictly related to climate change activities 

and have been identified in terms of the objectives and programs established in the United Nations 

Convention on Climate Change, while the others can also be considered useful to create and enabling 

environment for mitigation and adaptation measures.

Project formulation has been entrusted to a permanent Sino-Italian task force made up of experts 

from IMELS, Chinese Ministries and Agencies, scientific Institutions, Italian and Chinese Universities. 

This task force constitutes the Program Management Offices (PMO) based in Beijing and Shanghai.

IMELS entrusted the Italian Trade Commission, Beijing and Shanghai Offices, as project manager of 

this task force. The Italian Trade Commission ensures the cooperation of Italian enterprises interested 
173

in joining the program design and co-funding.

Since 2000, in the framework of SICP, IMELS has co-financed projects with 185 million €, either 

through direct contribution to the Chinese partnering entities or through the Trust Funds established in 

the World Bank and other Multilateral Funds. Other co-financing has been granted by the Chinese 

institutions and Italian companies involved in the program, the United Nations, the Global 

Environmental Facility, the Word Bank and the Multilateral Fund for the Montreal Protocol on the 

Protection of the Ozone Layer, with at least 165 million €. The total value of the projects developed so 

far or currently on-going is of 350 million €.

In many cases, the projects have created the opportunity for additional programs in key sectors for 

the sustainable development of Chinese economy, developed by the Chinese authorities jointly with 

the Italian companies already involved in the bilateral cooperation, without further support from the 

Italian Ministry for the Environment.

In 2010, in cooperation with the National Development and Reform Commission, IMELS launched the 

Sino-Italian Climate Change Cooperation Program (SICP), a specific cooperation program aiming at 

implementing joint initiatives in the field of mitigation and adaptation to climate change, transfer and 

promotion of low-carbon technologies, studies and researches as scientific support to decision-making. 

This programme is still ongoing.

Under SICP, IMELS and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) established the SinoItalian Facility aimed at supporting joint projects for the development, transfer and promotion of 

technologies able to reduce GHGs emissions as well as capacity building actions for CDM projects 

development.

A specific activity line has been developed for supporting the Beijing Municipality’s Program for 2008 

Green Olympics. 17 projects have been implemented, focusing on low-emissions transport systems in 

Beijing, including a zero-emissions fleet in the Olympic Village; solar energy applications for the 

Olympic Village; air quality monitoring and atmospheric pollution control, including the establishment 

of 2 advanced laboratories; sustainable urban planning and energy efficiency, water resources 

recovery and management.

In cooperation with the Venice International University, an impressing capacity building action has 

been implanted. This action aimed at providing a comprehensive training on Sustainable Development 

for key public officers and business experts. The Advanced Training Program on Sustainable 

Development and Environmental Management has trained around 10.000 Chinese beneficiaries.

In 2003, IMELS started the cooperation with Iraq, mainly with the Free Iraq foundation (IF) for the 

environmental restoration and conservation of the water resources in the marshes of Southern 

Mesopotamia. The “New Eden” project was initiated with the collaboration of IF and the involvement of 

the Iraqi Ministries of Environment (MoE), Municipalities and Public Works (MMPW) and Water 

Resources (MWR). It was realised the “New Eden Master Plan for Integrated Water Resources 

management in the Marshland Areas”. Indeed, IMELS proceeded with transferring technology and 

know-how, so that the Iraqis themselves could then take over the long term implementation of the 

project, revising it as conditions change and following up by encouraging the adequate development of 

training curricula to prepare future environmental managers. The plan for the 2008-2009 included 

several projects and activities that were developed under the framework of the New Eden Master Plan. 

Finally, the activities for the period 2010-2014 are dedicated to make the MoE able to joint and 
174

implement the International Conventions on environmental protection, mainly UNFCCC and Kyoto 

Protocol, and to create a National Centre for the studying of Climate Change inside the Ministry.

In India, the cooperation activity is still active and ruled under the Memorandum of Understanding on 

“Co-operation in the Area of Climate Change and Development and Implementation of Projects under 

the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol”, signed in 2005, with the Indian Ministry of 

Environment and Forests (MoEF) and on a Memorandum of Understanding on “Indo-Italian Renewable 

Energy Cooperation” signed in 2007 with the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). A 

successful bilateral project is the “feasibility study on small-scale biomass power generation”, the 

project aims at developing new opportunities of cooperation between Italy and India in the renewable 

energy sector, by studying the adaptation to EU standards and to different biomass feedstock of a 

small scale Indian pilot plant for power generation based on biomass gasification, developed with the 

Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore).

7.3.2 Cooperation in the Mediterranean region and the African region on climate change

In the framework of the “Mediterranean Renewable Energy Programme (MEDREP)”, largely 

described in the previous communications, IMELS has developed a cooperation program for the 

promotion of the renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, low-emission technologies and 

sustainable development strategies in collaboration with Universities, Research Centres, Enterprises, 

International Institutions, local Agencies and Public Administrations. 

The Mediterranean Renewable Energy Centre (MEDREC), established in 2004, in Tunis, in collaboration 

with the Ministry for Industry of Tunisia and the Tunisian National Agency for Energy Conservation is 

still working. It is “the Northern African regional focal point” of the Renewable Energy and Energy 

Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), constituted as a voluntary multi-stakeholder partnership, contributing 

to the implementation of Agenda 21 and Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI), with the 

objective to expand the global market for renewable energy and energy efficiency.

MEDREC provided financial and technical assistance to the establishment and management of the 

Solar Water Heater Subsidy Facilities in Tunisia and Egypt, with the aim to promote individual and 

collective solar water heating installations in the residential, tertiary and industrial sectors. 

Furthermore, the Center has continued its activity in creating professional capacities in the region, in 

the field of the Kyoto Protocol and in other fields, such as Bio-Energies, organizing several training 

cycles aiming at addressing the topic of CDM projects development and the theme of Bio-Energies, 

under a practical and operational point of view. Participants, from major private and public institutions 

of the region, were provided with presentations of concrete experiences while addressing theoretical 

and technical issues. 

In the framework of the MEDREP programme, IMELS, with the technical support of MEDREC, has been 

co financing projects in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Tunisia and Morocco, designed to: 

delivering electricity to isolated rural populations;

addressing the global approach of renewable energy introduction in the building sector in 

coherence with the energy efficiency policy; 

disseminating cooling systems for the food conservation, powered by renewable;

implementing innovative financial mechanisms to support the deployment of renewable 

energies (Mediterranean Investment Facility-PROSOL); 
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identifying and promoting project opportunities in the framework of the Clean Development 

Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol, creating the suitable conditions of investment for Italian 

private sector. 
176

The PROSOL project and the Mediterranean Investment Facility (MIF)

Within the framework of the Mediterranean Renewable Energy Programme (MEDREP), as already

described in the past Communication, a financing mechanism to support the Tunisian market of Solar 

Water Heating (SWH) systems has been jointly implemented by the Tunisian Government and the 

United Nations Environment Programme - Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics 

(UNEP/DTIE), with the financial support of the Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea of Italy and 

the technical support of the Mediterranean Renewable Energy Centre (MEDREC).

Based on the Tunisian Government’s strategy, PROSOL supports the solar water heating market and 

provides training for local SWH suppliers. The PROSOL has proved to be a great success: since 

February 2005 it has led to the installation of a value of 122.500 systems, for a total of 360.000 m2

of collectors; the whole turnover has reached 95 million EUR.

The PROSOL project has been presented to the CDM Executive Board for registration as the first 

“Programmatic CDM” in the Mediterranean Region.

On the basis of the successful conclusion of Prosol, the IMELS, in collaboration with UNEP-DTIE, has 

decided to launch the Mediterranean Investment Facility (MIF) initiative aiming at the development,

over the period 2009-2012, of several projects having an important impact on CO2 emissions by 

diversifying the use of small scale renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies by targeting 

different niche markets. New projects have been implemented in Tunisia (Prosol Collective and 

Industrial), Egypt and Montenegro. 

The MIF will have the participation of public and private sector investors to: 

- Provide support to market development: technical assistance to develop financing mechanism (ex: 

PROSOL), targeted capacity building, development of CDM (PROSOL)

- Provide incentives for commercial and development banks to lend to renewable energy and energy 

efficiency projects (soft interest rates, maturation, grace period, partial guarantees)

- Provide attractive financing conditions to residential sector (green appliances program, interest rate 

incentives, green mortgages).

In Egypt, because of the political instability during last three years, IMELS’s action encountered some 

difficulties. However, IMELS was able to maintain the following activities: 

- Project for the Sustainable Development of Environmental Sound Management in South Sinai 

Coast Line (Ras Mohamed National Park). The project, which started in 2005 and finished in 

2012, was addressed to improve the sustainable development of the area. In this way, it was 

lunched a pilot project on eco-tourism, as well as an integrated strategy for nature 

conservation and environmental education. 

- Project: “Innovative Means to Protect Water Resources in the Mediterranean Coastal Areas 

through re-injection of Treated Water” (2011-2014). This project is financed under the 

program Sustainable Water Integrated Management - Demonstration Projects, pilot 

demonstration projects related to the sustainable integrated management of water in the 

southern Countries of the Mediterranean, in the framework of Environmental Neighborhood 

Partnership Instruments (ENPI) of EuropeAid, and IMELS is the coordinator. The IMPROWARE 

main objective is to demonstrate and promote environmentally sustainable water 

management policies and practices in Egypt and Tunisia, with focus on wastewater treatment 

activities directed to produce water of appropriate quality levels for its successive re-injection 

into coastal aquifers. Specifically, the project contributes to contrast aquifer deterioration by 

saltwater intrusion due to over-extraction and climate change and to increase water 

availability for the local communities in the rural demonstration sites, but also to implement 

"capacity building" activity at inter-institutional level and dissemination of knowledge and 
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practices developed in the project. The activities mainly consist of modelling and simulation 

component related to the recharge of an aquifer in the area of Wadi Al Nutrun in Egypt and 

the upgrade of an existing wastewater treatment plant at Korba in Tunisia, including 

downstream infiltration basins. The application of innovative technologies and best practices 

for protecting water resources in the selected areas has the potential to be replicated in other 

ENPI Mediterranean countries by widely disseminating results and “lessons learned”, 

demonstrating best practices and state-of-the-art technologies to public institutions. The 

project envisages setting in place a broad cooperation to improve planning and management 

skills at sub-regional and regional (Mediterranean) levels and empowering decision-makers 

and societies at large to tackle the increasing demand for water resources, adapt to climate 

change and act effectively against desertification.

7.3.3 Cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries on climate change

In Central and Eastern Europe, IMELS’s activity has been active, since 2002. The activities are 

developed under Memorandum of Understanding: “Environmental Protection Co-Operation”, signed 

with the former Ministry for Protection of Natural Resources and Environment of the Republic of Serbia 

and Montenegro. This agreement was designed to develop a programme of bilateral cooperation in the 

fields of sustainable development, institutional strengthening and harmonization to both International 

and European legislative standards according to funds available from the Italian Law 84/2001 on 

Balkans’ reconstruction, and it is still operational. 

Since then, the cooperation program has expanded with more than 60 projects implemented in 

Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Turkey, 

Hungary, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, mainly dedicated to: 

strengthen local and national capacities on environmental governance;

transfer know-how and technologies to prevent and control environmental pollution and water 

management; 

promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. 

In the former Republic of Serbia, IMELS is continuing the activities launched in 2003, related to the 

sustainable requalification of the Municipality of Pancevo, considered as the heaviest polluted 

industrial areas, as well as the legal and technical assistance programme to facilitate the Kyoto 

Protocol ratification and for the preparation of the “First National Communication”. The Italian Ministry 

has been providing institutional capacity building activities, to promote the Green Certificates incentive 

mechanism, involving representatives of the Serbian Ministry of Energy and Mining and the Serbian 

Ministry of International Economic relations. 

It is ongoing a scientific collaboration between the Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the 

hydro meteorological institute of the University of Belgrade and Serbia, for the second phase of the 

project SINTA (simulations of Climate Change in the Mediterranean area). SINTA aims to improve the 

scientific expertise of the institution responsible for the preparation of distribution models of air 

pollution, which in addition to the emission inventory, facilitates the preparation of air quality plans 

and promotion of mitigation and adaptation activities. 

IMELS is also participating in the "SEE Programme, 3rd Call for Proposals – OrientGate: a structured 

network for integration of climate knowledge into policy and territorial planning", in collaboration with 
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Puglia Region, INGV, Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change and the Serbian 

Hydrometeorological Service.

It is under construction a waste management system, to reduce the amount of waste disposed in the 

landfill of the Municipality of Pancevo (Pancevo Action Programme). An important synergy has been 

established between the activities of the IMELS and the activities carried out by the Italian 

Cooperation Program of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Serbia with the use of funds at its disposal. 

These resources will help to meet part of the project, through the design of a system of separate 

waste collection, construction of ecological islands and the construction of an air separation plant dry/ 

wet - The building, that will contain the plant, was already built and is currently in the training phase 

for the equipment.

The MoE has provided a human resources in the field of technical support activities for the functioning 

of DNA and the development of related procedures for data collection and the development of 

regulations for the implementation of the National GHG Inventory, in collaboration with EPS (Electric 

Power of Serbia Incumbent ), with the aim of defining the Carbon Emission Factor.

A "Report on CERs: legal nature and related taxation scenario" has been produced and it is ongoing a 

study in the field of primary legislation for the management of CERs (Certified Emission Reductions) 

cd "CERSS Management".

Representatives of the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Serbia 

attended the first session of a training course organized by the Italian Ministry for the Environment in 

Brussels on "European Institutions and EU funding programs for environmental projects." The second 

session on CDM PDDs took place in the municipality of Leskovac, Kragujevac and Subotica. It was also 

realized the third round of the DNA Training of the Ministry of Serbia in the framework of technical 

assistance in order to strengthen the administrative capacity of the same in the monitoring of the EUETS and CDM Awareness System.

Regarding the Acquis Communitaire, it was implemented a legal assistance focused on:

- primary and secondary legislation relating to air quality;

- primary legislation on environmental liability;

- Community and Italian legislation in the field of energy efficiency;

- primary legislation relating to the management of the CERs;

- Report containing the guidelines for the development of secondary legislation in the field of 

protection of the air;

-Report on the Italian legislation on energy efficiency.

The signature of the Annex XI confirms the continuation of bilateral cooperation with the Ministry of 

Economic Development, Energy and Environment, with particular regard to the support to Italian 

companies, particularly technical assistance for EU-ETS and Italian industry in Kragujevac and a CDM 

validation (landfill capturing biogas).

In Montenegro, a cooperation program with the Ministry for Tourism and Environmental Protection 

started in 2004, with the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding followed by three technical 

annexes.

The aforementioned MoU has been replaced by the Cooperation Agreement for Environmental 

Protection in Podgorica, signed in November 2012 by the two governments represented by the 

Ministers of the Environment.

This update was necessary to adapt the contents of the Agreement of 2004, to the recent 

amendments to the legislation of Montenegro, with particular reference to the rules relating to the VAT 
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rules and public procurement. The purpose of the agreement is the continuation and deepening of the 

eight years successful cooperation, recognizing the need for additional activities, projects and 

initiatives addressed to promote sustainable development, in line with the requirements of the 

accession process to the European Union, in Montenegro. Among the activities:

- legal assistance in alignment with the objectives of environmental and climate Acquis Communitaire;

- support to institutional development and capacity building;

- monitoring of environmental quality in accordance with EU standards;

- support for environmental management, particularly in the areas of air quality, climate change, 

prevention and control of pollution and protection of nature;

- promotion of development of energy sources that are environmentally friendly, in particular 

renewable energy;

- promotion of sustainable tourism, transport, sustainable use of natural resources and management 

of national parks and other protected areas;

- implementation of initiatives related to energy efficiency programs, particularly in the field of 

building constructions;

- protection of the marine environment and the coastal area, starting from the creation of the 

partnership "Adriatic Sea Coastal Areas and River basin Management system" ( ADRICOSM ) within 

the framework of the " Mediterranean Action Plan " (MAP) ;

- establishing cooperation in "International and European Programs".

In the Republic of Albania, IMELS signed the Memorandum of Understanding, on 31 May 2005, on 

“Cooperation in the field of the Clean Development Mechanism under article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol”. 

The agreement aimed at facilitating the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, through legal support to 

the national competent authority (DNA), and technical support for potential CDM project assessment, 

in the field of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, waste and forest management. Due to the 

high interest of the Albanian Government toward the management of coastal areas and river basin 

water quality, several projects have been implemented in these sectors. ADRICOSM-STAR (Integrated 

river basin and Coastal zone management system), started in 2007, aiming at the development and 

partial implementation of an integrated coastal area and river and urban water management system, 

that considers both observational and modelling components. Area of investigation was the Bojana 

river Delta between Montenegro and Albania, and the Montenegro coastal area which is naturally 

affected by Albanian marine waters. 

Moreover, another project in this sector financed by IMELS was the “Monitoring of water resources in 

the Erzeni river basin”. Its main objective was to collect environmental data regarding the water 

resources in the Erzeni river basin and, subsequently, assessed and elaborated the availability and 

quality of water resources at basin level, together with preliminary evaluations and recommendations 

on the water management systems. 

Considering the Albanian air quality issue, IMELS has decided to supply technical assistance for the 

implementation of Air Pollutants Emission Inventories and for Air Quality Planning. The target of this 

assistance was first of all the support to the republic of Albania in the compilation of a national 

emission inventory for the integration of Albania in Long Range Tran boundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) 

Convention and then the support to the Albanian team to develop capacity to assess and plan air 

quality on local/urban scale, in particular in urban and industrial areas regulated in the frame of the 

EU Air Quality Framework Directive 96/92/CE and relative “daughters” Directives. These activities 
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represented the core of the project “Technical support services for pollutant emissions inventories 

implementation and air quality planning in Albania”. All the collaboration activities have been 

completed.

In Republic of Macedonia, IMELS has been cooperating since august 2005, when a Memorandum of 

Understanding on “Cooperation in the field of Environment and Sustainable Development” was signed. 

The cooperation program recently has been reduced due to lower availability of financial resources, 

without hindering the completion of projects started in the areas of environmental protection, the use 

of renewable energy sources, the use of energy efficiency measures, the prevention and reduction of 

environmental pollution, legal aid for the transposition of the Acquis Communitaire, and promoting 

sustainable development.

ORIENTGATE – A structured network for the integration of climate knowledge into policy 

and territorial planning

The OrientGate project aims to implement concerted and coordinated climate adaptation actions 

across South Eastern Europe (SEE). The partnership comprises 19 financing partners, 11 associates 

and three observers, covering 13 countries, and the role of the partners can be grouped into three 

main categories:

• National hydrometeorological services, responsible for monitoring climate variability and risk.

• Territorial development policy organisations, responsible for translating climate variability and 

climate risk assessment information into territorial development planning instruments.

• Scientific institutions. 

Together they will explore climate risks faced by coastal, rural and urban communities, contributing to 

a better understanding of the impacts of climate variability and climate change on water regimes, 

forests and agroecosystems. 

The way in which OrientGate aims to coordinate climate change adaptation efforts in SEE countries is 

by building a lasting partnership between communities that produce knowledge and experimental 

studies, and communities that apply that knowledge.

The project aims to:

• develop a comprehensive and consistent methodology for assessing the risks arising as a result of 

climate variability and change;

• harmonise risk assessment and communication on the part of hydro meteorological services;

• encourage the use of acquired climate adaptation knowledge and experience in territorial planning 

and development;

• enhance capacity to reconcile the risks and opportunities inherent in environmental changes, 

including rising temperatures.

The core output to be developed by OrientGate is a set of web tools, designed to provide access to 

data and metadata from climate observations and simulations that will be available through a data 

platform connected to the European Climate Adaptation Platform.

Other project outputs will include six pilot studies of specific climate adaptation exercises developed 

by the project’s three thematic centres (Forest and Agriculture, Drought, Water and Coasts, and Urban 

Adaptation and Health); capacity-building seminars and workshops; and a working partnership among 

the hydrometeorological services of SEE countries.

In particular, one of the pilot studies is located in the Italian region of Apulia and it will concentrate on 

the production of tools and guidelines for regional and local institutions in order to promote effective 

planning for the management and protection of Apulian water resources and coastal environments. 

The planning will take into account impacts, vulnerabilities and risks related to climatic changes with a 

special focus on extreme events such as heat waves, draughts and intense rainfalls, which are all 

causes of water resource imbalances.

A final book collecting the lessons learned and a set of policy guidelines will be published as final 

output of the project.

The SEE Transnational Cooperation Programme which finances Orientgate, has developed a 

capitalization strategy to strengthen links between projects on similar topics enabling project teams to 

consolidate achievements and create greater leverage. OrientGate has been selected as lead project 
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for the Thematic Pole (TP) on Climate Change Adaptation.

(www.southeast-europe.net/en/achievements/ capitalisation_strategy).

Financed by: South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme

Duration: 30 months (07/2012 - 12/2014)

7.3.4 Cooperation on climate change in Latin America

In Brazil, the Italian bilateral cooperation started in 2004, under the Memorandum of Understanding 

signed with the Brazilian Ministries of Science and Technology and the Environment. This activity has 

produced relevant results, such as:

IMELS continued its support to the programme: “Amazon Key Stone Initiatives”, for the 

environmental defence of the protected areas of Acre, Purus, Itenez and Mamorè, in the 

Amazon. In 2010, it presented the results of this project, which consisted in several initiatives 

addressed to the information and environmental education. 

In 2010, IMELS started a joint programme with the World Centre for bio fuel production, 

based in the State of Sao Paolo. The Programme involves: the Brazilian Ministries of Science 

and Technology and the Environment, state agencies (Secretaria de Agricultura e 

Abastecimento; Istituto Agronomico), the University of Sao Paolo and Campinasa, public and 

private fundations (Fundacao de Estudos e Pesquisas Agricolas e Florestais; Fundacao de 

Apoio Agricola, Forum Das Americas), and producers association (Sociedade dos Tecnicos, 

Acucareros e Alcooleiros do Brasil -STAB). The Programme is dedicated to the recognition of 

environmental problems, case studies’ analysis, exchange of experiences between Brazilian 

and Italian experts, identification of possible joint programmes for institutions and companies 

to be addressed to World Bank or European Commission.

In 2011, IMELS took an important role in the International Conference: “Bright Cities”, held in 

Rio de Janeiro. The Conference was organized by Brazilian government, in collaboration with 

the United Nations. Its main objective was to promote the sustainable development of the 

urban areas, in view of the World Football Champion 2014 and Olympic Games 2016. In this 

occasion, IMELS presented the best practices and the technologies related to the China 

Programme, mainly Beijing Olympic Games 2008 and Shanghai Expo 2010. 

In 2011, an Agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency of Rio de Janeiro State was 

signed for the elaboration of the programme of sustainable development of the State in the 

following areas: quality of the urban environments, water use management, hydrogeological 

instability prevention, natural heritage increasing (especially the forests), restoration of 

polluted sites. Indeed, under the same framework, IMELS was requested to take a role in the 

favelas requalification.

In 2012, IMELS promoted a joint programme with the State of Pernambuco for the realization 

of a Centre on mitigation and adaptation of climate change, in collaboration with the Euro 

Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change, an Italian excellence centre on this issue. Indeed, 

the programme foreseen the participation of IMELS in the protection of biodiversity and 

sustainability of the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha. 
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In 2012, IMELS signed a programme with a local Non Governmental Organization, active in 

the promotion of sustainable development projects in Brazil. The scope of the programme is 

the calculation the carbon foot printing of the textile products. OSKLEN Group was chosen as a 

case study for the corporate social responsibility. 

In occasion of Rio+20 Conference, IMELS signed a bilateral agreement with the Brazilian 

Ministry of Energy for the promotion of sustainable energy. This latter points to develop joint 

initiatives between Italian and Brazilian companies in the sector of renewable energies.

Italy and Brazil hold the Presidency of the "Global Bio Energy Partnership" (GBEP) – see the relative 

box on GEF.

In Mexico, the activity proceeds under the Memorandum of Understanding on “Cooperation on 

afforestation, reforestation and bioenergy for forest resources”, signed with the National Forestry 

Commission, in 2008. Under this framework, it was established a Working Group with the objective of 

monitoring project activities on bioenergies. The projects developed are the following:

MEXISCO Feasibility studies of solar industrial refrigeration in the food and agro industry. The 

project aimed to develop and analyse the application of solar refrigeration systems for the 

food and agro industry in Mexico using as bases the experience gained through the EU project 

MEDISCO (www.medisco.org). The solar thermally driven cooling concepts resulted, under 

local conditions, economically and socially sustainable. The objective has been to develop a 

high performing solar driven cooling and refrigeration concept, aiming at the best compromise 

towards innovative technologies use, primary energy savings and economic issues. The 

concept has been developed through theoretical and simulation activities. 

MEXISCO 2: Programmatic CDM on Solar Cooling in the Food and Agro Industry in Mexico -

Mexisco 2 has been elaborated in parallel with Mexisco 1 and finalised to identify a 

methodology for a programmatic CDM in solar cooling in the food and agro industry.

SECOND GENERATION BIOFUEL: CELLULOSIC ETHANOL - This project, in cooperation with the 

relevant Mexican partners (SEMARNAT and CONAFOR), evaluated the roadmap for a 

innovative solution in the production of second generation ethanol from Mexican feedstocks, 

which do not compete with food, at price competitive with fossil fuels. In particular this project 

focused on the feasibility study of the process to produce 2nd generation bioethanol from the 

best sustainable mexican biomasses; the identified biomasses on one hand had to guarantee a 

high cellulose/hemicellulose yield per hectare and on the other hand had to allow a high global 

energy efficiency and a low environmental and social impact.

7.3.5 South Pacific Small Islands Developing States

Since 2007, the Government of Italy has strongly supported the Governments of the Pacific Small 

Island States, namely: Republic of the Fiji Islands, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall 

Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Nauru, Republic of Palau, Independent State of 

Papua New Guinea, Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, 

Republic of Vanuatu, Cook Islands and Niue. Indeed, in 2008, the Government of Austria and the 

Municipality of Milan joined the Government of Italy as a donor to the program.

The program was dedicated to adaptation to climate change, protection from vulnerability to extreme 

climate variability and mitigation of harmful emissions, generated by energy utilization. It was 
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designed to serve as a catalyst for attracting investments in the energy sector from the International 

Financial Institutions and the private sector. The projects are implemented under two different 

modalities: direct financing and financing through an international organization (the International 

Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN), and implementation is carried out by a national Agent 

designated for this purpose by each Government. The Italian Government has designated the EuroMediterranean Centre for Climate Change, to coordinate all operations under the direct financing 

modality.

According to the Agreement established among the Parties of the Programme, two bodies were 

created for the cooperative activities: a Joint Working Group and a Joint Committee. The first one for 

overseeing and managing project preparation activities aimed at identifying the objectives, specific 

cooperation sub-sectors, activities in each sub-sector, and cost of each project; while, the second one 

for approving project budgets and work plans, and decides upon the most suitable management 

mechanisms, including monitoring and dissemination of results and lessons learned. 

The objectives of the program reflected the priorities established by the Governments of the Pacific 

SIDS. They consisted of the development of measures to adapt to the adverse effects of climate 

change, the development of local renewable energy sources and biofuels as well as the wide 

dissemination of their use to address energy security, while increasing access to energy services, 

reduce emission of green-house gases, and strive for sustainable transport. Moreover, the program 

was designed to strengthen national capacities for the establishment of national energy policies and 

strategies, as well as markets, and to ensure sustainability through the development and deployment 

of specialized human resources at both the national and community levels. The implementation of the 

program was carried out with the involvement and support of the beneficiary communities.

The components of the Programme are the following:

 Development of climate change adaptation measures - Assessment of current and future 

climate changes in the tropical cyclones distribution, intensity and frequency; seasonal 

forecasts; expansion of the periodic bulletin "Island Climate Update" and development of the 

"Yearly Climate Assessment"; strengthening of early warning systems.

 Assessment of energy requirements and strengthening of energy policies and action plans -

identification of the most appropriate renewable energy mix capable of meeting the islands 

energy needs. Therefore: technology assessment of energy requirements and infrastructure 

for the mid-and long-term; development of sustainable transport technologies, including nonmotorized solutions; development of human resources specialized in the planning, 

implementation and management of energy policies, strategies and plans; development of 

national and regional energy markets, as well as of the appropriate financial instruments.

 Rural Electrification - Development and utilization of the photovoltaic technology, for new 

installations and rehabilitation of existing facilities, in those areas where solar energy is the 

most abundant renewable source; development and utilization of other renewable energy 

technologies – such as mini hydro and wind.

 Development of biofuels - Assessment of the viability of biofuel production from diversified 

local sources; feasibility studies and pilot projects/testing for the utilization of biofuels for local 

transportation and power generation; technical studies and process analysis for biofuels 

production. 
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Development of renewable energy sources - According to each country priorities, the program will 

include the following feasibility studies and pilot projects: photovoltaic stand-alone electrification in 

urban areas; photovoltaic integration into the national grid; wind energy data collection and resource 

assessment; biogas from household waste and waste management; assessment of the geothermal, 

tidal and wave power generation potential; small hydropower resource assessment.

7.4 Scientific co-operation

IMELS is also strongly committed to support programme on scientific research and technology transfer 

in strategic areas, like China, in collaboration with noteworthy research centre. These projects are 

dedicated to improve these regions capacity to tackle climate change by fostering research.

In the framework of the Sino-Italian Cooperation Program for Environmental Protection (SICP) several 

scientific and technological research projects have been implemented, in collaboration with the 

National Development and Reform Commission, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, the 

main Chinese scientific institutions, Chinese Municipalities, companies and prestigious universities, 

such as Tsinghua University in Beijing, Tongji University in Shanghai and Jiaotong University in 

Shanghai.

In 2011, the first phase of the Sino-Italian Climate Change Cooperation Program started. It consisted 

of the following projects:

- Xinjiang Climate Change Implementation Plan. The project’s objective was to support Xinjiang 

province to develop and improve the Regional Climate Change Implementation Plan. The study tour, 

training and workshops were organized to promote the understanding on national policy of 

environmental protection and climate change. The final workshop was held in the middle of 2012, with 

the publication of Xinjiang Climate Change Implementation Plan.

- Media Communications and Public Relations. The project had the objective to build the multi-sector 

mechanism and multi level network for climate change communication, in China. The project produced 

“China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change report (2011)”, Media Training for 

addressing climate change before Durban Conference, a series of workshops and dissemination 

materials for promoting social awareness.

- CCS & CO2 Comprehensive Utilization in Northern Shaanxi Area. The project pointed to identify a 

feasible approach and the best technologies for large scale Carbon Capture, Use and Storage 

implementation in Northern Shaanxi province. The project completed the geological investigation, data 

collection and interpretation, and CCS technology study. The activity of Northern Shaanxi CO2 

emission sources investigation and analysis, with the focus on non-power industry is still ongoing.

- Capacity Building of Costal Ecosystems to Climate Change Adaptation. The Project was implemented 

in Wenzhou city, involving on the Chinese side the State Oceanic Administration, Zhejiang Provincial 

Ocean and Fisheries Bureau, Zhejiang Mariculture Research Institute. The objective was to build a 

methodology in Wenzhou to evaluate the climate change effect on the coastal and marine 

environment, and identify section of the coastal and marine environment. High ecological value area 

and environmental indicators were identified in the application of Remote Sensing analysis and

elaboration of thematic maps. The key indicators of human activities and climate change pressure 

were defined.

- Training Program on Climate Change and Sustainable Development. The training program consists of 

specific courses on “capacity building on climate change” and “climate change: policy, conventions and 

statistical systems”. The training aimed at providing Chinese participants with theoretical instruments 
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and practical cases on Italian and European experiences, in the field of environmental protection and 

climate change. A total amount of 80 participants, per year, from central and provincial Development 

Reform Committee and other related institutions attend the training.

New processes and technologies are being developed in the following sectors: 

- Air pollution prevention and control (Suzhou, Beijing, Lanzhou, Shanghai, Urumqi): development of 

an innovative pollution source monitoring system aiming at reducing emissions, through a program to 

take action on traffic and industrial sources (2003-2011), including the establishment of an advanced 

chemical laboratory, in Beijing, under the Green Olympics Program.

- Sustainable transport: development of an advanced laboratory for vehicles emissions control and an 

“Intelligent Transport System” for the regulation of urban traffic and to reduce consumption and 

emissions (2005-2008), integrated by an Intelligent Bus Operation Control System (IBOCS), to 

optimize public transport fleet management. Additional R&D activities focus on biofuels and hybrid 

vehicles (2007-09). Technology transfer activities address low emission solutions for public 

transportation such as anti-particulates filters (2008-09) and low emission CNG engines (2004), which 

activity has been continuing among the technical partners. Viajeo (2009-2012) The project, cofinanced through European Commission funds from DG Research, builds on the experience of ITS and 

IBOCS project and aims at designing, demonstrating and validating an open platform to facilitate data 

sharing and exchange from different sources and provide data processing and management to support 

and improve urban sustainable transportation.

- Renewable Energies and Energy efficiency. Testing of a diagnosis model for the evaluation of the 

energy and environmental performances in the Shanghai industrial sector (2005-06); design and 

testing urban and industrial energy saving plans in Jinan, Suzhou and Taiyuan (2006-2008); 

exploitation of geothermal energy with application of the re-injection technology in Tibet and the 

Tianjin area (2005-06); scientific cooperation in the field of clean coal, including carbon capture and 

storage and ultrasupercritical technologies (2008), in view of development of pilot actions (2009-10).

- Hydrogen innovative technologies: promotion of technologies to produce energy and hydrogen from 

waste in co-combustion with coal.

- Sustainable Urban Planning and Eco-building: since 2004 various pilot experiences have been 

developed, among which: the design and building of the Sino-Italian Environment and Energy-efficient 

Building (SIEEB) at the Tsinghua University Campus (2006), the Environmental Conventions Building -

4C Building- (2009) the Program for GHGs reduction in the Residential Building Sector in China, 

including the development of related CDM methodology (2007-2010), the eco-building interventions in 

the Urban Best Practices Area at Shanghai World Expo Park (2008-10).

- Adaptation to climate change: sandstorm prevention and control in Beijing, development of 

sustainable agricultural techniques and optimisation water use and arid zones through the utilization 

of an Italian-designed system (Vallerani method) for the reforestation in Inner Mongolia (2005-2009).

An interesting point of the Sino – Italian R&D cooperation has been the establishment of the following 

research centers and activities:

- The “Green Energy Laboratory” at Jiaotong University, dedicated to the development of energy 

efficiency technologies and CDM methodologies for GHGs emissions reduction in the building sector. 

The Lab was inaugurated in spring 2012 at the presence of the Italian Minister for the Environment 

and the relevant Chinese authorities. It shall become a platform for tweaking and testing technologies 

designed to promote energy efficiency, emission reduction, and CDM methodologies in the 
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construction industry.

- The Euro-Asian research and training on CLImate change MAnagement (CLIMA), launched in March 

2006 and still working, has developed an integrated scientific/educational approach to the problems of 

climate change.

- The Sino-Italian Sustainable Urban Mobility Research Centre, launched in 2005 and still operating, 

with Tongji University of Shanghai, is intended to study and implement environmentally friendly 

technologies. In this framework, the first high-output micro-turbine for tri-generation has been 

installed on the campus of Tongji University, as an innovative and clean response to the increasing 

demand for energy in China. The Centre has also developed prototypes of hybrid vehicles and electric 

motorcycles.

The cooperation with the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change (CMCC) allows IMELS 

to develop other projects as part of an integrated, multi-disciplinary and frontier research for 

understanding, controlling and adapting to Climate Change.

CMCC is a national research centre, funded in 2005 by IMELS, Italian Ministry of Education, University 

and Research, and of Economy and Finance, represents the most ambitious initiative undertaken in 

Italy, within the framework of the National Research Plan, and specifically the National Research Plan 

on Climate. CMCC is a consortium of eight Italian research institutions: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica 

e Vulcanologia, University of Salento, Italian Space Agency, University of Venice Cà Foscari, Eni Enrico

Mattei Fondation, Univerisity of Sassari, University Tuscia and University of Sannio. 

Since 2006, the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change hosts the IPCC Focal Point for Italy. 

The National IPCC Focal Point participates in the plenary sessions and meetings of IPCC, represents 

the IPCC in Italy, and carries out communication and education activities concerning IPCC activities.

CMCC manages a Supercomputing Centre (located in the ‘Ecotekne’ Campus in Lecce), which is 

ranked 168th in the list of the 500 most powerful computer systems in the world as for November 

2012, and is the second Italian supercomputing infrastructure. The HPC infrastructure is composed of 

a 960 cores IBM Power6 cluster (peak performance 18TFlops) and 8000 cores Intel Xeon Sandy Bridge 

(peak performance 160TFlops).

CMCC’s expertise and approach to climate science is strengthened by its capacity to develop research 

projects, which contribute to a national network of excellence. CMCC also collaborates with the best 

international centers specialized in advanced and applied research on climate change. Over the past 

years, CMCC participated in cutting-edge research, collaborating with more than 500 institutions from 

71 countries. The acquired portfolio of research projects includes 110 primary internationally 

composed and funded projects: 2 funded projects in FP6 (6th Framework Program of the EU), 34 

funded projects in FP7 (7th Framework Program of the EU) and 74 funded projects under other EU 

and international research grants (tot. of ca. 41 M €). In about a half of the implemented projects, 

CMCC acted as the coordinator. 

Among the activities carried out by CMCC, the main projects, programmes, and international 

multilateral agreements directly financed by IMELS and coordinated by CMCC are:

GEMINA: the project aims to strengthen and further develop the research activities of CMCC. The 

project will be cofounded by IMELS and MIUR; more specifically IMELS will provide funding for the 
187

consolidation and further development of the international scientific network of CMCC, being crucial to 

ensure Italian research at the forefront within the international research community.

Italy-Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Cooperative Programme on climate change 

impacts and on emission reduction policies: the project has been presented during the 

Conference of the Parties (COP) at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 

(UNFCCC) in Cancun (29 November – 2 December 2010). The side event titled International 

cooperation and local commitment: a success story in the Small Pacific Islands States was organized 

by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea with the participation of CMCC. On May 10th 

2007, the Italian Government and the Pacific Small Island States launched a cooperation program in 

New York to address the key global challenges of climate change; in less than 3 years about $11 Mln 

have been committed to projects and activities (18 projects in all). The event at COP 16 introduced 

and promoted the programs as cooperation models. As part of this cooperation programme IMELS 

financed the project Climate Change Assessment in Small Pacific Islands State coordinated by 

CMCC which investigated the estimates of sea level changes in the next twenty five years and 

assessed the changes in the tropical cyclone characteristics during the next thirty years in the region.

As part of the strong cooperation with CMCC, the IMELS financed the project Elements for the 

elaboration of the National Strategy of Adaptation to Climate Change (SNAC). As part of 

SNAC project CMCC coordinated the development of the first Italian Adaptation Strategy which has 

been realised for public consultation, in November 2013. 

In the context of the development of National Adaptation Strategies (NAS) across all European 

countries and a comprehensive European Adaptation Strategy by the European Commission, the 

Italian approach to develop a NAS involves 3 main elements:

• the collection, analysis and interpretation of sound scientific data on impacts, vulnerability and 

adaptation relevant per sector at the national level, collected through a working group of national 

scientists;

• the study of the political process of adaptation at the European level and an investigation about 

adaptation governance;

• adequate consideration of the results of the involvement of national stakeholders and institutions 

when allocating priorities for action for adaptation.

The specific SNAC objectives were:

• Identification of specific sectors for sectoral and inter-sectoral analysis

• Evaluation of the status of scientific knowledge on climate change impacts, availability of data and 

information at different scales and sectors in the country

• Identification of sectoral vulnerabilities to those impacts and evaluation of related risks

• Support in identifying and analysing current adaptation measures carried out at different scales 

(national, regional and local) and in various sectors

• Estimation of costs and benefits of possible adaptation measures/actions for various sectors for 

short (2020-2030) and medium term (2040-2050).

• Support in identifying main national stakeholders and managing dialogue between institutions.

• Support in elaborating guidelines for sectoral adaptation action at different scales.
188

Table 7.1 – Financial contribution to the Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Contribution(*)

Euros

2009 2010 2011 2012

GEF trust fund 891,600 - 6,080,888 1,607,000

* Calculated on the basis of the share of resources allocated to climate change focal area in GEF4 (33%).

Table 7.2 – Financial contributions to relevant multilateral institutions and programmes

Institution or Programme Contribution

(million US dollars)

2009 2010 2011 2012

World Bank (IBRD) 270 439 235 230

IDA - - - -

International Finance Corporation - - - -

African Development Bank - - 12.7 12

African Development Fund 17.6 4.7 139.7 42.3

Asian Development Bank - - 23.8 -

Asian Development Fund - - 29.6 44

FAO 14.1 21.2 17.2 12.8

IFAD 32 44.6 76.4 32.2

Inter American Development Bank - - - -

Other Regional Banks and Special Funds 1 1 - -

United National Development Programme 5.6 4 2.5 0.17

United Nations Environment Programme 7.7 8 6.9 5.5

UNESCO - - - -

UNFCCC 1.8 1.7 1.7 0.3

IUCN – International Union for the Conservation of Nature - - - -

WHO 27 28 2.3 24

Source: DAC-OECD. International Development Statistics

Table 7.3a - Bilateral and regional contributions related to the implementation of the 

Convention, Year 2009 (Millions of Euros)

Recipient 

country

Total 

amount

Status Funding 

source

Financial 

instrument

Type of 

support

Sector

Albania 0.42 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation

Energy/Water/

Agriculture/Forestry/

Waste management/

Capacity building

Argentina 0.35 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Forestry

Balkans 

(Serbia, 

Montenegro, 

Albania, 

Macedonia)

1.99 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Energy

Benin 0.26 Provided ODA Grant Adapation 

& Cross cutting
189

Mitigation

Bolivia 0.48 Provided ODA Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Energy/Forestry/

Water

Brazil 1.69 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Agriculture/Water/

Capacity building

Brazil 0.15 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Cross cutting

Burkina Faso 0.35 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Agriculture/Water/

Capacity building

Cameroon 0.05 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Water/

Capacity building

China 23.4 Provided OOF Grant

Adaptation 

& 

Mitigation

Energy/Air 

Quality/Capacity 

building

Cuba 0.09 Provided ODA Grant

Adaptation 

& 

Mitigation

Cross cutting

Cook Island 0.06 Provided OOF Grant Adaptation Capacity building

Dominican 

Republic 0.45 Provided ODA Grant Adaptation Agriculture/Capacity building

Egypt 1.44 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Energy/Water/

Capacity building

Egypt 0.56 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Energy/Water/

Capacity building

Ethiopia 0.05 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Water

Ghana 0.28 Provided ODA Grant

Adaptation 

& 

Mitigation

Agriculture

Honduras 0.32 Provided ODA Grant

Adaptation 

& 

Mitigation

Water

India 0.57 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Capacity building

Iraq 0.75 Provided ODA Grant

Adaptation 

& 

Mitigation

Water/Capacty 

building

Iraq 6.1 Provided OOF Grant

Adaptation 

& 

Mitigation

Water/Capacty 

building

Israel 0.1 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Capacity building

Kiribati 0.09 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Energy

Lebanon 0.5 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Capacity building/

Cross cutting

Latin America 

(Uruguay, 

Brazil)

0.3 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Energy

Macedonia 0.15 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation

Energy/Waste 

management/

Capacity building

Macedonia 0.45 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Energy/

Capacity building

Madagascar 0.6 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Forestry/Agriculture
190

Mexico 0.74 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Agriculture

Mediterranean 

Region 0.15 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Capacity building, 

Energy

Montenegro 3.8 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Coastal Zone 

Management/

Energy

Morocco 0.04 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Capacity 

building/Energy

Mozambique 1.05 Provided ODA Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Agriculture/Forestry

Nauru 0.14 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Water

Nicaragua 0.03 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Water/

Capacity building

Niger 0.52 Provided ODA Grant Adapation Water/

Capacity building

Romania 0.54 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Capacity 

building/Energy

Rwanda 0.54 Provided ODA Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Capacity building/

Cross cutting

Serbia 0.26 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Capacity 

building/Energy

SIDS 0.12 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Capacity 

building/Energy

Tanzania 0.23 Provided ODA Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Water/Agriculture/

Capacity building/

Tunisia 0.07 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Energy/Water/

Cross cutting

Tunisia 0.49 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Energy/Water/

Cross cutting

Zambia 0.5 Provided ODA Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Forestry

Zimbabwe 0.3 Provided ODA Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Cross cutting
191

Table 7.3b - Bilateral and regional contributions related to the implementation of the 

Convention, Year 2010 (Millions of Euros)

Recipient 

country

Total 

amount

Status Funding 

source

Financial 

instrument

Type of 

support

Sector

Albania 0.42 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation

Energy/Water/

Agriculture/Forestry/

Waste management/

Capacity building

Argentina 0.35 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Forestry

Balkans 

(Serbia, 

Montenegro, 

Albania, 

Macedonia)

1.99 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Energy

Benin 0.26 Provided ODA Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Cross cutting

Bolivia 0.48 Provided ODA Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Energy/Forestry/

Water

Brazil 1.69 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Agriculture/Water/

Capacity building

Brazil 0.15 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Cross cutting

Burkina Faso 0.35 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Agriculture/Water/

Capacity building

Cameroon 0.05 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Water/

Capacity building

China 23.4 Provided OOF Grant

Adaptation 

& 

Mitigation

Energy/Air 

Quality/Capacity 

building

Cuba 0.09 Provided ODA Grant

Adaptation 

& 

Mitigation

Cross cutting

Cook Island 0.06 Provided OOF Grant Adaptation Capacity building

Dominican 

Republic 0.45 Provided ODA Grant Adaptation Agriculture/Capacity building

Egypt 1.44 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Energy/Water/

Capacity building

Egypt 0.56 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Energy/Water/

Capacity building

Ethiopia 0.05 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Water

Ghana 0.28 Provided ODA Grant

Adaptation 

& 

Mitigation

Agriculture

Honduras 0.32 Provided ODA Grant

Adaptation 

& 

Mitigation

Water

India 0.57 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Capacity building

Iraq 0.75 Provided ODA Grant Adaptation 

& 

Water/Capacty 

building
192

Mitigation

Iraq 6.1 Provided OOF Grant

Adaptation 

& 

Mitigation

Water/Capacty 

building

Israel 0.1 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Capacity building

Kiribati 0.09 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Energy

Lebanon 0.5 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Capacity building/

Cross cutting

Latin America 

(Uruguay, 

Brazil)

0.3 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Energy

Macedonia 0.15 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation

Energy/Waste 

management/

Capacity building

Macedonia 0.45 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Energy/

Capacity building

Madagascar 0.6 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Forestry/Agriculture

Mexico 0.74 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Agriculture

Mediterranean 

Region 0.15 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Capacity building, 

Energy

Montenegro 3.8 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Coastal Zone 

Management/

Energy

Morocco 0.04 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Capacity 

building/Energy

Mozambique 1.05 Provided ODA Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Agriculture/Forestry

Nauru 0.14 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Water

Nicaragua 0.03 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Water/

Capacity building

Niger 0.52 Provided ODA Grant Adapation Water/

Capacity building

Romania 0.54 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Capacity 

building/Energy

Rwanda 0.54 Provided ODA Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Capacity building/

Cross cutting

Serbia 0.26 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Capacity 

building/Energy

SIDS 0.12 Provided OOF Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Capacity 

building/Energy

Tanzania 0.23 Provided ODA Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Water/Agriculture/

Capacity building/

Tunisia 0.07 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Energy/Water/

Cross cutting
193

Tunisia 0.49 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Energy/Water/

Cross cutting

Zambia 0.5 Provided ODA Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Forestry

Zimbabwe 0.3 Provided ODA Grant

Adapation 

& 

Mitigation

Cross cutting

For the data of bilateral and regional contributions related to the implementation of the Convention, 

for the Years 2011-2012, see the tables of the Biannual Report.

Table 7.4 - Success and failure stories related to technology transfer

Project / Program title

Powering up rural boarding schools in the Solomon Islands / Pacific Small Island States Cooperation 

Program

Purpose

The main aim of the program, in line with the priorities established by the Governments of the Pacific SIDS, is to 

develop a set of measures to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change, foster the development of local 

renewable energy sources and biofuels, as well as support the wide dissemination of their use to address energy 

security in the area. These measures are elaborated with the final purpose of increasing access to energy services, 

reducing emission of green-house gases, and encouraging sustainable transport. 

The project aims to strengthen national capacities for the establishment of national energy policies and strategies, 

as well as markets, and to ensure sustainability through the development and deployment of specialized human 

resources at both the national and community levels. The implementation of the project required the active 

involvement and support of the beneficiary communities.

Recipient Country Sector Total funding Years in operation

Solomon Islands - Pacific 

SIDs

Energy – Solar lighting 353.000 USD 2008 - 2012

Description

In the Pacific region, an area currently heavily dependent on fossil fuels, there is a pressing need to increase 

access to electricity for lighting, water pumping, telecommunications, cold storage of medicines and so on, 

especially in remote communities in the outer islands where there is currently limited access or no grid.

This project has been set up to help 17 boarding schools use renewable sources to meet their energy needs. The 

focus is mainly on solar lighting, although an assessment is currently made to see if eight schools can use rivers for 

hydropower and if another can use a biodiesel generator system. Eight schools are already benefiting from solar 

lighting –162 buildings, class rooms dormitories, offices and staff houses. This is bringing access to school lighting 

for 2,647 people. School communities and students have been involved in implementing the project, thereby 

building capacity. Because of the community participation, the project has generated a sense of awareness and 

eagerness to be part of a project with tangible benefits. Savings for the schools involved range from US $1,250-US 

$25,000, depending on their size.

Indicate factors which led to project’s success:

Community participation making ownership and participation of the school students in preparing for the project and 

its implementation; on a national level, a sense of awareness and eagerness to be part of the project process with 

tangible benefits already seen from the solar lighting installation completed; savings for the schools ranges from 

SBD 10,000.00 to 200,000.00 (US$1,250-US$25,000) depending on the size and the type of school.

Technology transferred

The technology under consideration for the present applications is a small scale solar lighting system.

Impact on greenhouse gas emission/sinks (optional):

The technology selected fulfil several socioeconomic and environmental criteria such as availability, cheap price, 

contribution to reduction in GHG, energy efficiency, high yield, low environmental impact. 
194

Project / Program title

Construction of a solar power for industrial use in the factory of Pirelli, base in Feria de Santana 

(Brazil)

Purpose

The project point to connect the plant directly to the steam lines used for the production of tires. It will have a 

significant size compared to the heating requirements of the plant. The collector will have a mirrored surface of 

approximately 2,400 m2. 

The objectives of the project and the benefits in terms of energy and environment are summarized below :

• peak power of 1.4 MW

• CO2 saved over 5 years : 2000 Ton.

The monitoring and timely analysis of local climatic conditions, the management of start-ups daily, the uneven 

distribution of direct radiation on the collector field, are the main aspects of the project.

The experience gained in the design, construction, operation and monitoring of this system will lay the groundwork 

for a broader use of concentrating solar power in the industrial sector, helping to reduce the investment costs and 

increase the efficiency of the plant.

Recipient Country Sector Total funding Years in operation

Brazil Energy 720.000 EURO IMELS + 

600.000 EURO Pirelli

2012-2014

Description

The characteristics of the project:• Direct Steam Generation : the system is Direct Steam Generation (DSG). It will 

produce steam directly into the solar field (receiver tube). This technology is experimental in the production of heat 

at medium temperature. It has the advantage of presenting low investment costs (compared to systems that: 

thermal oil, salts, pressurized water that would require a heat exchanger) for users who use direct saturated 

steam. It simplifies system diagrams, improves security aspects and often environmental compatibility.

• medium-temperature solar collector based on a receiver tube for high-efficiency selective coating with DSG high 

performance ( surface treatment process of the tube for CSP). The coating is made under license from a patent 

ENEA and maintains high performance throughout the temperature range from medium up to high temperatures 

(550 ° C). The average collector temperature, derived from the most sophisticated high temperature collectors for 

the production of power (CSP) , will be built completely with Italian technology .

Indicate factors which led to project’s success:

First solar plant in the world - DSG really connected to an industrial user. The other plants DSG for the production 

of heat at medium temperature, already up and working, are installed into research centers or laboratories, and 

they are almost always smaller. The Pirelli’s system is configured as the largest DSG system for industrial use in 

the world.

Technology transferred

Solar heat for industrial processes 

Impact on greenhouse gas emission/sinks (optional):

Project / Program title

“B3-2 Pavilion” at Shanghai Expo 2010, Urban Best Practices Area

Purpose

Since the preliminary phases of the international consulting for the identification of the themes and organizational 

aspects of the Shanghai Expo 2010, IMELS has been involved to make of it a “low carbon” event, with the hope 

that the rest of China may follow the example of the EXPO and all the cities represented within the context of the 

Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA), to build communities that are increasingly sustainable and aware of global 

impacts.

In cooperation with the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination and the Shanghai Expo Land Holding, IMELS 

has been engaged in the conversion to exhibition space of a former industrial building and in the construction of a 

new pavilion (B3-2) in the UBPA of the Expo Park. The design of the structure was entrusted to a team of Italian 

architects and experts, with the aim of showcasing the most advanced principles of eco-architecture and ecofriendly and innovative Italian technologies, for energy efficiency and clean energy production.

The experience at the Shanghai Expo and the UBPA Pavilions are concrete demonstrations, which shall serve as 

driving force for other similar initiatives, and at the same time bear witness to the Italian creativity, know-how and 

industry in the building sector.

Recipient Country Sector Total funding Years in operation

Italy-China Sustainable 26.330.000 RMB 24 months – completed in 
195

Architecture 2010

Description

It has been estimated that the building sector is responsible for more than 30% of the energy consumption in 

China, and it is therefore an important sector for GHG emission reductions, in which IMELS has funded projects 

aimed at promoting good practices in ecological architecture and research and development of energy-efficient 

technologies.

The B3-2 Pavilion is a simple rectangular “box” measuring 78 by 28 metres, with a completely free interior forming 

a neutral space, without any intermediate pillars, capable of hosting the installations of the cities participating in 

the event, which have later been chosen as Bologna, Shenzhen and Seoul.

As the work is part of the cooperation program between the Expo and IMELS, the project, entrusted to Studio 

Archea as the winner of a bidding, has transformed the hypothesis of the industrial shed, the theme of the neutral 

box, into a mechanism for the diffusion of natural light.

During the day, the space is thus illuminated without any energy consumption. The roof has been conceived as a 

shed structure, crossed by beams, whose steel structure has been covered, in order to form a sequence of 

reflecting surfaces that diffuse the light from above. The construction has been designed so as to make it possible 

to reuse and recover the building, and it may therefore be disassembled and reassembled in another location. The 

entire construction is made in steel structures and technologies without cemented joints, and it is therefore 

possible to reuse more than 90% of the components.

The non-structural outer walls have been built and designed as thick and highly insulated layered structures which 

comprise, from the interior towards the exterior, the installation of simple drywall panels perforated by a sequence 

of square windows of various dimensions arranged obliquely with respect to the vertical, an interior air chamber, 

metal panels with an intermediate layer in polyurethane foam providing thermal and acoustic insulation, fixed to 

the loadbearing columns made in simple I-profiles, a second air chamber in the layer occupied by the secondary 

substructure, necessary to support the casings and the outer skin, consisting of aluminium frames covered with 

silicon fabric, which turn the building box into a soft surface with a vibratory motion. The shell, half-way between 

the convex spatialism of Castellani and the more recent optical experiences, “necessarily” avoid to compete, on a 

volumetric level, with the other exhibition pavilions, instead assuming a role of interval or passage, a covered 

square or loggia which may be crossed thanks to the four large doors placed opposite one another, which make it 

possible to walk through the pavilion and thus assuring a continuous path along the Urban Best Practices area.

Indicate factors which led to project’s success:

Thanks to the special solutions for the external surfaces, the B3-2 pavilion has a low power consumption and 

adopts a new generation of textile outer casing, designed to facilitate the natural air-conditioning. For the 

construction operations exploited, whenever possible, the utilization of building materials for reuse.

Technology transferred

Among the main technologies adopted for the B3-2 Pavilion: textile panels for outer casing, low consumption 

lightning system.

Impact on greenhouse gas emission/sinks (optional):

The construction materials chosen technologies without cemented joints and the reuse of the main components 

contribute to GHG reduction, high energy efficiency and very low environmental impact.

Project / Program title

Green Energy Laboratory – GEL at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Purpose

The Green Energy Laboratory (GEL) is a platform for the testing and dissemination of energy efficient and “lowcarbon” technologies in the building and housing sectors. GEL has been jointly envisioned and supported by the 

Italian Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea (IMELS) and the Shanghai JiaoTong University (SJTU), since 

2007. it is another “landmark” in the Sino-Italian Cooperation Programme in the field of sustainable urban 

development and architecture.

Designed by Italian experts together with the Dept. of Mechanical and Electrotecnical Engineering of the Shanghai 

University, GEL is located in the Minhang campus of the JiaoTong University and was created as research centre 

and laboratory for the analysis and diffusion of low carbon emission technologies in the construction and housing 

sector. 

Recipient Country Sector Total funding Years in operation

Italy-China Sustainable 

Architecture

2 M Euro 36 months – completed in 

2012

Description
196

The building sector in China has been estimated to be responsible for more than 30% of the energy consumption, 

it is therefore an important sector for GHG emission reduction, in which IMELS has been promoting good practices 

in eco-architecture, energy-efficient technologies and research and development of construction materials.

The 1500 m2 Green Energy Laboratory is conceived as a compact body surrounding a central court, covered by a 

large skylight, that can be opened or closed depending on the season, a solution chosen due to its functional 

characteristics in terms of distribution and energetic optimization. The space, surrounded by access balconies, is 

configured as a void that optimizes energy consumption. During the sunny winter days, it functions as an 

accumulator of heat, while during the summer days, it acts as a chimney, aspirating the hot air produced in the 

interior.

The building has three floors with a total surface area of 1500 square metres above ground, and a maximum 

height of 20 m. The first two floors host laboratories, meeting rooms, a control room, classrooms for the students 

and an exhibition space; every interior has windows on two sides, to the exterior and the inner court. The third 

floor hosts two sample apartments, the simulation of a two-room flat and a three-room flat covered by a pitched 

roof with photovoltaic panels, realized as platform for tests on residential types of spaces, to experiment with 

energy-efficient systems and buildings.

The orientation of the building and its rectangular shape, along with the façade and the glazed interior court, are 

conceived to maximize the natural ventilation and to control exposure to the sun, in order to obtain an ideal 

interior climate with a minimum expenditure of energy. The façade, the distinctive feature of the exterior volume, 

consists of a double skin: an internal layer in glazed cells that provide waterproofing and insulation and an external 

one consisting of earthenware shutters that serve as sunscreens, to shade and regulate the illumination in the 

working spaces inside. The HVAC system has been designed on the basis of a main system (CHPC/WHP) combined 

with other, dedicated ones of smaller dimensions that are interchangeable according to the tests and research work 

done in the different laboratories.

Indicate factors which led to project’s success:

GEL obtained the Gold level LEED Green Building Certification and is regarded as one of the most advanced green 

building research platforms in the world.

Technology transferred

GEL integrates nearly 20 advanced technologies in terms of renewable energy, air conditioning, building automatic 

control and green buildings. Different types of solar collectors with corresponding solar air conditioning systems 

(solar adsorption chiller, solar absorption system, solar desiccant cooling system and solar ice-making system) 

operate inside GEL. The cooling and heating power is provided by different heat pump technologies. The building is 

also equipped with many other advanced facilities, including a highly efficient, independent temperature and 

humidity control system, a floor heating terminal, a cold radiant ceiling terminal, a fan coil terminal with minor 

temperature difference, a total heat exchanger, a combined cooling, heating and power system, a heat storage 

system (phase change material, thermo-chemical heat storage), biogas power, a hybrid PV/wind system, a smart 

grid, a building energy management system, a zero energy apartment and a smart apartment, etc.

Impact on greenhouse gas emission/sinks (optional):

The orientation of the building, its shape, along with the façade and the interior space have been designed to 

optimize energy consumption. The construction materials and the advanced technologies in terms of renewable 

energy, air conditioning, building automatic control contribute to GHG reduction, high energy efficiency and very 

low environmental impact.
197

8 RESEARCH AND SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATION204

8.1 Introduction

This chapter describes the relevant Italian activities in climate change research and climate systematic 

observations. The main focus concerns the national research programmes and some relevant 

International research projects funded by Italian Institutions. Finally, it provides an overview of the 

funding involved in the research and systematic observation sectors. The Italian climate research 

covers different aspects, such as climate observations, climate modelling and impacts assessments. 

8.2 General policy on research and systematic observation

8.2.1 Research

The main specific financial support to climate scientific research and technological development in 

Italy in the near past was provided by the 2001 Special Integrative Fund for Research (FISR -

Fondo Integrativo Speciale per la Ricerca)

205, aimed at funding specific activities with particular 

strategic relevance, pursuant to the 2001-2003 National Research Programme (PNR -Programma 

Nazionale della Ricerca 2001-2003206) and its updated versions following the Guidelines for 

Scientific and Technological Policy of the Government (Linee Guida per la Politica Scientifica e 

Tecnologica del Governo)

207

.

Through the 2001 FISR the Strategic Programme for Sustainable Development and Climate 

Change (Programma Strategico Sviluppo Sostenibile e Cambiamenti Climatici) was co-funded and its 

related activities were carried out over the subsequent years (until 2010). With a total budget of about 

26.8 Million Euro208 the FISR was financially supported by the Italian Ministries of: Economy and 

Finance (MEF - Ministero dell’Economia e delle Finanze); Education, University and Research (MIUR -

Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca); Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS) (MATTM 

- Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare); Agriculture Food and Forestry 

Policies (MIPAAF - Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali), the MIUR being the 

managing organization of the National Programme. 

The Strategic Programme for Sustainable Development and Climate Change supported 

research on climate, climate change, climate protection, vulnerability and impacts assessment with a 

 

204 Lead authors: Sergio Castellari (CMCC/INGV), Silvia Medri (CMCC), Fabrizio Ciciulla (USAM-CNMCA).

Contributing authors: Vincenzo Artale (ENEA), Francesco Apadula (RSE Spa), Sandro Calmanti (ENEA), Paolo 

Cristofanelli (ISAC-CNR), Franco Desiato (ISPRA), Alcide di Sarra (ENEA), Nadia Pinardi (INGV), Antonello 

Provenzale (ISAC-CNR), Paolo Ruti (ENEA).

205 FISR 2001: Interministerial Decree 17th December 2002 (Published on Official Gazette 14th January 2003 n.10) 

http://attiministeriali.miur.it/anno-2002/dicembre/di-17122002.aspx. 

206 The PNR 2001-2003 (http://www.miur.it/Documenti/ricerca/pnr_2011_2013/PNR_2011-

2013_23_MAR_2011_web.pdf) was approved by the CIPE on the 21st December 2000;

The PNR 2005-2007 (http://hubmiur.pubblica.istruzione.it/alfresco/d/d/workspace/SpacesStore/f6e84deb-a716-

470a-a18c-3662a49758f5/1999.pdf ) was approved in January 2005 by Legislative Decree 204/1998, Art. 1, 

comma 2.

207 Approved on the 19th April 2002 by the Council of Ministries and the Interministerial Committee for Economic 

Planning (C.I.P.E. - Comitato Interministeriale per la Programmazione Economica) 

http://www.google.it/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDQQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fww

w.miur.it%2FUserFiles%2F1027.pdf&ei=IrupUrGFGuL-ygPCxoCIDw&usg=AFQjCNFmBqjXMnHaR1b6mh_EVDJUt7QlA&sig2=wCZt2T5pK_2i8Tqxp0WC9Q&bvm=bv.57967247,d.bGQ&cad=rja.

208 FISR Special Integrative Fund Research - Contract 2001 “Identification of projects Sustainable development and

climate change” (Directorial Decree 31st December 2004 n. 1797/Ric - Published in the Official Gazette of 21 

January 2005 no. 16) http://attiministeriali.miur.it/anno-2004/dicembre/dd-31122004-n-1797ric.aspx. 
198

special focus on themes such as:

climate observations and modelling (from simple linear models to general coupled 

atmosphere-ocean models);

study of innovative instruments for Kyoto Protocol implementation and of soil carbon sinks; 

vulnerability assessment research including coastal areas and marine ecosystems; 

socio-economic impacts of climate change on energy, industry, insurance, transport and

tourism, soil degradation, water ecosystem, biodiversity, human health, human settlements, 

marine biology, forestry, agriculture; 

special geographic focus on coastal zones, oceanic zones and the Mediterranean Area.

In this framework, nine national climate related research projects were financially supported and a 

new climate research network was launched: the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change 

(CMCC - Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici)209. CMCC aims at studying climate 

change and the impacts of climate change on several different sectors and systems with a particular 

emphasis on the Mediterranean area. CMCC is a consortium of already existing scientific institutions 

such as: Universities, Public Research Centres, Foundations and Consortiums. 

Investments in climatic research continued to be a specific priority area also in the subsequent as well 

as in the most recent PNR, which covers the period 2011-2013 (PNR 2011-2013)210. Following the 

strategic vision of the European Union (“EU 2020”), this programme has an innovative approach211

compared to the previous ones and aims at addressing the identified “Major Societal Challenges” -

“food security, human health and the environment, climate change and energy security”- on which the 

future European research program will be based, especially through an enhanced participation in

Community programs. The PNR 2011-2013 is implemented through several national funding 

programmes promoted and managed by the MIUR212, namely:

Ordinary fund for research institutes and bodies (FOE - Fondo ordinario per il 

finanziamento degli enti e istituzioni di ricerca)213- the primary contribution of the MIUR to 

fund research activities conducted by public research bodies and institutes acting under the 

supervision of the Ministry214;

Fund for investment in basic research (FIRB - Fondo per gli Investimenti della Ricerca di 

Base)215- for activities with a high scientific and technological content and also at international 

level;

 

209 FISR 2001: Interministerial Decree 17th December 2002 (Published on Official Gazette 15th January 2003 n.11) 

http://attiministeriali.miur.it/anno-2002/dicembre/di-17122002-%281%29.aspx. 

CMCC Website: http://www.cmcc.it/.

210 Approved by the CIPE on the 23rd March 2011 with Deliberation N.2/2011

(http://www.miur.it/Documenti/ricerca/pnr_2011_2013/PNR_2011-2013_23_MAR_2011_web.pdf).

211 as it not only acts as a tool to promote the coordinated development of Italian research activities but also as a 

structural component of the economic policy, aiming at the progressive integration between research supply and 

demand and on building a network of platforms and technology infrastructures open to the contribution and

participation of the productive system, as well as on the increase in profitability of the investments on research. It 

was prepared with a a broad consultation of the scientific and academic communities, the economic sector, the 

State-Regions Conference, the Observatory of the the Regions, and all the government departments in charge.

212 https://www.researchitaly.it/en/researching/funding/programmes/. 

213 https://www.researchitaly.it/en/researching/funding/programmes/ordinary-fund-for-research-institutes-andbodies/. 

214 List of public research bodies and institutes acting under the supervision of the Ministry: 

http://hubmiur.pubblica.istruzione.it/web/ricerca/enti-di-ricerca/elenco-enti. 

215 https://www.researchitaly.it/en/researching/funding/programmes/fund-for-investment-in-basic-research/. 
199

Research facilitation fund (FAR - Fondo per le Agevolazioni alla Ricerca)216 – in support to 

industrial research;

Special integrative fund for research (FISR - Fondo Integrativo Speciale per la Ricerca)217

– for initiatives of specific strategic relevance and for the operation of private organizations

carrying out research activities – the fund is managed by the MIUR;

Research projects of national interest (PRIN - Progetti di Ricerca di Interesse 

Nazionale)218 – aimed at the reinforcement of the national scientific basis also with a view to 

promoting an effective participation in the European initiatives related to the EC Framework 

Programmes;

National Operative Programme (PON - Programma operativo Nazionale) for Research and 

Competitiveness 2007-2013)219- financed by the European Regional Development Fund 

(ERDF) and national sources, it is designed to promote “convergence” i.e. the growth of 

underdeveloped regions (Calabria, Campania, Puglia and Sicily in Italy) compared to the 

European average.

The Programme identified interalia a limited number of so called “Flagship Projects” (Progetti 

Bandiera) and “Project of Interest” (Progetti di interesse): projects of national strategic interest

aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the national research system that are 

undertaken by and included in the work programmes of the competent public research bodies.

The PNR 2011-2013 aims at improving the system of Italian Research also through its 

internationalization, following the Strategy for the Internationalisation of the Italian Research

(SIRIt - Strategia per l’Internazionalizzazione della Ricerca Italiana): a document prepared to ensure

the necessary coherence of the National research priorities with the European and international

priorities and strategies. In this respect the programme envisages the following actions:

maximizing the use of collaboration tools within the EU, mainly 7

th Framework Programme

(and in the future Horizon 2020) for the full realization of the European Research Area (ERA),

with a special attention to the Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) on climate and also other 

European and international funding bodies;

pursuing other types of commitment levels based on international bilateral and multilateral 

agreements; 

fostering collaboration activities with non-European countries; 

honouring the country’s international commitments under global conventions and agreements

under the aegis of the United Nations or not, providing tools for ad hoc financing for the 

implementation of technology transfer and/or capacity building are also honoured.

Climate related research projects carried out by Italy through the above mentioned funding schemes

encompass a wide range of specific themes, including: 

climate process and climate system studies, including paleoclimate studies;

modelling and prediction, including general circulation models;

research on the impacts of climate change;

socio-economic analysis, including analysis of both the impacts of climate change and 

response options;

 

216 https://www.researchitaly.it/en/researching/funding/programmes/research-subsidy-fund/. 

217 http://hubmiur.pubblica.istruzione.it/web/ricerca/sistema-ricerca. 

218 https://www.researchitaly.it/en/researching/funding/programmes/research-projects-of-national-interest/. 

219 https://www.researchitaly.it/en/researching/funding/programmes/national-operative-programme-for-researchand-competitiveness-2007-2013/. 
200

research and development on mitigation and adaptation technologies.

Some relevant examples of such projects either funded by national sources and by international funds 

are listed in Chapter ‘C. Research” in Tables 8.1 and 8.2.

In addition the MIUR supports and manages the “Special Programme” titled: National antarctic 

research programme (PNRA - Programma Nazionale di Ricerche in Antartide)220, which is 

implemented by: 

the National Scientific Commission for the Antarctic (CSNA221), comprised of experts from the 

various scientific areas addressed by the PNRA, providing guidance and evaluating findings;

the National Research Council (CNR), in charge of programming and coordinating scientific 

activities;

the National Agency for New Technology, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development 

(ENEA), implementing the Antarctic campaigns and being responsible for the management of 

scientific research infrastructures in the Antarctic.

The PNRA strategic planning document (documento di programmazione strategica)

222 for the period 

2012-2014 estimates a total financial need around 70 Million Euro and calls for projects covering 

interalia a range of climate specific and/or related themes223.

Moreover, the MIPAAF launched and financed in 2008 a five year research initiative to cope with 

adaptation of Italian agriculture to climate change in the subsequent 15-25 years, with a total budget 

of 8.225.542 Euro224. The programme, called “AgroScenari - Adaptation scenarios of Italian 

agriculture to climate change” (AgroScenari: Scenari di adattamento dell’agricoltura italiana ai 

cambiamenti climatici)

225, is managed by the Italian Agricultural Research Council (CRA - Consiglio per 

la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in Agricoltura) and more specifically by the CRA Research Unit for 

Climatology and Meteorology applied to agriculture (CRA-CMA - Unità di ricerca per la climatologia e la 

 

220 The PNRA was created by Italian Law no. 284/1985 (http://www.pnra.it/txt/Info_PNRA_norm/Legge284.pdf), 

with MIUR placed in charge of coordinating Italian research in the Antarctic. Since then, successive articles of 

legislation for the authorization of funding have ensured Italian participation in the Antarctic Treaty

(http://www.pnra.it/leggi.htm), which was introduced in 1959 and entered into effect in 1961. This Treaty 

regulates the operations of the countries present on the continent.

221 http://www.csna.it/index.html.

222 Approved with Ministerial Decree dated 30th Oct. 2012 (Prot. N. 729/Ric.) 

http://www.csna.it/Documenti/PNRA_Programma_triennale_2012_2014_2012_06_27.pdf).

223

1. Atmospheric dynamics and climate processes;

2. polar cap dynamics;

3. solid Earth dynamics and cryosphere evolution;

4. polar oceans dynamics;

5. Sun-Earth relations and space weather;

6. the Universe over Antarctica;

7. evolution, adaptation and biodiversity;

8. man in extreme environments;

9. environmental contamination;

10. paleoclimate;

11. Issues and environmental risks;

12. Technology: Innovation and experimentation.

224 Ministerial Decree 8th July 2013

http://agroscenari.entecra.it/public/upload/documenti/documenti_ufficiali/decreto_variante_2013.pdf. 

225 Ministerial Decree 7th August 2008 n. 8608/7303/08

http://agroscenari.entecra.it/public/upload/documenti/documenti_ufficiali/decreto_finanziamento.pdf. 

AgroScenari Website: http://www.agroscenari.it/.
201

meteorologia applicata all’agricoltura). The AgroScenari Programme is subdivided into nine research 

lines as follows:

1. Climate change and meteo-climatology;

a) acquisition, adaptation and downscaling of future climatic scenarios at the local scale,

b) modelling to forecast farm soil trafficability,

2. Analysis of climate change impacts on farming systems, with specific reference to herbaceous 

crops;

3. Alternative production systems scenarios with emphasis on typical crops and varieties;

4. New scenarios in the agro-zootechnical D.O.P products;

5. Irrigation and climate change;

6. Land degradation processes and climate change;

7. Climatic scenarios, crop diseases and pests;

8. Phenology and climate change;

9. Economic adaptation strategies of farmers to climate change and agricultural policy support 

tools.

In 2013 the programme was extended up to 31 Dec. 2014226 and it is being carried out by several 

CRA research units as well as by the CNR, several universities and the Regional Agency for 

Environmental Protection (ARPA - Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell’Ambiente) of EmiliaRomagna. In addition, at the national level, the MIUR is in the process of defining preliminary 

feasibility studies concerning a possible knowledge platform for climate227. 

8.3 Observation

According to the PNR 2011-2013, the climate system observations and monitoring must overcome the 

current dispersion and multi-annual planning. A more efficient network for Earth observations would 

facilitate the Italian contributing to the Copernicus Climate Change Services (former GMES - Global

Monitoring for Environment and Security) and GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems)

and the increase of the competitiveness of research programs within the EU. The main topics include:

monitoring the Earth’s surface, changes in the composition of the atmosphere, water cycle, 

emergency response, climate change, marine monitoring and security; support for national 

infrastructure and ESFRI initiatives (ICOS, EUFARCOPAL , SIOS, JERICO, EMSO).

8.4 Major Italian research institutions and organisations working in the field of Climate 

and Climate Change

A quite large number of national universities, public and private institutes and other organizations are 

involved in climate research and climate-related research and systematic observation. The major 

Italian universities consortium, research institutions and organisations conducting climate and climate 

change research are the following ones: 

Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), http://www.ictp.it/;

Agricultural Research Council (CRA - Consiglio per la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in 

Agricoltura), http://www.entecra.it/;

 

226 Ministerial Decree 10th April 2013 n. 6800/7303/13 

http://agroscenari.entecra.it/public/upload/documenti/documenti_ufficiali/decreto_proroga_2014.pdf. 

227 Source: PNR 2005-2007 (http://hubmiur.pubblica.istruzione.it/alfresco/d/d/workspace/SpacesStore/f6e84deba716-470a-a18c-3662a49758f5/1999.pdf).
202

ENI Enrico Mattei Foundation (FEEM - Fondazione ENI Enrico Mattei), http://www.feem.it/;

Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change (CMCC - Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui 

Cambiamenti Climatici), http://www.cmcc.it/;

Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA – Istituto Superiore per la 

Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale), http://www.isprambiente.it;

Institute of Agro-environmental and Forest Biology of the National Research Council 

(IBAF CNR - Istituto di Biologia Agroambientale e Forestale del Consiglio Nazionale delle 

Ricerche), http://www.ibaf.cnr.it/;

Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate of the National Research Council (ISAC 

CNR - Istituto di Scienze dell’Atmosfera e del Clima del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche),

www.isac.cnr.it;

Institute of Biometeorology of the National Research Council (IBIMET CNR - Istituto di 

Biometeorologia del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche), http://www.clima.ibimet.cnr.it/;

Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Research Council (ISMAR CNR - Istituto di 

Scienze Marine del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche), http://www.ismar.cnr.it/;

National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic 

Development (ENEA – Agenzia nazionale per le nuove tecnologie, l’energia e lo sviluppo 

economico sostenibile), www.enea.it;

National Centre of Meteorology and Aeronautical Climatology of the Italian Air Force 

(CNMCA - Centro Nazionale di Meteorologia e Climatologia Aeronautica dell’Aeronautica 

Militare), http://www.meteoam.it/;

National Consortium of Universities for Atmospheric and Hydrospheric Physics 

(CINFAI - Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Fisica delle Atmosfere e delle 

Idrosfere), http://www.cinfai.it/;

National Institute of Experimental Oceanography and Geophysics (OGS - Istituto 

Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale), http://www.ogs.trieste.it/

National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV - Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica 

e Vulcanologia), www.bo.ingv.it;

National Interuniversity Consortium for Marine Sciences, Local Research Unit: 

Department of Geological Sciences and Geotechnologies - Milano-Bicocca (CoNISMa -

Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Unità locale di ricerca: 

Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche e Geotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca),

http://www.conismamibi.it/;

Water Research Institute of the National Research Council (IRSA CNR - Istituto di 

Ricerca sulle Acque), http://www.irsa.cnr.it/;

Zoological Station Anton Dohrn of Naples (Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn di Napoli),

http://www.szn.it/.

In addition, several regional Agencies For Environment Protection (ARPAs) are actively conducting 

research on climate data monitoring, regional climate modelling and regional impacts assessments. 

8.5 Major funding bodies in the field of Climate Change

The major Italian funding bodies for climate change research are reported below:
203

Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA – Istituto Superiore per la 

Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale), http://www.isprambiente.it;

Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forestry Policies (MIPAAF - Ministero delle Politiche 

Agricole Alimentari e Forestali), http://www.politicheagricole.it/;

Ministry of Economy and Finance, (MEF - Ministero dell’Economia e delle Finanze),

http://www.mef.gov.it/;

Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS - Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del 

Territorio e del Mare), http://www.minambiente.it;

Ministry of Foreign Affaires (MAE - Ministero degli Affari Esteri), http://www.esteri.it/;

Ministry of Education, University and Research, (MIUR - Ministero dell’Istruzione, 

dell’Università e della Ricerca), http://www.miur.it/. 
204

8.6 Research

8.6.1 National Projects

Table 8.1 - Relevant National Projects on climate process and climate system studies, including paleoclimate studies; modelling and prediction, 

including general circulation models; research on the impacts of climate change; socio-economic analysis, including analysis of both the 

impacts of climate change and response options; research and development on mitigation and adaptation technologies

Acronym Title and Web site Sponsor / 

Recipient

Start date

End Date

Coordinator Involved Italian Partner(s) Budget (€)

ACIDBIV The integrated impacts of marine 

acidification, temperature and 

precipitation changes on bivalve coastal 

biodiversity and fisheries: how to adapt?

http://www.circlemed.net/index.php?pagename=acidbiv&it

emid=103

IMELS

(CIRCLE MED 

project)

2008-2011 CCMAR 

(Portugal)

Padova University N.A.

N.A. Adaptation measures to changes and 

variability in weather and climate in the 

cereals sector (Misure di adattamento ai 

cambiamenti e alla variabilità meteoclimatica per il settore cerealicolo)

Website N.A.228

MAE

(Mexico–Italy 

bilateral research 

project on science 

and technology of 

“high importance”)

2011 Firenze 

University

Firenze University N.A.

ADRICOSM –

STAR

Integrated Rivers basin and coastal zone 

management system: Montenegro coastal 

area and Bojana river catchment 

http://gnoo.bo.ingv.it/adricosm-star/

IMELS Mar. 2007

Feb. 2010

CMCC CMCC, INGV, SGI, CNR-ISAC, 

CNR-ISMAR, CNR-ISMAR, ENEA, 

OGS, CIRSA, UNITUS, E&Y, CLU, 

ISPRA

Total Budget: 

N.A.

CMCC:

3.180.000

AEROCLOUDS Study of the direct and indirect effects of 

aerosols and clouds on climate (Studio 

degli effetti diretti e indiretti di aerosol e 

nubi sul clima)

http://www.isac.cnr.it/~aeroclouds/

IMELS, MIUR, 

MIPAAF, MEF 

through FISR 2001

Feb. 2006

Feb. 2009

ISAC-CNR ISAC-CNR 4.076.800

 

228 Source: Progetti di ricerca scientifica e tecnologica bilaterale di “Grande Rilevanza” co-finanziati per l’anno 2011 dal Ministero degli Affari Esteri 

(http://www.ricercainternazionale.miur.it/accordi/accordi-bilaterali.aspx).
205

ARCTICA ARCTic research on the Inter-connections 

between Climate and Atmosphere

http://cercauniversita.cineca.it/php5/prin/

cerca.php?codice=20092C7KRC&testo=cli

ma

MIUR 

PRIN 2009

2 years

(Period 

N.A.)

University of 

Firenze

University of Firenze, University 

of Torino, University of Pisa, 

University of Roma “La 

Sapienza”, CNR

255.472

ARGO ITALY Italian contribution to global ocean 

monitoring

http://nettuno.ogs.trieste.it/jungo/argoita

ly/

MIUR N.A. OGS OGS N.A.

CANTICO Climate and local ANthropogenic drivers 

and impacts for the TunisIan COastal area

http://www.circlemed.net/index.php?pagename=cantico&it

emid=105

IMELS 

(CIRCLE MED 

project)

Nov. 2008

Nov. 2010

CMCC CMCC, OGS CMCC:

74.80)

CARBOITALY Innovative instruments for Kyoto Protocol 

implementation-creation and 

harmonization of the Italian net for the 

measurement of agricultural and forest 

sinks, and development of the national 

system for assessing and projecting 

greenhouse gas uptake (Strumenti 

innovativi per l’implementazione del 

Protocollo di Kyoto - creazione ed 

armonizzazione della rete italiana di 

misura dei sink forestali ed agricoli e 

sviluppo del sistema nazionale di stima e 

previsione dell’assorbimento di gas ad 

effetto serra)

http://gaia.agraria.unitus.it/carboitaly

IMELS, MIUR, 

MIPAAF, MEF 

through FISR 2001

Feb. 2006

Feb. 2009

University of 

Tuscia 

(Università degli 

Studi della 

Tuscia)

University of Tuscia 4 Million

CARBOTREES Climate change mitigation strategies in 

tree crops and forestry in Italy (Strategie 

nazionali per la mitigazione dei 

Cambiamenti Climatici in sistemi arborei 

agrari e forestali)

http://cercauniversita.cineca.it/php5/prin/

cerca.php?codice=201049EXTW&testo=cli

ma

MIUR 

PRIN 2010-2011

3 years

(Period 

N.A.)

University of 

Tuscia

University of Tuscia, Molise 

University, Sassari University, 

Napoli University, Padova 

University, Palermo University, 

Firenze University, Basilicata 

University, Perugia University

864.500

N.A. Climate change in the Mediterranean MIUR 3 years Milano University Milano University, Ferrara 496.824
206

area: evolution scenarios, economic 

impacts, mitigation policies and 

technological innovation (I cambiamenti 

climatici nell’area del Mediterraneo: 

scenari evolutivi, impatti economici, 

politiche di mitigazione e innovazione 

tecnologica)

http://cercauniversita.cineca.it/php5/prin/

cerca.php?codice=2010S2LHSE&testo=cli

ma

PRIN 2010-2011 (Period 

N.A.)

University, Venezia University 

“Ca’ Foscari”, Roma University 

TRE, Padova University, Siena 

University, Catholic University 

“Sacro Cuore”, Roma University 

“Tor Vergata”, Roma University 

“La Sapienza”

N.A. Climatic variations of the late Quaternary: 

a study on the southern Argentina lakes 

(Le variazioni climatiche del tardo 

Quaternario: uno studio sui laghi 

dell’Argentina meridionale)

Website N.A.229

MAE 

(Argentina–Italy 

bilateral research 

project on science 

and technology)

2010 OGS OGS Total cost: 

94.600 

MAE: 45.000

CLIMESCO Evolution of cropping systems as affected 

by climate change (Evoluzione dei sistemi

colturali a seguito dei cambiamenti 

climatici)

http://climesco.entecra.it/

IMELS, MIUR, 

MIPAAF, MEF 

through FISR 2001

Feb. 2006

Feb. 2010

Agronomical 

Research 

Institute of the 

Agricultural 

Research Council 

(ISA CRA -

Istituto 

Sperimentale 

Agronomico del

CRA)

CRA Research Unit for Cropping 

Systems in Dry Environments 

(CRA-SCA), CRA Research Unit 

for the Study of the Cropping 

Systems (CRA-SSC), Palermo 

University, CNR-ISAC, Foggia 

University, Bari University, 

Basilicata University, 

2.377.900

N.A. CO2 excess in the geological past: 

responses of biota to global changes of 

extreme heat and ocean acidification 

(Eccesso di CO2 nel passato geologico: 

risposte del biota a cambiamenti globali di 

caldo estremo e acidificazione degli 

oceani)

http://cercauniversita.cineca.it/php5/prin/

cerca.php?codice=2010X3PP8J&testo=cli

MIUR 

PRIN 2010-2011

3 years

(Period 

N.A.)

University of 

Milano

University of Milano, University 

of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 

University of Padova, CNR, 

"Carlo BO"University of Urbino 

421.887

 

229 Source: ANNO 2010 - Progetti di ricerca scientifica e tecnologica bilaterale finanziati MAE - MIUR ai sensi della legge 401/90 

(http://www.ricercainternazionale.miur.it/media/1538/2010_tab_gr_mae_miur.pdf).
207

ma

N.A. Crisis and recovery of carbonate systems 

and the potential for the formation of 

reservoir: the roles of climate, tectonics 

and magmatism (Crisi e ripresa di sistemi 

carbonatici e potenziale per la formazione 

di reservoir: i ruoli di clima, tettonica e 

magmatismo)

http://cercauniversita.cineca.it/php5/prin/

cerca.php?codice=20107ESMX9&testo=cli

ma

MIUR 

PRIN 2010-2011

3 years

(Period 

N.A.)

University of 

Roma “La 

Sapienza”

University of Roma “La 

Sapienza”, University of Padova, 

University of Ferrara, University 

of Modena And Reggio Emilia, 

University of Milano

279.226

N.A. Dynamics of morphoclimatic systems in 

response to global change and induced

geomorphological hazards (Dinamica dei 

sistemi morfoclimatici in risposta ai 

cambiamenti globali e rischi 

geomorfologici indotti)

http://cercauniversita.cineca.it/php5/prin/

cerca.php?codice=2010AYKTAB

MIUR 

PRIN 2010-2011

3 years

(Period 

N.A.)

Pisa University Pisa University, Bari University, 

Modena and Reggio Emilia 

University, Torino University, 

Roma University “La Sapienza”, 

Milano University, Padova 

University, INGV

488.690

EEE High-energy efficiency buildings (Edifici 

ad alta efficienza energetica)

Website N.A.230

PNR (National 

Research 

Programme) 

2011-2013

“Project of 

Interest”

3 years

(Period 

N.A.)

Piattaforma 

Tecnologica 

italiana delle 

Costruzioni, 

ANCE, 

Federcostruzioni

Piattaforma Tecnologica italiana 

delle Costruzioni, ANCE, 

Federcostruzioni

20.000.000

(estimated)

N.A. Effects of climate on populations of

species of fauna omeoterma-model: 

development of predictive models of 

climate change (Effetti del clima su 

popolazioni di specie-modello di fauna 

omeoterma: sviluppo di modelli predittivi 

legati ai cambiamenti climatici)

http://cercauniversita.cineca.it/php5/prin/

cerca.php?codice=20108TZKHC&testo=cli

ma

MIUR 

PRIN 2010-2011

3 years

(Period 

N.A.)

Sassari 

University

Sassari University, Palermo 

University Varese-Como 

“INSUBRIA” University, Pavia, 

CNR

672.187

 

230 Source: PNR (National Reasearch Programme) 2011-2013 (http://www.miur.it/Documenti/ricerca/pnr_2011_2013/PNR_2011-2013_23_MAR_2011_web.pdf).
208

EGI Geological hydrocarbon emissions into the 

atmosphere in Italy (Emissioni geologiche 

di idrocarburi in atmosfera in Italia)

http://cercauniversita.cineca.it/php5/prin/

cerca.php?codice=2009JM4K9M

MIUR 

PRIN 2009

2 years

(Period 

N.A.)

Second 

University of 

Napoli

Second University of Napoli, 

INGV, University of Bologna

246.859

N.A. Environmental variability, climatic 

changes and anthropic impacts: adaptive 

response in benthic species, communities

and benthic systems

https://www.researchitaly.it/en/understa

nding/project-and-success-stories/mainprojects/adaptive-responses-toenvironmental-variability-climatechanges-and-anthropic-impacts/

MIUR through 

PNRA

Jan. 2013

De. 2015

Stazione 

Zoologica Anton 

Dohrn (SZN)

SZN N.A.

GEISCA Insects and globalization sustainable 

control of exotic species in agro-forest 

ecosystems (Insetti e globalizzazione: 

controllo sostenibile di specie esotiche in 

ecosistemi agro-forestali)

http://cercauniversita.cineca.it/php5/prin/

cerca.php?codice=2010CXXHJE&testo=cli

ma

MIUR 

PRIN 2010-2011

3 years

(Period 

N.A.)

Bologna 

University

Bologna University, Milano 

University, Torino University, 

Catania University, Padova 

University, Reggio Calabria 

“Mediterranea” University, CNR

661.500

GENIUS LOCI Role of the building sector on the climatic 

change (Ruolo del settore edilizio sul 

cambiamento climatico) 

http://www.ipassnet.it/it/ricerca/geniusloci

IMELS, MIUR, 

MIPAAF, MEF 

through FISR 2001

Jul. 2006

Jul. 2009

IPASS 

Consortium -

Engineering for 

Environment and 

Sustainable 

development 

(Consorzio IPASS

- Ingegneria Per 

l’Ambiente e lo 

Sviluppo 

Sostenibile)

IPASS Consortium 1.808.100

IC-FAR Evaluation of the uncertainty associated 

with the projections of climate change 

impact on Italian herbaceous cropping 

systems, through long-term observations

and mathematical models of the farming 

system, in support to adaptation 

MIUR 

PRIN 2010-2011

3 years

(Period 

N.A.)

Sassari 

University

Sassari University, Bologna 

University, Basilicata University, 

Padova University, Firenze 

University, Polytechnic Marche 

University, Torino University, 

Udine, Pisa University, Perugia 

868.000
209

strategies (Valutazione dell’incertezza 

associata alle previsioni di impatto dei 

cambiamenti climatici sui sistemi colturali 

erbacei italiani, attraverso osservazioni di 

lunga durata e modelli matematici di 

sistema colturale, a supporto di strategie 

di adattamento)

http://cercauniversita.cineca.it/php5/prin/

cerca.php?codice=2010FRE7J4&testo=cli

ma

University, CNR

IFCG International Forum on Climate 

Governance

http://www.iccgov.org/

IMELS, CMCC Sep. 2009

Dec. 2013

CMCC CMCC, FEEM, Fondazione Giorgio 

Cini

N.A.

N.A. Innovative methodologies for water 

resources management under scenarios

of hydro-climatic uncertainty (Metodologie 

innovative per la gestione delle risorse 

idriche in scenari di incertezza idroclimatica)

http://cercauniversita.cineca.it/php5/prin/

cerca.php?codice=2010JHF437&testo=cli

ma

MIUR 

PRIN 2010-2011

3 years

(Period 

N.A.)

Trento University Trento University; Modena and 

Reggio Emilia University, Padova 

University, Roma University 

"TRE” Milano University, Napoli 

University “Federico II”, CNR

735.000

INTERMED The impact of climate change on 

Mediterranean intertidal communities: 

losses in coastal ecosystem integrity and 

services

http://www.circlemed.net/index.php?pagename=acidbiv&it

emid=108

IMELS

(CIRCLE MED 

project)

2008-2010 Palermo 

University

Palermo University N.A.

IPICS-2kyr-Italia International Partnership in Ice Core 

Sciences – 2 kyear

Website N.A.

MIUR through the 

PNRA

2 years

(Period 

N.A.)

ENEA ENEA, Trieste University, 

University of Milano-Bicocca, 

INGV, Firenze University, IDPACNR

150.000

ITALY-ISRAEL International research activities within 

Italy-Israel cooperation on environment 

and R&D

http://www.cmcc.it/projects/cooperationitaly-israel-on-environment-research-andIMELS Dec. 2008

Jun. 2011

CMCC CMCC, ICRAM, University of 

Tuscia, Genova University, Lecce 

University

Total Budget: 

N.A.

CMCC: 

283.740
210

development

ITALY-USA III Cooperation on Science and Technology of 

Climate Change

Website N.A.

IMELS Sep. 2006

Sep. 2009

CMCC CMCC Total Budget: 

N.A.

CMCC: 

2.620.118 

N.A. Mechanisms that regulate biological 

processes and ecology of plankton

https://www.researchitaly.it/en/understa

nding/project-and-success-stories/mainprojects/mechanisms-that-regulatebiological-processes-and-ecology-ofplankton/

MIUR through 

PNRA

Jan. 2013

De. 2015

Stazione 

Zoologica Anton 

Dohrn (SZN)

SZN N.A.

MEDCODYN Climate change impacts in transitional 

water systems in the Mediterranean

http://www.circlemed.net/index.php?pagename=acidbiv&it

emid=109

IMELS

(CIRCLE MED 

project)

2008-2011 IMELS Siena University, CRA-LCI N.A.

MESCOSAGR Sustainable methods for the sequestration 

of organic carbon in arable soils. Effects 

on the chemical, physical, biological, and 

agronomic quality of soils (Metodi 

Sostenibili per il sequestro del carbonio 

organico nei suoli agrari. Valutazione degli 

effetti sulla qualità chimica, fisica, 

biologica ed agronomica dei suoli )

http://www.suprahumic.unina.it/home/en

/the-group/18.html

IMELS, MIUR, 

MIPAAF, MEF 

through FISR 2001

Aug. 2006

Aug. 2010

University of 

Napoli Federico 

II, Department 

for Soil, Plant, 

Environment and 

animal 

productions 

sciences 

(Dipartimento di 

Scienze del 

Suolo, della 

Pianta, 

dell’Ambiente e 

delle Produzioni 

Animali, 

Università di 

Napoli Federico 

II)

University of Napoli, University 

of Torino, University of

Basilicata, University of Bari, 

“Mediterranea” University of 

Reggio Calabria, Catholic 

University “Sacro Cuore” in 

Piacenza

1.808.100

M.I.C.E.N.A. An integrated model for the evolution of 

natural and agricultural ecosystems in 

relation to climate change in the 

IMELS, MIUR, 

MIPAAF, MEF 

through FISR 2001

March 2006

Feb. 2009

University of 

Perugia, 

Department of 

University of Perugia 1.902.158,75
211

Mediterranean area (Modello integrato per 

l’evoluzione degli ecosistemi naturali e 

agricoli in relazione ai cambiamenti 

climatici nell’area mediterranea )

Website N.A.

Economy, 

Finance and 

Statistics 

(Università degli 

Studi di Perugia, 

Dipartimento di 

Economia, 

Finanza e 

Statistica)

N.A. Micro-generation of electric power and 

de-salted water from biomass and wastes 

by the technology of pyrolisis combined 

with internal combustion engine – From 

the laboratory to the trading of integrated 

systems aimed to lowering greenhouse 

gases and improving coastal areas 

sustainability” (Micro-cogenerazionedi 

energia elettrica ed acqua dissalata da 

biomassa e rifiuti con tecnologia di pirolisi 

associata a microturbina e motore a 

combustione interna - Dal laboratorio alla 

commercializzazione di sistemi integrati 

per il contenimento diffuso dei gas serra e 

la sostenibilità delle aree costiere )

Website N.A.

IMELS, MIUR, 

MIPAAF, MEF 

through FISR 2001

May 2006

May 2009

High Institute for 

Research and 

Education on 

Special Materials 

for Advanced 

Technologies and 

for Environment 

(ISRIM – Istituto 

Superiore di 

Ricerca e 

Formazione sui 

Materiali Speciali 

per le Tecnologie 

Avanzate e per 

l’Ambiente)

ISRIM 2.446.500

NDACC Observations of changes in chemical 

composition and physical properties of 

polar atmospheres from NDACC stations

Website N.A.

N.A. 2012-2014 ENEA ENEA, INGV, University of Rome 

“La Sapienza”

115.000

NextData A national system for the retrieval, 

storage, access and diffusion of 

environmental and climate data from 

mountain and marine areas (Un sistema 

nazionale per la raccolta, conservazione, 

accessibilità e diffusione dei dati 

ambientali e climatici in aree montane e 

marine)

http://www.nextdataproject.it/?q=it

MIUR through PNR 

2011-2013

“Project of 

Interest”

Jan. 2012

Dec. 2015

CNR CGI, CINECA, CNR, CMCC, 

ENEA, ICTP, INGV, Gran 

Paradiso National Park, Milano 

University Bicocca, Torino 

University

40.000.000

(estimated)

N.A. Optimization of water use in the MAE 2009 CNR - IBAF CNR - IBAF Total cost: 
212

vegetation of arid land subject to the 

processes of desertification and climate 

change (Ottimizzazione dell’uso dell’acqua 

nella vegetazione dei territori aridi 

soggetti a processi di desertificazione ed 

ai cambiamenti climatici)

Website N.A.231

(Pakistan–Italy 

bilateral research 

project of “high 

importance”)

190.000

MAE: 80.000

PRIDE Paleoclimatic records from ice core data 

processing (Record Paleoclimatici 

dall’Elaborazione di dati da Ice Core)

Website N.A.

MIUR through the 

PNRA

2 years

(Period 

N.A.)

University of 

Firenze

University of Firenze, University 

of Milano-Bicocca, IDPA-CNR, 

ENEA, University of Parma, 

University of Bologna

150.000

Ritmare Italian Research for the sea (Ricerca 

italiana per il mare)

http://www.ritmare.it/en

MIUR through PNR 

2011-2013 with 

co-financing by 

Research 

Institutes

“Flagship project”

Jan. 2012

Dec. 2016

CNR CNR, ENEA, CoNISMa, OGS, 

INGV, SZN, CINFAI

250 Million

SENSE Urban environmental sustainability and 

building envelope (Sostenibilità 

ambientale urbana e involucro edilizio)

http://cercauniversita.cineca.it/php5/prin/

cerca.php?codice=2009ZYZ27Z&testo=cli

ma

MIUR 

PRIN 2009

2 years

(Period 

N.A.)

University of 

Roma “La 

Sapienza”

University of Roma “La 

Sapienza”, CNR, Polytechnic of 

Milano

168.487

SIDS Cooperation Italy-SIDS on the impacts of 

climate change and on the policies of 

reduction of greenhouse gases

http://www.cmcc.it/website/projects/sidscooperation-italy-sids-on-the-impacts-ofclimate-change-and-on-the-policies-ofreduction-of-greenhouse-gases

IMELS Nov. 2008

Nov. 2010

CMCC CMCC 396.400

SIDS 2 Climate Change Assessment in Small 

Pacific Island States 

http://www.cmcc.it/website/projects/sids

2-climate-change-assessment-in-smallIMELS Jul. 2010

Dec. 2012

CMCC CMCC, Milano Polytechnic 

University

325.000

 

231 Contributi 2009 MAE – MIUR per incentivare progetti di ricerca di grande rilevanza approvati nei protocolli esecutivi degli accordi bilaterali scientifici e tecnologici 

(http://www.ricercainternazionale.miur.it/media/1541/2009_tab_gr_mae_miur.pdf).
213

pacific-island-states

SNAC Elements to develop a National 

Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change

http://www.cmcc.it/website/projects/snac

-elements-to-develop-a-nationaladaptation-strategy-to-climate-change

IMELS Jul. 2012

Jul. 2014

CMCC CMCC 180.000

SOILSINK Climate change and agro-forestry 

systems, impacts on soil carbon sink and 

microbial diversity (Cambiamenti climatici 

e sistemi produttivi agricoli e forestali: 

impatto sulle riserve di carbonio e sulla 

diversità microbica del suolo)

http://soilsink.entecra.it/Progetto/

IMELS, MIUR, 

MIPAAF, MEF 

through FISR 2001

Jul. 2006

Jun. 2009

Institute for 

Plant Nutrition of 

the Agricultural 

Research Council 

(ISNP CRA –

Istituto 

Sperimentale per 

la Nutrizione 

delle Piante del 

Consiglio per la 

Ricerca e la 

sperimentazione 

in Agricoltura)

CRA, CRA-RPS, UNIVPM, UNISS, 

DIPSA, UTS-ENEA, CRA-ABP, 

DBBA, BIOVEG, DCBA, CNRIBAF, DABAC, CRA-SUI

2.558.556

TESSA Development of technologies for the 

“Situational Sea Awareness”

http://www.seaconditions.com/web/tessa/home

MIUR through the 

National Operative 

Programme (PON) 

for Research and 

Competitiveness 

2007-2013 and 

co-funding by the 

Research subsidy 

fund (FAR)

Jan. 2012 

Dec. 2014

Links S.p.a. Links S.p.a., CMCC, CNR-IAMC Total Budget: 

N.A.

CMCC: 

6.665.754

TreeCity Designing the green city in the era of 

global change: functions of urban trees

and their adaptability in future climate 

conditions (Progettare la città verde 

nell’era del cambiamento globale: funzioni 

degli alberi urbani e loro adattabilità nelle 

future condizioni climatiche)

http://cercauniversita.cineca.it/php5/prin/

cerca.php?codice=20109E8F95&testo=cli

ma

MIUR 

PRIN 2010-2011

Next 3 years

(Period 

N.A.)

Pisa University Pisa University, University of 

Tuscia, CNR, “Sacro Cuore” 

Catholic University, “La 

Sapienza” Rome University, 

Palermo University, Firenze 

University, Trieste University

812.000
214

VECTOR VulnErability of the Italian coastal area 

and marine ecosystems to Climatic 

changes and Their rOle in the 

Mediterranean caRbon cycles

http://vector.conismamibi.it/

IMELS, MIUR, 

MIPAAF, MEF 

through FISR 2001

Feb. 2006

Jan. 2010

Milano-Bicocca 

University

CoNISMa, ENEA, CNR-IAMC, 

ICRAM, IDPA CNR, CMCC, CNRISMAR, OGS, SZN

5.717.250 

WATERKNOW Integrated Water Management in Coastal 

Drainage Basins: challenges and 

adaptation strategies within the 

framework of climate change

IMELS 

(Circle MED 

project)

2008-2011 University of 

Bologna

University of Bologna CIRSA 

(Inter-departmental Centre for 

Environmental Sciences)
215

Box 8.1: NextData Project

Within the PNR 2011-2013, the “Project of Interest”: A national system for the retrieval, storage, 

access and diffusion of environmental and climate data from mountain and marine areas (NextData -

Un sistema nazionale per la raccolta, conservazione, accessibilità e diffusione dei dati ambientali e 

climatici in aree montane e marine), with estimated total cost of € 40 million in 3 years, focuses on 

the design and implementation of an intelligent system for the collection, preservation, accessibility 

and dissemination of environmental and climate data. The main goals of the project are to reach an 

easy accessibility to a considerable mass of data useful to understand the evolution of climate and of 

the environment, and to develop appropriate systems to storage and transfer climate knowledge. The 

specific project objectives are:

cleverly collecting data in an autonomous as well as open way;

increasing the ability to extract meaning from data;

being a useful reference point for national and international initiatives (UNEP, WMO-World 

Metrological Organization, GMES, GEO / GEOSS);

strengthening the SeaDataNet232. Activation of high altitude monitoring networks for climate; 

stations belonging to the GAW; environmental cryo-archives; marine observations systems.

preparing long-term environmental digital archives.

The projects is structured into 2 the following sub-projects:

1. Integrated observation system for environment and climate monitoring - developing an 

integrated observation for environment and climate monitoring, able to promote measurement 

networks in mountain and marine areas and to deal with the entire lifetime of the data. It 

includes the development of measurement and data transmission technologies that are easy 

to transport, and dedicated for regions with extreme environmental conditions. The 

measurements will include meteoclimatic and air quality data, the coring of non-polar ice and 

marine sediments, and environmental data (biodiversity, hydrological cycle). The activities will 

be undertaken in synergy with international programmes and projects (SHARE, GAW-WMO, 

UNEP, GMES, GEO/GEOSS, GEWEX, SeaDataNet, ICOS, ECRA).

2. Long-term system of digital data on climate and environment, and pilot studies on data use -

developing a system of repositories storing climatological and environmental data from 

measurements made during the project, pre-existing measurements, and numerical 

simulations.

 

232 Pan-European Infrastructure for Ocean & Marine Data Management http://www.seadatanet.org/. 
216

Box 8.2: EEE Project

Within the PNR 2011-2013, the “Project of Interest”: High-energy efficiency buildings (EEE - Edifici ad 

alta efficienza energetica), with an estimated total cost of € 20 million in 3 years, focuses on 

developing technologies allowing energy savings in buildings, networking existing excellences in the 

country and taking the necessary procedures for the transfer of the know-how to SMEs. 

The expected impact of this project is: improving quality of life, energy saving and environmental 

sustainability.

The project specific objectives are:

development of building materials with high efficiency and low energy incorporated for the 

construction of durable and recyclable building components;

design of multifunctional materials;

ICT for home automation and systems;

development of unconventional solutions.

Box 8.3: Ritmare Project

The European Commission highlighted in its Blue paper (COM2007/575 of October 10th 2007) the need 

to implement an integrated maritime and marine policy in order to “enhance Europe's capacity to face 

the challenges of globalisation and competitiveness, climate change, degradation of the marine 

environment, maritime safety and security, and energy security and sustainability.” It added that such 

a policy “must be based on excellence in marine research, technology and innovation”.

Within the PNR 2011-2013, the “Flagship project”: Italian Research for the sea (Ritmare - Ricerca 

italiana per il mare), with an estimated total cost of € 250 Million in 3 years, aims at implementing the 

requirements of the Blue Paper in terms of research and innovation, by means of a national 

programme of scientific and technological marine research. Ritmare is structured into seven subprojects:

1. Maritime Technologies for the development and construction of a Demonstration Vessel

2. Technologies for Sustainable Fishing

3. Planning of the Maritime Space in Coastal Waters

4. Planning of the Deep Marine Environment and the Open Sea

5. Observation System for the Marine Mediterranean Environment

6. Research, Training and Dissemination Structures

7. Interoperable Infrastructure for the Observation Network and Marine Data.
217

8.6.2 International Projects

Table 8.2 - Relevant International Projects on climate process and climate system studies, including paleoclimate studies; modelling and 

prediction, including general circulation models; research on the impacts of climate change; socio-economic analysis, including analysis of both 

the impacts of climate change and response options; research and development on mitigation and adaptation technologies

Acronym Title and Web site Sponsor / Recipient Start date

End Date

Coordinator Involved Italian Partner(s)

ACCENT-PLUS Atmospheric Composition Change: the 

European Network-Policy Support and 

Science

http://www.accent-network.org

European Commission (EC)

FP7-ENVIRONMENT

Nov. 2010

Oct. 2014

CNR-ISAC CNR-ISAC, Urbino University 

“Carlo Bo”

ACLIMAS Climate Change Adaptation of the 

Mediterranean Agricultural Systems 

http://www.aclimas.eu/

EC Sustainable Water 

Integrated Management –

(SWIM) programme

Dec. 2011

Dec. 2014

Istituto 

Agronomico 

Mediterraneo di 

Bari (CIHEAMIAMB)

Mediterranean Agronomic 

Institute of Bari (CIHEAM-IAMB), 

CMCC, Institute for 

Mediterranean Agriculture and 

Forest Systems (CNR-ISAFOM) of 

the National Research Council

(CNR-ISAFOM)

ACT Adapting to climate Change in Time

http://www.actlife.eu/ 

EC LIFE+ Environment Policy 

and Governance - LIFE08 

ENV/IT/436

Jan. 2010

Jun. 2013

Municipality of 

Ancona

Municipality of Ancona, ISPRA, 

Forum of Adriatic and Ionian 

Cities

AdaptAlp Adaptation to Climate Change in the 

Alpine Space

http://www.adaptalp.org/

European Regional 

Development Fund - Alpine 

Space (Interreg III B) Priority 

3: Environment and Risk 

Prevention, co-funded by 

IMELS

Jan. 2009

Aug. 2011

Bavarian State 

Ministry of the 

Environment and 

Public Health, 

Department 78 –

Unit for Climate 

Change Protection 

(StMUG)

Autonomous Province of Bolzano 

IMELS, CMCC (IMELS subcontractor), Piemonte Regional 

Agency for Environmental 

Protection (ARPA), Aosta Valley 

Autonomous Region, EURAC 

Research (European Academy of 

Bolzano)

AFRICA – GHG The role of African tropical forests on the 

Greenhouse Gases balance of the 

atmosphere

http://www.cmcc.it/projects/africa-ghgthe-role-of-african-tropical-forests-onthe-greenhouse-gases-balance-of-theatmosphere-2#anchor-partners

ERC FP7-IDEAS-ERC April 2010

March 2014

CMCC through 

UNITUS -

Università degli 

Studi della Tuscia

CMCC, through UNITUS -

Università degli Studi della Tuscia
218

AMPERE Assessment of Climate Change Mitigation 

Pathways and Evaluation of the 

Robustness of Mitigation Cost Estimates

http://ampere-project.eu

EC FP7-ENVIRONMENT Feb. 2011

Jan. 2014

Potsdam Institut 

Fuer 

Klimafolgenforschu

ng (Germany)

FEEM

BASE Bottom-up Climate Adaptation Strategies 

towards a Sustainable Europe

http://www.base-adapt.eu/

EC DG Research (CooperationEnvironment)Oct. 2012

Sep. 2016

Aarhus Universitet 

(Denmark)

CMCC, ISPRA

BRAHMATWINN Brahmaputra-Inn: Twinning European and 

South- East Asian River basins to enhance 

and implement adaptive integrated water 

resources management (IWRM) strategies 

http://www.brahmatwinn.unijena.de/index.php?id=5314&L=2)

EC DG Research (Integrating 

and Strengthening 

Programme)

Jun. 2006

Dec. 2009

Friedrich-SchillerUniversitaet Jena 

(Germany)

CMCC (formally through FEEM)

BRIDGE SustainaBle uRban plannIng Decision 

support accountinG for urban mEtabolism

http://www.bridge-fp7.eu

EC FP7-ENVIRONMENT Dec. 2008

Nov. 2011

Foundation For 

Research And 

Technology Hellas 

(Greece)

CMCC, CNR

C3 ALPS C3-Alps – Capitalising Climate Change 

Knowledge for Adaptation in the Alpine 

Space 

http://www.c3alps.eu/index.php/it/

Alpine Space Programme 

European Territorial 

Cooperation 2007-2013 

(Interreg)

Jan. 2012

Dec. 2014

Environment 

Agency Austria

Veneto Region, ARPA Piemonte, 

CMCC, European Academy of 

Bolzano

CACOS Coordination action carbon observation 

system

http://www.cocos-carbon.org/

EC FP7-ENVIRONMENT May 2008

Oct. 2011

Vereniging Voor 

Christelijk Hoger 

Onderwijs 

Wetenschappelijk 

Onderzoek En 

Patientenzorg 

(Nederland)

CMCC (formally through 

University of Tuscia)

CarboAfrica Quantification, understanding and 

prediction of carbon cycle and other GHG 

gases in Sub-Saharan Africa

www.carboafrica.net

EC FP6 Oct. 2006

Mar. 2010

CMCC (formally 

through UNITUS)

CMCC (formally through 

UNITUS), CNR-IBIMET, Second 

University of Napoli

CARBO-EXTREME The terrestrial Carbon cycle under climate 

variability and extremes a Pan-European 

synthesis

http://www.carbo-extreme.eu/

EC FP7-ENVIRONMENT Jun. 2009

May 2013

Max Planck 

Gesellschaft Zur 

Foerderung Der 

Wissenschaften 

e.v. (Germany)

University of Tuscia, CNR
219

CASCADE Climate Change Impacts on WAter 

ReSources in the Coastal Zones of Small 

IslAnd Developing StatEs

http://www2.sta.uwi.edu/cascade/

The African, Caribbean and 

Pacific Group of States within 

the European Commission 

EuropeAid Programme

EuropeAid/130381/D/ACT/ACP

Aug. 2012

Jul. 2014

UWI University of 

the West Indies

CMCC

CATALYST Capacity development for hazard risk 

reduction & adaptation

http://www.catalyst-project.eu/

EC FP7-ENV-2011 Oct. 2011

Sept 2013

GmbH (formerly 

Seecon) 

(Germany)

CMCC (formally through FEEM)

CATCH Carbon aware travel choices in the 

climate-friendly world of tomorrow

http://www.carbonaware.eu/

FP7-TRANSPORT Aug. 2009

Jan. 2012

MRC Mclean Hazel 

Limited (UK)

Systematica S.P.A., University of 

Palermo

CHAMP Climate Change Response through 

Managing Urban Europe-27 Platform

http://www.localmanagement.eu

EC LIFE+ programme, 

Lombardia Region, other 

Countries’ co-funders

Jan.-2009

Apr. 2012

Union of the Baltic 

Cities (UBC) 

Commission of 

Environment

Ambiente Italia, Coordinamento 

Agende 21 Locali Italiane

CIRCE Climate Change and impact Research: the 

Mediterranean Environment

http://www.circeproject.eu/

EC DG Research (CooperationEnvironment)Apr. 2007

Jun. 2011

INGV INGV, CLU srl, ENEA, FEEM, CNR 

(IBAF, IBIMET, ISAC, IRSA), 

CMCC, Department of 

Epidemiology in Rome, University 

of Bologna, University of Tuscia, 

Zadig srl, University of L'Aquila, 

niversity of Lecce, OGS

CIRCLE Climate Impact Research Coordination for 

a Larger Europe 

http://www.circle-era.net/

EC FP6 Oct. 2005

Sep. 2009

Fundacao Da 

Faculdade De 

Ciencias Da 

Universidade De 

Lisboa (Portugal)

CMCC (formally through INGV)

CIRCLE-2 Climate Impact Research and Response 

Coordination for a Larger Europe –

Science meets Policy

http://www.circle-era.net/

EC FP7-ENVIRONMENT

ERA-Net-2009-RTD

May 2010

Apr. 2014

Fundacao Da 

Faculdade De 

Ciencias Da 

Universidade De 

Lisboa (Portugal)

CMCC

CLARIS LPB A Europe-South America Network For 

Climate Change Assessment and Impact 

Studies in La Plata Basin

http://www.claris-eu.org/

EC DG Research (CooperationEnvironment)Oct. 2008

Oct. 2012

(IRD) Institute of 

Research for the 

Development –

(France) 

CMCC, Bologna University, 

Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico -

RSE S.p.A., 

ClimAfrica Climate change predictions in Sub- EC FP7 Environment Oct. 2010 CMCC CMCC
220

Saharan Africa: impacts and adaptations

http://www.climafrica.net/index_en.jsp

Sep. 2014

ClimAlpTour Climate Change and its Impact on 

Tourism in the Alpine Space 

http://www.climalptour.eu/

Alpine Space Programme 

European Territorial 

Cooperation 2007-2013 

(Interreg) 

Feb. 2009

Sep. 2011

Veneto Region Veneto Region, IMELS, CMCC (as 

IMELS subcontractor, EURAC

European Academy of Bolzano, 

National Union of Piemonte

Mountains Municipalities

Communities and Authorities, 

IREALP, Valle d’Aosta Region, 

World Wide Fund for Nature Italy

MAFor Climate Change and Forest Mitigation and 

Adaptation in a Polluted Environment

http://www.cost.eu/domains_actions/fps/

Actions/FP0903?parties

EU RTD Framework 

Programme

COST (European Cooperation 

in Science and Technology)

Forests, their Products and 

Services (FPS) 

Action FP0903

Nov. 2009

Nov. 2013

IPP-CNR IPP-CNR, IBAF CNR, “Sacro 

Cuore” University of Brescia, 

CRA-SCA, CNR

ClimateCost Full Costs of Climate Change

http://www.climatecost.cc/

EC DG Research (CooperationEnvironment)Jan. 2000

Aug. 2011

Stockholm 

Environment 

Institute (United 

Kngdom)

CMCC (formally through FEEM)

CLIMATE FOR 

CULTURE

Damage risk assessment, economic 

impact and mitigation strategies for 

sustainable preservation of cultural 

heritage in the times of climate change

http://www.climateforculture.eu/

EC FP7-ENVIRONMENT Nov. 2009

Oct. 2014

FraunhoferGesellschaft Zur 

Foerderung Der 

Angewandten 

Forschung E.V 

(Germany)

CNR, Fondazione Salvatore 

Maugeri Clinica Del Lavoro E 

Della Riabilitazione

CLIMRUN Local Climate Informations to Respond to 

Users Needs 

http://www.climrun.eu

EC DG Research (CooperationEnvironment)Mar. 2011

Feb. 2014

ENEA ENEA, CMCC, ICTP

ClimWatAdapt Climate Adaptation – modelling water 

scenarios and sectoral impacts

http://climwatadapt.eu/

Tender EC DG Environment

Unit D.1. Water

Jan. 2010

Aug. 2011

CESR (Germany) CMCC

CLISP Climate Change Adaptation by Spatial 

Planning in the Alpine Space 

http://www.clisp.eu/

EC Alpine Space Programme 

under the European Territorial 

Cooperation 2007-2013

Jun. 2008

Sep. 2011

UBA -

Umweltbundesamt 

GmbH Austria

IMELS, European Academy of 

Bolzano, Province of Alessandria
221

CLUVA Climate change and Urban Vulnerability in 

Africa

http://www.cluva.eu/

EC EC DG Research 

(Cooperation-Environment)

Dec. 2010

Nov. 2013

AMRA Analysis and 

Monitoring of 

Environmental 

Risk Scarl

AMRA Scarl, CMCC

CO2CARE CO2 Site Closure Assessment Research

http://www.co2care.org/

EC FP7-ENERGY Jan. 2011

Dec. 2013

HelmholtzZentrum Potsdam 

Deutsches 

Geoforschungszent

rum (Germany)

OGS

COASTANCE regional COmmon Action STrategy 

Against Coastal Erosion and climate 

change effects for a sustainable coastal 

planning in the Mediterranean basin

www.coastance.eu

EC ERDF European Territorial 

Cooperation 2007-2013

Apr. 2009

Mar. 2012

Region of East 

Macedonia & 

Thrace (Greece)

Lazio Region, Emilia-Romagna 

Region

COMBINE Comprehensive Modelling of the Earth 

system for better climate prediction and 

projection

http://www.combine-project.eu/

EC DG Research (CooperationEnvironment)May 2009

Oct. 2013

Max Planck 

Gesellschaft Zur 

Foerderung Der 

Wissenschaften 

E.V. (Germany)

CMCC

CPO Climate Policy Outreach 

http://www.cmcc.it/projects/cpo-climatepolicy-outreach-2

EuropeAid/127819/C/SER/Multi Jan. 2010

Dec. 2012

CMCC CMCC

DEMOCLOCK Demonstration of a cost effective medium 

size Chemical Looping Combustion 

through packed beds using solid 

hydrocarbons as fuel for power production 

with CO2 capture

http://www.sintef.no/Projectweb/DemoCl

ock/

EC FP7-ENERGY Jun. 2011

May 2015

Stiftelsen Sintef 

(Norway)

Milano Polytechnic, Foster 

Wheeler Italiana SRL

DEMOCRITOS DEveloping the MObility CRedits 

Integrated platform enabling travellers to 

improve urban TranspOrt Sustainability

http://democritos.ipacv.ro/

EC FP7-TRANSPORT Oct. 2009

Sep. 2011

Genova 

Municipality

Genova Municipality, TRT 

Trasporti e Territorio Srl, 

QUAERYON SRL

DRR MAURITIUS Development of an Inundation, Flooding &

Landslide National Risk Profile, Maps, 

Strategy Framework and Action Plans for 

Disaster Risk Management in the Republic 

UNDP Africa Adaptation 

Program (AAP) & Ministry of 

Environment & Sustainable 

Development of Mauritius

Mar. 2012

Sep. 2012

UNDP - African 

Adaptation 

Program (AAP) 

and Ministry of 

CMCC, SGI - Studio Galli 

Ingegneria SpA
222

of Mauritius 

http://www.cmcc.it/website/projects/tend

er-mauritius

Environment of 

Mauritius

DYNAMIX DYNAmic policy MIXes for absolute 

decoupling of environmental impact of EU 

resource use from economic growth 

http://dynamix-project.eu/

EC FP7-ENV-2012 Sept 2012

Dec. 2015

Ecologic Institute 

(Germany)

CMCC (formally through FEEM)

EC2 The Europe-China Clean Energy Center

http://www.ec2.org.cn/

European Commission, 

National Energy Administration 

of China and the Ministry of 

Commerce of China, with the 

support of the IMELS.

Apr. 2010

Mar. 2015

POLITO -

Politecnico di 

Torino

POLITO - Politecnico di Torino, 

UNICAL - Università della 

Calabria, CMCC

ECCSEL European Carbon Dioxide Capture and 

Storage Laboratory Infrastructure

http://www.eccsel.org/

EC FP7-INFRASTRUCTURES Jan. 2011

Dec. 2012

Norges TekniskNaturvitenskapelig

e Universitet Ntnu

ENEA, OGS

ECLISE Enabling CLimate Information Services for 

Europe 

http://www.eclise-project.eu/

EC FP7-ENVIRONMENT Feb. 2011

Jan. 2014

Koninklijk 

Nederlands 

Meteorologisch 

Instituut - KNMI

(Nederland)

CNR

ECONADAPT Economics of climate change adaptation 

in Europe

http://www.bath.ac.uk/ipr/events/news0024.html

European Commission FP VII, 

DG Environment

Oct. 2013

Sep. 2016

University of Bath 

(United Kingdom)

CMCC

EnergyCity Reducing energy consumption and CO2

emissions in cities across Central Europe

http://www.energycity2013.eu/

ERDF - European Regional 

Development Fund

Mar. 2010

Aug. 2013

Budapest 

Universitiy of 

Technology and 

Economics (KozepMagyarorszag)

Bologna Municipality, University 

of Bologna Department of 

Structure, Transport, Water, 

Territory and Survey Engineering 

(DISTART), OGS, Veneto Energy 

Consortium – CEV

ENHANCE Enhancing risk management Partnerships 

for catastrophic natural disasters in 

Europe

http://enhanceproject.eu/

EC FP7-ENV-2012 Dec. 2012 

Nov. 2016

IVM (The 

Nerthlands)

CMCC (formally through FEEM), 

ARPA Emilia-Romagna

ENSEMBLES ENSEMBLE-based Predictions of Climate 

Changes and their Impacts

http://www.ensembles-eu.org/

FP6 - DG Research (Integrating 

and Strengthening 

Programme)

Sept 2004

Aug. 2009

UK Met Office CMCC (formally through FEEM), 

INGV, ARPA-SIM EmiliaRomagna, CNR-ISAC, ICTP
223

EnvEurope Environmental quality and pressures 

assessment across Europe: the LTER

network as an integrated and shared 

system for ecosystem monitoring

www.enveurope.eu/

EC FP7 

Life Enviroment Project

LIFE08 ENV/IT/000399

2010-2013 ISMAR-CNR ISMAR-CNR, National Forest 

Service, ASTER S.cons.p.a

EPI-WATER Evaluating Economic Policy Instruments 

for Sustainable Water Management in 

Europe 

http://www.feem-project.net/epiwater/

EC FP7-ENV-2010-RTD Jan. 2011

Dec. 2013

CMCC (formally 

through FEEM)

CMCC (formally through FEEM), 

University of Boogna

ETC/CCA European Topic Centre on Climate Change 

impacts, vulnerability and Adaptation 

2011-2013

http://cca.eionet.europa.eu/

European Environment Agency 

(EEA)

Jan. 2011

Dec. 2013

CMCC CMCC

EUAdaptStrat Support to the development of the EU 

Strategy for Adaptation to Climate 

Change

http://www.feem.it/getpage.aspx?id=463

2&sez=Research&padre=70&sub=86

EC DG CLIMA Dec. 2011

Feb. 2013

Environment 

Agency Austria 

(EAA), Austria

CMCC (formally through FEEM)

EUBrazilCC EUBrazil Cloud Connect

http://www.eubrazilcloudconnect.eu/

(Further info: 

http://www.cmcc.it/projects/eubrazilcceubrazil-cloud-connect )

Small or medium-scale focused 

research project (STREP) 

partially funded by the 

European Commission under 

the Cooperation Programme, 

Framework Programme Seven 

(FP7)

Oct. 2013

Sep. 2015

Universidad 

Politécnica de 

Valencia - Centro 

Valenciano de 

Estudios del Riego 

(UPV)

CMCC

EU Cities Adapt Adaptation Strategies for European Cities

http://eucities-adapt.eu/cms/

EC DG CLIMA Jan. 2012

Jun. 2013

Ricardo - AEA 

(United Kingdom) 

and ICLEI - Local 

Governments for 

Sustainability

Alba, Ancona and Padova cities

EU-FOREST Influences of EU forests on weather 

patterns 

http://www.cmcc.it/projects/eu-forestsinfluences-of-eu-forests-on-weatherpatterns-2

DG Environment 

ENV.B1/ETU/2011/0010

Oct. 2011

Oct. 2012

UK Met Office CMCC (Subcontractor of UK Met 

Office)

EUPORIAS European Provision Of Regional Impacts 

Assessments on Seasonal and Decadal 

EC FP7-ENVIRONMENT Nov. 2012

Jan. 2017

UK Met Office ENEA, WORLD FOOD 

PROGRAMME Italy
224

Timescales

http://www.euporias.eu/

EURO-AGRIWAT Assessment of EUROpean AGRIculture 

WATer use and trade under climate 

change

http://www.cost-es1106.eu/

EU RTD Framework 

Programme

COST Action ES1106

Apr. 2012

Apr. 2016

University of 

Firenze

University of Firenze, CRA, INEA

EUROCHAR Biochar for Carbon sequestration and 

large-scale removal of greenhouse gases 

(GHG) from the atmosphere

http://www.eurochar.org/

EC FP7-ENVIRONMENT Jan. 2011

Jun. 2014

CNR CNR, A.G.T. - Advanced 

Gasification Technology, Bolzano 

University

EUROFLEETS New operational steps towards an alliance 

of European research fleets

http://www.eurofleets.eu/np4/home.html

Research Infrastructures 

project under the EC FP7 

(Combination of Collaborative 

project and Coordination and 

Support Actions for Integrating 

Activities)

Mar. 2013

Feb. 2017

Ifremer - French 

Research Institute 

for Exploitation of 

the Sea

OGS, CNR

FREEMAN Flood Resilience Enhancement and 

Management: a pilot study in Flanders, 

Germany and Italy

http://www.feemproject.net/FREEMAN/index.php

2

nd ERA-Net CRUE Funding 

Initiative

May 2009

Sep. 2011

Antea Group CMCC

FUME Forest fires under climate, social and 

economic changes in Europe, the 

Mediterranean and other fire-affected 

areas of the world

http://www.fumeproject.eu/

EC DG Research (CooperationEnvironment)Jan. 2010

Dec. 2013

Universidad de 

Castilla - La 

Mancha (Spain)

CNR, CMCC, Sassari University, 

Tuscia University

GEOCARBON Operational Global Carbon Observing 

System

http://www.geocarbon.net/

EC DG Research (CooperationEnvironment)Oct. 2011

Sep. 2014

CMCC CMCC, Second University of 

Napoli, University of Tuscia

GHG-Europe Greenhouse gas management in 

European land use systems

http://www.ghg-europe.eu/

EC FP7 2010-2013 Institute of 

Agricultural 

Climate Research 

(Germany)

University of Tuscia, Fondazione 

Edmund Mach, Bolzano Province, 

University of Bologna, University 

of Udine, CNR, ENEA

GLOBAL IQ Impacts Quantification of global changes 

http://www.global-iq.eu/

EC DG Research FP7-SSH Aug. 2011

Jul. 2014

Toulouse School of 

Economics - TSE

CMCC (formally through FEEM), 

Institute of Studies for the 

Integration of Systems (Istituto 

di Studi per l’Integrazione dei 
225

Sistemi – ISIS)

GNSS4SWEC Advanced Global Navigation Satellite 

Systems tropospheric products for 

monitoring severe weather events and 

climate

http://www.cost.eu/domains_actions/esse

m/Actions/ES1206? 

EU RTD Framework 

Programme

COST 

Earth System Science and 

Environmental Management 

(ESSEM)

Action ES1206

May 2013

May 2017

UK Met Office Centre for Space Geodesy / 

Italian Space Agency

GRaBS Green and Blue Space Adaptation for 

Urban Areas and Eco Towns

http://www.grabs-eu.org/

EU Regional Development Fund 

(ERDF) - INTERREG IVC 

Programme

Sep. 2008

Aug. 2011

Town and Country 

Planning 

Association - TCPA 

(United Kingdom)

Etnambiente SRL, University of 

Catania, Province of Genoa

GREENSEAS Development of global plankton database 

and model system

http://greenseas.nersc.no/home

EC FP7 Cooperation 

Programme

Jan. 2011

Jun. 2014

NERSC - Stiftelsen 

Nansen Senter for 

Fjernmaaling

CMCC

GROOM Gliders for Research, Ocean Observation 

and Management

http://www.groom-fp7.eu

EC FP7 Oct. 2011

Sep. 2014

Université Pierreet-Marie-Curie 

(UPMC)

NATO Undersea Research Center 

(NURC), OGS

HOLOCLIP Holocene climate variability at highsouthern latitudes: an integrated 

perspective 

http://www.holoclip.org/

European Science Foundation 

/European Polar Board 

PolarCLIMATE programme

(co-funded by the MIUR 

through the PNRA)

Jan. 2010

Dec. 2012

University of 

Firenze

University of Firenze, University 

of Milano Bicocca, University of 

Parma, the National Antarctic 

Museum, University of Siena, 

ENEA

ICE2SEA Ice2sea - estimating the future 

contribution of continental ice to sea-level 

rise

http://www.ice2sea.eu/

EC FP7-ENVIRONMENT Mar. 2009

Nov. 2013

Natural 

Environment 

Research Council 

(United kingdom)

ENEA, Urbino University “Carlo 

Bo”

ICARUS IWRM for Climate Change Adaptation in 

Rural Social Ecosystems in Southern 

Europe

http://www.cmcc.it/research/researchprojects/icarus-1/icarus

2

nd IWRM-NET Joint Call Sep. 2010

Dec. 2012

CMCC CMCC

ICOS Integrated Carbon Observing System 

www.icos-infrastructure.eu/

EC FP7 Apr. 2008

Mar. 2013

CEA -

Commissariat à 

l’Energie Atomique 

(France)

CMCC (formally through UNITUS) 
226

IMECC Infrastructure for Measurements of the 

European Carbon cycle

http://imecc.ipsl.jussieu.fr/

EC FP6-INFRASTRUCTURES Apr. 2007

Sep. 2011

Commissariat A 

L’energie 

Atomique Et Aux 

Energies 

Alternatives, 

(France)

ENEA, University of Tuscia, 

University of Bologna, CNR

IMPACT2C Quantifying projected impacts under 2°C 

warming, 

http://www.hzg.de/mw/impact2c

EC FP7-ENVIRONMENT Oct. 2007

Sep. 2013

HelmholtzZentrum 

Geesthacht 

Zentrum Fur 

Material Und 

Kustenforschung 

Gmbh (Germany)

ENEA

INDO-MARECLIM Indo-European research facilities for 

studies on marine ecosystem and climate 

in India

http://www.indomareclim-nerci.in/

EC FP7 - EU INCO.2011-7.3 

(India) Cooperation 

Programme

Feb. 2012

Jan. 2015

NERCI - Nansen 

Environmental 

Research Centre 

India Ltd

CMCC

InGOS Integrated non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas 

observing System

http://www.ingos-infrastructure.eu/

EC FP7-INFRASTRUCTURES Oct. 2011

Sep. 2015

Stichting 

Energieonderzoek 

Centrum (The 

Nederlands)

University of Tuscia, ENEA, RSE, 

University of Urbino

IONIO IONian Integrated marine Observatory

www.ionioproject.eu

European Territorial 

Cooperation Programme –

Greece-Italy 2007-2013 

(Interreg III) co-funded by the 

EU ERDF and National funds by 

Greece and Italy

Jan. 2012

Dec. 2013

CMCC CMCC, ENEA

IS-ENES Infrastructure for the European Network 

for Earth System Modelling

http://is.enes.org

EC DG Research

(Capacities – Infrastructures)

Mar. 2009

Feb. 2013

Centre National de 

la Recherche 

Scientifique 

(CNRS-IPSL), 

France

CMCC

IS-ENES 2 Infrastructure for the European Network 

for Earth System modelling - Phase 2

https://verc.enes.org/ISENES2/

EC DG Research

(Capacities – Infrastructures)

Apr. 2013

Mar. 2016

Centre National de 

la Recherche 

Scientifique 

(CNRS-IPSL), 

France

CMCC
227

JERICO Towards a Joint European Research 

Infrastructure network for Coastal

Observatories

http://www.jerico-fp7.eu/

EC FP7 

Integrating Activities (IA)

May 2011-

April 2015

Institut Français 

de Recherche pour 

l'Exploitation de la 

Mer Ifremer 

(France)

INGV, CMCC, CNR, OGS

JPI-Climate-CSA Joint Programming Initiative Connecting 

Climate Knowledge for Europe -

Coordination and Support Action 

http://www.jpi-climate.eu

EC FP7 ENV.2012.6.1-6 Jan. 2013

Dec. 2015

PT-DLR (Germany) CMCC

JPI FACCE Joint Programming Initiative on 

Agriculture, Food Security and Climate 

Change

http://www.faccejpi.com/

MIPAAF, MIUR and European 

Commission

Call for proposal

Maximum 

duration: 36 

months 

(from 2014 

onwards)

N.A. N.A.

LIFE SALT Sustainable management of the Esino 

river basin to prevent saline intrusion in 

the coastal aquifer in consideration of 

climate change

http://www.lifesalt.it/en.html

EC LIFE+ 2007 and IMELS Jan. 2009

Jan. 2012

Multiservizi CMCC, Multiservizi S.p.a., SGI 

S.p.a., Consorzio Gorgovivo, 

Marche Region, Ancona Province, 

SPS S.r.l.

LIFE TRUST Tool for regional – scale assessment of 

groundwater storage improvement in 

adaptation to climate change (TRUST)

http://www.lifetrust.it/cms/

EC LIFE+ 2008 and IMELS Jan. 2009

Jan. 2012

Watershed 

Authority of Rivers 

of the Northern 

Adriatic Sea

CMCC, Watershed Authority of 

Rivers of the Northern Adriatic 

Sea, SGI - Studio Galli 

Ingegneria SpA

MaP-FGR Strengthening conservation: a key issue 

for adaptation of marginal/peripheral 

populations of forest tree to climate 

change in Europe

http://www.cost.eu/domains_actions/fps/

Actions/FP1202?parties

EU RTD Framework 

Programme

COST Action FP1202

Nov. 2012

Nov. 2016

Council for 

Research and 

Experimentation 

on Agriculture, 

Research Centre fo 

Forestry (CRA 

SEL)

CRA SEL, CNR IGV

MEDSEA MEDiterranean Ocean Acidification in a 

changing climate 

http://medsea-project.eu/

EC DG Research (CooperationEnvironment)Feb. 2011

Jan. 2014

Universitat 

Autonoma De 

Barcelona

CMCC, OGS, CoNiSMa

MYOCEAN Development and Pre-Operational 

Validation of GMES Marine Core Services

http://www.myocean.eu.org/

EC DG Research (CooperationSpace)Jan. 2009

Mar. 2012

Mercator Ocean 

(France)

CMCC, ENEA, INGV, ISPRA, OGS, 

USAM

MYOCEAN 2 Prototype Operational Continuity for EC DG Research (Cooperation- Apr. 2012 Mercator Ocean CMCC, CNR, ENEA, INGV, ISPRA, 
228

GMES Ocean Monitoring and Forecasting 

System

http://www.myocean.eu/

Space) Oct. 2014 (France) OGS, USAM

NIGERIA Nigeria Climate risk assessment in 

agriculture and coastal development

http://www.cmcc.it/website/projects/tend

er-nigeria-nigeria-climate-riskassessment-in-agriculture-and-coastaldevelopment

World Bank Jan. 2011

Dec. 2012

CMCC CMCC

ORIENTGATE A structured network for integration of 

climate knowledge into policy and 

territorial planning

http://www.orientgateproject.org/

South East Europe Jul. 2012

Dec. 2014

CMCC CMCC

PACT Pathways for carbon transitions

http://www.pact-carbon-transition.org/

EC FP7-SSH Oct. 2008

Sep. 2011

Enerdata SA

(France)

Padova University, the Institute 

of Studies for the Integration of 

Systems – ISIS, Laboratorio Di 

Scienze Della Cittadinanza - LSC

PAST4FUTURE Climate change - Learning from the past 

climate

http://www.past4future.eu/

EC FP7-ENVIRONMENT Jan. 2010

Dec. 2014

Københavns 

Universitet 

(Denmark)

CNR

PEGASOS Pan-European Gas-AeroSol-climate 

interaction Study

http://pegasos.iceht.forth.gr/

EC FP7-ENVIRONMENT Jan. 2011

Dec. 2014

Foundation For 

Research And 

Technology Hellas 

(Greece)

CNR

PERSEUS Policy oriented marine Environmental 

Research in the Southern European Seas

http://www.perseus-net.eu

EC DG Research (CooperationEnvironment-Ocean)Jan. 2012

Dec. 2015

Hellenic Center For 

Marine Research 

(Greece)

CMCC, CoNISMa, CNR, ENEA, 

OGS, SZN, CLU srl

PESETA Projections of Economic Impacts of 

Climate Change in Sectors of Europe 

Based on Bottom-up Analysis 

http://peseta.jrc.ec.europa.eu/index.html

EC 150357-2005-F1ED-IT Jan. 2006

Jan. 2008

Joint Research 

Center (JRC) of 

the European 

Commission

CMCC (formally through FEEM)

PRACTICE Prevention and Restoration Actions to 

Combat Desertification. An Integrated 

Assessment 

http://www.ceam.es/practice

EC DG Research (CooperationEnvironment)Sep. 2009

Aug. 2012

CEAM - Centro de 

Estudios 

Ambientales del 

Mediterráneo

CMCC, Sassari University

PREEMPT Policy-relevant assessment of economic EC DG for Humanitarian aid - Jan. 2011 CMCC (formally CMCC (formally through FEEM)
229

and social effects of hydro-meteorological 

disasters 

http://www.feem-project.net/preempt/

ECHO Dec. 2012 through FEEM)

PURGE Public health impacts in URban 

environments of Greenhouse gas 

Emissions reduction strategies

http://purge.lshtm.ac.uk/

EC FP7-ENVIRONMENT Feb. 2011

Jul. 2014

London School Of 

Hygiene And 

Tropical Medicine 

(UK)

FEEM

RISES-AM Responses to coastal climate change: 

Innovative Strategies for high End 

Scenarios – Adaptation and Mitigation

http://www.cmcc.it/it/projects/rises-amresponses-to-coastal-climate-changeinnovative-strategies-for-high-endscenarios-adaptation-and-mitigation

EC FP7-ENV-2013-two-stage Nov. 2013

Oct. 2016

UPC - Universitat 

Politècnica de 

Catalunya

CMCC

SAFELAND Living with landslide risk in Europe: 

Assessment, effects of global change, and 

risk management strategies 

http://www.safelandfp7.eu/Pages/SafeLand.aspx

EC DG Research (CooperationEnvironment)May 2009

Apr. 2012

International 

Centre for 

Geohazards (ICG) 

/ Norwegian 

Geotechnical 

Institute (Norway)

AMRA, Firenze University, Milano 

University “Bicocca”, CMCC, SGIMI, Salerno University, CSG

SESAME Southern European Seas: Assessing and 

Modelling Ecosystem changes

http://www.sesame-ip.eu/

EC DG Research (Integrating 

and Strengthening 

Programme)

Nov. 2006

Apr. 2011

Hellenic Centre for 

Marine Research 

(HCMR), Greece

CoNISMa, CNR, CMCC (formally 

through FEEM), CLU srl, ENEA, 

ICRAM, IMC Foundation, INGV, 

Marche Polytechnic University, 

OGS, SZN

SPLASH

(EUWI ERA-net)

Coordinating European water research for 

poverty reduction 

http://www.splash-era.net/

ERA-NET-1-CA-SSA Jan. 2007

Dec. 2011

(DWF) Danish 

Water Forum 

(Denmark)

CMCC, IMELS

SPECS Seasonal to decadal climate prediction for 

the improvement of European Climate 

Services

http://www.specsfp7.eu/SPECS/Home.html

EC FP7 2012-2017 Fundació Institut 

Català de Ciències 

del Clima (IC3), 

Spain

ENEA

STRADA Climate change adaptation strategies for 

the management of natural hazards in the 

trans-boundary areas 

http://www.progettostrada.net/

ERDF European Regional 

Development Fund – European 

Trabsboundary Cooperation 

Programme, INTERREG IVA 

Jan. 2010

Jul. 2013

Lombardia Region 

(& Ticino Republic 

and Canton, 

Switzerland)

Aosta Valley Region, ARPA 

Lombardia, ARPA Piemonte, 

ERSAF, Lombardia Region, 

Piemonte Region
230

Italy Switzerland 2007 - 2013

TARA-OCEANS TARA-OCEANS

http://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/en/tara

-oceans.php?id_page=1336 

UNEP, United Nations 

Environment Programme

Sep. 2009

Dec. 2012

National Institute 

of Oceanography

and Experimental 

Geophysics

(Istituto Nazionale 

di Oceanografia e 

di Geofisica 

Sperimentale -

OGS) 

OGS, SZN, University of Milano 

Bicocca

TOSCA Towards a more complete assessment of 

the impact of solar variability on the 

Earth’s climate

http://lpc2e.cnrsorleans.fr/~ddwit/TOSCA/Home.html

EU RTD Framework 

Programme

COST Action ES1005

May 2011

May 2015

LPC2E - CNRS 

University of 

Orleans (France)

INAF Astronomical Observatory in 

Rome, University of L’Aquila

UHI Urban Heat Island - Development and 

application of mitigation and adaptation 

strategies and measures for counteracting 

the global Urban Heat Islands 

phenomenon

http://www.eu-uhi.eu/

EU ERDF - Central Europe 

Programme

Oct. 2011

Apr. 2014

Regional Agency 

for Environment 

Protection in 

Emilia-Romagna 

(ARPA EmiliaRomagna)

ARPA Emilia-Romagna, Emilia 

Romagna Region, Veneto Region, 

Consortium for Coordination of 

Research Activities Concerning 

the Venice Lagoon System 

(CORILA)

UV4growth UV-B radiation: A specific regulator of 

plant growth and food quality in a 

changing climate 

http://www.ucc.ie/en/uv4growth/

EU RTD Framework 

Programme

COST Action FA0906

Apr. 2010

Apr. 2014

University Colege 

Cork (Ireland)

Italy

VALUE Validating and Integrating Downscaling 

Methods for Climate Change Research

http://www.value-cost.eu/

EU RTD Framework 

Programme

COST Action ES1102

Dec. 2011

Dec. 2015

Agencia Estatal de 

Meteorología 

(Spain)

Hydro-Meteo-Climatological 

Service of the Italian EmiliaRomagna Region

VECTORS Vectors of Change in Oceans and Seas 

Marine Life, Impact on Economic Sectors 

http://www.marine-vectors.eu/

EC FP7-2010-OCEAN Feb. 2011

Jan. 2015

Plymouth Marine 

Laboratory, 

Plymouth, UK.

CONISMA, CNR-IAMC, CMCC 

(formally through FEEM), Pisa 

University, Pavia University, OGS

WASSERMED Water Availability and Security in 

Southern EuRope and the Mediterranean 

http://www.wassermed.eu/

EC DG Research (CooperationEnvironment)Jan. 2010

Mar. 2013

CMCC CMCC

Water2Adapt Resilience enhancement and water 

demand management for climate change 

adaptation 

ISPRA (2nd IWRM-NET Funding 

Initiative)

Sept 2010

Oct. 2012

CMCC (formally 

through FEEM)

CMCC (formally through FEEM)
231

http://www.feemproject.net/water2adapt/index.html
232

8.7 Systematic observation

A comprehensive observational network, used also for climate studies, covers the Italian territory. 

Furthermore, Italy contributes significantly to international programmes involving ocean and space-based 

measurements by means of its very long instrumental temperature record. Italy also fully participates to 

the GCOS Surface Network (GSN), the GCOS Upper Air Network (GUAN) and the GAW (Global 

Atmospheric Watch). All national observations and data sets that have been declared as contributions to 

GCOS or GAW are regularly submitted to the appropriate Data Centres.

8.7.1 Atmospheric Climate Observing System, including those measuring atmospheric 

constituents

The Italian Air Force Meteorological Service (USAM-CNMCA, http://www.meteoam.it) manages a network 

of 77 manned surface-stations and of 69 automatic surface-stations (Data Collection Platforms). Other 

meteorological data are collected by the National Agency for Aviation Aids (ENAV, http://www.enav.it), 

which operates a network of 35 stations. Most of these data is distributed through the GTS and ICAO 

networks. 

The Agrarian Research Council–Climatology and Meteorology applied to Agriculture (CRA-CMA, 

http://cma.entecra.it) manages a network of about 83 agrometeorological stations and observatories, 

most of which include very long historical data of daily minimum and maximum temperature and 

precipitation. Other meteorological data are collected by Regional Env-Met-Agro Agencies (see Table 8.3).

Table 8.3 - The Italian meteorological observation networks

Administration Station type Number Network/Circuit

Average 

time-length 

of records

USAM-CNMCA 

(Air Force Met Service)

surface-manned 77 WMO-GTS, ICAO-AFTN ~ 63 years

USAM-CNMCA 

(Air Force Met Service) 

surface-automatic

(DCP)

69 synoptic use ~ 11 years

(not 

continuously)

USAM-CNMCA surface solar radiation 

and sunshine

34 WMO-GTS ~ 55 years

ENAV surface-manned ~ 35 WMO-GTS, ICAO-AFTN ~ 63 years

CRA-CMA surface-manned ~ 20 agro-met

and climatological use 

~ 60 years

CRA-CMA surface-automatic ~ 43 agro-met

and climatological use

~ 15 years

CRA-CMA thermal-rain ~ 20 agro-met

and climatological use

~ 60 years

Regional Env-Met Agencies surface-automatic ~ 50 per 

region

met/climaological local 

use

~ 20 years

Regional Agro-Met Services surface-automatic ~ 50 per 

region

agro-met and 

climatological local use

~ 20 years

Italy contributes to GCOS Surface Network (GSN) with five stations of the Air Force Met Service (see 

Table 8.4).
233

Table 8.4 - The Italian GCOS Surface Network (GSN) stations

Station WMO 

Index Station Name Latitude(°, ')

Longitude

(°, ')

Elevation 

(m a.s.l.)

Measurements 

since

16022 PAGANELLA 46, 08 11, 02 2129 1951

16134 MONTE CIMONE 44, 12 10, 42 2173 1946

16224 VIGNA DI VALLE 42, 05 12, 13 266 1954

16258 MONTE SANT’ANGELO 41, 42 15, 57 847 1952

16550 CAPO BELLAVISTA 39, 56 9, 43 150 1951

The Italian Air Force Met Service has developed a new Standard Weather System (SWS), based on the 

EUMETNET AWS (automatic weather station) Program requirements, in order to substitute gradually the 

acquisition tool and sensors in each meteorological station. The system is able to operate both in manual 

and fully automatic way, with possibility to interface, in a simple way, every digital sensor and to monitor 

and regulate the functioning of its devices through a local or remote control. The implementation 

program is currently in progress, with a pre-operational station already running in testing mode since 

March 2013.

ISPRA is responsible for standardization, collection and delivery of environmental data, including those of 

interest for climate monitoring and analysis. National environmental data and indicators are transmitted 

to EEA (European Environmental Agency) and to other international bodies such as EMEP (European 

Monitoring and Evaluation Programme). ISPRA manages, in collaboration with the Air Force Met Service, 

CRA-CMA and regional services, a system (denominated SCIA) for the coordinated collection, calculation, 

representation and periodic update of ten-days, monthly and yearly climatological data 

(http://www.scia.sinanet.apat.it).

The Italian Air Force Meteorological Service collects atmospheric routine CO2 measurements on the top of 

Mt. Cimone (2173 m a.s.l.) since March 1979, the longest in continuum record in Europe, and 

stratospheric O3 in three stations: Sestola (1020 m a.s.l., close to Mt. Cimone), Vigna di Valle and 

Messina by means of spectrophotometers Dobson and Brewer. Ozone data are regularly transmitted to 

the Canadian WOUDC (World Ozone and Ultraviolet Radiation Data Centre, 

http://www.woudc.org/index_e.html). A comprehensive overview concerning the special observations

carried out by the Air Force Meteorological Service is shown in Table 8.6. 

ENEA is responsible for climate observations in Lampedusa station (http://www.lampedusa.enea.it). The 

station, which is operational on the island of Lampedusa (35.5°N, 12.6°E) in the central Mediterranean 

Sea since 1997, is dedicated to the monitoring of atmospheric composition, properties, and the radiative 

budget at the surface. Many parameters are continuously measured such as: CO2 (weekly samples, since 

1992; continuous, since 1998), several greenhouse gases (CH4, N2O, CFC-11 and CFC-12 - weekly 

samples, since 1997; continuous, since 2006) and total ozone measurements (these last, performed by 

Brewer spectrometer, are not included into the WOUDC database). Furthermore, aerosols (optical 

properties, chemical composition), water vapour and clouds, meteorological parameters, CO, ultraviolet, 

solar, and infrared radiation are routinely measured. Lampedusa station contributes to the GCOS through 

the Global Atmosphere Watch program and participates in different global measurements networks 
234

(AERONET; Carboeurope; NOAA/ESRL/GMD CCGG cooperative air sampling network; MWRnet). In 

addition, several intensive measurements campaigns were carried out at Lampedusa (e.g., Ground-based 

and air-borne measurements of the aerosol radaitive forcing, GAMARF, in 2008), also as a contrinution to 

large international experiments (Hydrological cycle Mediterranean experiment, Hymex in 2012; 

Chemistry and Aerosol Mediterranean Experiment, Charmex in 2013). Activities at Lampedusa are 

supported by the MIUR, through the NextData and Ritmare projects and by the European Union, through 

the GHG-Europe and InGOS projects. 

ENEA also participates, jointly with other Institutes (Danish Meteorological Institute; NCAR/USA; 

University of Roma and Firenze, INGV), in an international effort aimed at the study of the Arctic climate 

through observations carried out at the Thule Air Base (76.5°N, 68.8°W), Greenland 

(http://www.ndsc.ncep.noaa.gov/sites/stat_reps/thule/). Thule station is dedicated to the observation of 

tropospheric and stratospheric composition and structure; the Italian measurements at Thule started in 

1990 and are part of a long-term program. Thule measurements contribute to GCOS through the Network 

for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (http://www.ndsc.ncep.noaa.gov/). Italian 

activities are presently supported by the Italian Antarctic Programme; they were supported also by the 

European Union, the MIUR and by the US National Science Foundation. 

Furthermore ENEA participates to the study of the Antarctic climate through observations carried out by 

the Italian Meteo-Climatological Antarctic Observatory (http://www.climantartide.it). Started in 

1987, the Observatory currently operates 16 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), active throughout the 

year. The AWS's monitoring network covers all the Victoria Lands territory, from the Italian Base "Mario 

Zucchelli" (MZS, 74° 41' S, 164° 05' E) to the innermost area of the Antarctic Plateau at the FrenchItalian Base "Concordia" (DC, 75° S, 123° E), and towards the Wilkes Lands territory in the direction of 

the French Scientific Base "Dumont D'Urville" (DDU, 66° 40' S, 140° 01' E). Seven of the AWSs have a 

WMO identifier and their Synop messages are disseminated to the GTS network. Upper air weather 

information is acquired by two radiosounding stations: one at MZS (since 1987, two launches per day, at 

00 and 12 UTC) and one at DC (since 2005, one launch per day, at 12 UTC). Temperature messages 

automatically generated from both stations are disseminated to the GTS network. The Italian MeteoClimatological Antarctic Observatory is supported by the Italian Antarctic Programme.

CNR-IDASC (National Research Council Institute of Acoustics and Sensors), together with the Dirección 

Nacional Del Antártico (Argentina) and the International Center for Earth Sciences, manages the GAW 

station installed in Jubany (Antarctic Peninsula) and collects CO2 data since 1994 

(http://www.idasc.cnr.it). Trace gases measurements of all stations can be found at link 

http://gaw.kishou.go.jp/wdcgg.html.

CNR-ISAC manages an observatory located close to the Air Force station of Mt. Cimone

(http://www.isac.cnr.it/~cimone/). The principal measurement activity under responsibility of ISAC 

regards ‘Surface Ozone’, reported to WDCGG since 1996; NO2 is measured since 1993 by DOAS 

(Differential Optical Absorption Spectrometer) instruments; 7Be and 210Pb activity is monitored over paper 

filter collected on the top of the mountain; PM10 is measured since 1998; since June 2000 is active the 

Aerosol Size Distribution Analyzer. CFC’s have been measured in flask from 1999 until 2000 and since 

2001 the measurements are in continuous inside the SOGE project. CH4 has been measured since 2004 

by Urbino University in cooperation with ISAC. Finally, CNR-ISAC collects total ozone data in Antarctica at 
235

Belgrano II station by Brewer spectrometer since 1992.

The Italian Arctic Station Dirigibile Italia is a multidisciplinary research facility located in NyÅlesund (78°55' N, 11°56' E) in the Norwegian Archipelago of Spitzbergen (Svalbard). The station is 

managed by CNR and the activities are coordinated by the Polar Support Unit of the CNR Department of 

Earth and Environment: POLARNET (http://www.polarnet.cnr.it). The station was opened in 1997 and 

supports interdisciplinary research, including atmospheric, environmental and oceanographic studies.

RSE (Research on Energy Systems, http://www.rse-web.it/home.page) manages the Plateau Rosà 

station, one of the highest GAW Regional stations in Europe (3480 m a.s.l.), previously run by CESI since 

1989, regularly performing CO2 (discrete sample measurements from 1989 to 1997, continuous 

measurements from 1993 to present), CH4 and surface O3 measurements and sending data to WDCGG 

(World data Center for Greenhouse Gases, http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/wdcgg). 

ARPA Valle D’Aosta (http://www.arpa.vda.it) has a total ozone station in Saint-Christophe (Aosta)

working since January 2007.

The Italian upper-air observation network is shortly summarized in Table 8.5. The Air Force Met Service 

contributes to GCOS Upper-Air Network (GUAN) with one station (see Table 8.6).

Table 8.5 - The Italian upper-air observation network

Administration Station 

type

Number Network/Circuit Average time-length 

of records

USAM-CNMCA (Air Force Met 

Service) 

upper-air 6 WMO-GTS ~ 60 years

Regional Env-Met Services upper-air 2 WMO-GTS ~ 20 years

Table 8.6 - The Italian GCOS Upper-air Network (GUAN) station

Station WMO Index Station Name Latitude

(°, ')

Longitude

(°, ')

Elevation

(m a.s.l.)

Measurements since

16245 PRATICA DI MARE 41, 39 12, 26 21 1986
236

Figure 8.1 - The Italian Air Force Met Service solar radiation (a) and sunshine duration (b) 

networks

 (a) (b)
237

Table 8.7 - The Italian GAW stations on national territory

GAWID Station Name Station 

Type Administration Elevation (m a.s.l.)

AST Aosta Contributing Arpa Valle d’Aosta 569

CEO CETEMPS/DSFC 

Università Degli Studi 

dell’Aquila

Contributing CETEMPS/DSFC Università Degli Studi 

dell'Aquila (http://cetemps.aquila.infn.it)

656

POT CNR-IMAA 

Atmospheric 

Observatory (CIAO)

Contributing CNR-IMAA Atmospheric Observatory (CIAO, 

http://www.ciao.imaa.cnr.it) 

760

IPR Ispra Regional Joint Research Centre (JRC), located at Ispra 

(http://abc-is.jrc.ec.europa.eu/index.php)

209

LMP Lampedusa Regional ENEA 45

MES Messina Regional USAM-CNMCA (Italian Air Force Met Service) 54

CMN Monte Cimone Global USAM-CNMCA (Italian Air Force Met Service) 2165

MLI Montelibretti Contributing National Research Council - Institute for 

Atmospheric Pollution (CNR-IIA) 

http://www.iia.cnr.it)

48

PRS Plateau Rosa Regional RSE 3480

ROM Rome University Regional Sapienza- University of Rome 75

SML S.Maria di Leuca Regional USAM-CNMCA (Italian Air Force Met Service) 104

SES Sestola Regional USAM-CNMCA (Italian Air Force Met Service) 1030

TRP Trapani Regional USAM-CNMCA (Italian Air Force Met Service) 7

VDV Vigna di Valle Regional USAM-CNMCA (Italian Air Force Met Service) 262

VTB Viterbo Regional USAM-CNMCA (Italian Air Force Met Service) 300

Cooperation between the Department of Civil Protection (DPC), the Air Force Met Service and the Regions 

allowed the Italian radar network project to start. The project regularly provides a real-time national SRI 

(surface rainfall intensity) composite (http://www.protezionecivile.gov.it/jcms/it/mappa_radar.wp), used 

to monitor cloud systems and to determine the structure of storms and their potential to cause severe 

weather. The radar network provides a good coverage of the national territory and enables comparison 

with ground-truth data from a network of land-based precipitation stations. The nominal number of 

contributing radar systems is 23 C-band plus 2 X-band, but hardware and software failures reduce the 

average number of efficient systems to about 19.
238

Figure 8.2 - The Italian radar network

Table 8.8 - The Italian Air Force Met Service Special observation network

Measurement or 

analysis

Instrument Frequency Number of

Stations

Time length of 

records

Stratospheric 

Ozone and Surface 

UV-B Radiation 

Brewer and Dobson 

spectrophotometers

daily 3 

(Sestola, 

Vigna di 

Valle, 

Messina)

Dobson data time 

series since 1947; 

Brewer data time 

sereis since 1987

Ozone Vertical 

Profile

Upper-air sounding system 

equipped with an ozone sonde 

sensor (an electro-chemical 

concentration cell)

two times a 

month

1 

(Vigna di

Valle)

data time series 

since 2011

Global Solar 

Radiation 

Kipp & Zonen CM11 hourly and daily 27 data time series 

since 1958 for most 

of historical stations

Sunshine Duration Campbell-Stokes sunshine 

recorder

daily 36 data time series 

since 1958 for 

most of historical 

stations

Chemical Analysis 

of Precipitation

Precipitation sampler MTX Wet 

& Dry

weekly 9 data time series 

since 1975 for 5 

stations, since 2012 

for 4 stations

Solar Photometry

(atmospheric 

turbidity)

Kipp & Zonen sun-sky 

photometers (Prede POM-01) 

hourly 4 data time series 

since 2013, only for 

experimental 

purposes

UV-A and UV-B 

radiation

Delta-OHM pyranometer 

(LP_UVA-02 and LP_UVB-02)

hourly and daily 10 the operational 

phase of regular 

collection of data 

has not yet started 

CO2 ULTRAMAT SIEMENS 6E –

Non-Dispersive Infrared 

Analyzer

1-minute 

averages

1 since March 1979
239

Measurement or 

analysis

Instrument Frequency Number of

Stations

Time length of 

records

CH4 PCF ELETTRONICA 529 -

FlD (Flame Ionization 

Detector) Gaschromatograph

instantaneous 

measurements

every 3 minutes

1 since December 

2011 (currently in a 

experimental stage)

8.7.2 Ocean Climate Observing System

The National Group of Operational Oceanography (GNOO, http://gnoo.bo.ingv.it) is an INGV structure 

that coordinates the development of operational oceanography in Italy. GNOO is composed of 

representatives from INGV and Italian research agencies and institutions involved in in-situ and satellite 

ocean monitoring systems, basin-scale Mediterranean forecasts for hydrodynamics and marine 

biochemistry, Mediterranean- and global-scale reanalyses, and limited-area forecasts for the Italian seas. 

The actual observing system is composed of a specific implementation of VOS-SOOP, ARGO, meteooceanographic buoys, gliders and analysed satellite data that are both archived and real time. The in-situ 

observations have been collected since the early 2000s. The products derived from satellite observations 

have been improved and consist of Sea Surface Temperature, Sea Level Anomaly and Chl-a 

concentration.

GNOO coordinates the Italian participation to the Copernicus/GMES Marine Service that is the flagship EU 

program for the systematic monitoring of the Earth system (http://www.copernicus.eu/). Copernicus 

organises the access to multiple sources of data, from Earth observation satellites to in situ platforms, 

and provides users with reliable and up-to-date information through a set of services related to 

environmental and security issues. For the ocean and the climate Copernicus organises two services and 

INGV-Sezione di Bologna has the responsibility of the Mediterranean Monitoring and Forecasting service 

and CNR-ISAC the responsibility of the Ocean Color Thematic Assembly centre.

ARGO-ITALY is the Italian component of a worldwide in situ global observing system, based on 

autonomous profiling floats, surface drifters, gliders and ship-of-opportunity measurements. It is 

primarily focused on the Italian seas, the Mediterranean and Black seas, and includes observations of 

temperature, salinity, currents and other water mass properties. ARGO-ITALY contributes to international 

programs such as Argo and Euro-Argo (global monitoring of water properties with profiling floats), GDP 

(Global Drifter Program to measure near-surface temperature and currents), EGO (gliding vehicles to 

measure water properties) and SOOP (Ship-Of-Opportunity Program to temperature profiles), developed 

to monitor the entire World Ocean on a long term basis.

Together with the Italian Air Force Met Service, three of GNOO components will participate to the RECMMO-Med (REgional Centre specialized for Marine Meteorology and Oceanography over Mediterranean 

Sea), in order to build a specilized hub, according to WIS concept (DCPC), for marine meteorology and 

oceanography. These above mentioned components are:

ISPRA, responsible for the national tide gauge network (RMN Rete Mareografica Nazionale, with 

36 tide gauges - http://www.mareografico.it) and for the national data buoy or wave 

measurement network (RON Rete Ondametrica Nazionale, with 15 moored oceanographic buoys -

http://www.telemisura.it); 

OGS (http://www.ogs.trieste.it), responsible for the MedARGO program; 
240

INGV (Bologna, www.bo.ingv.it), responsible for the oceanographic analyses and forecasts for the 

Mediterranean Sea (http://gnoo.bo.ingv.it/mfs/myocean); since 2012 INGV coordinates an 

international project called EMSO (European Multidisciplinatry Seafloor Observatory

http://www.emso-eu.org/management), a network of marine observatories devoted to monitor 

and study climate change of natural origin or induced by human activity and the evolution of 

marine ecosystems.

Furthermore, CNR-ISMAR operates several multi-parametric observing systems (buoys, platforms, 

moorings and other fixed sites - http://www.ismar.cnr.it/infrastructures/observational-sites), most of 

them are placed along the Italian coasts and transmit data in real time to the receiving stations at coast.

Finally, to be noticed is the activity of the Mareographic station of Trieste, operated by the University of 

Trieste (http://www.meteo.units.it) and performing the monitoring every 10 minutes of the sea level and 

temperature (surface and 2 m. below sea level) since 1995 (conventional meteorological and radiation 

data are monitored since 1979 in the same station).

8.7.3 Terrestrial Climate Observing System

In Italy the hydrological cycle monitoring, as well as that relating to land use, evapotranspiration and soil 

conditions, is carried out by regional networks and functional centres since 2002; the analysis and 

assessment of resulting data are performed both at regional (Regional Agencies for Environmental 

Protection) and national level (ISPRA).

The State Forestry Corps (http://www3.corpoforestale.it) performs environmental monitoring through

two operational programs:

INFC (National Inventory of Forests and forest Carbon pools, 

http://www.sian.it/inventarioforestale);

CONECOFOR (Forest Ecosystems Controls).

8.7.4 Support for developing countries to establish and maintain observing systems, and 

related data and monitoring systems

ISAC-CNR manages, since March 2006, three permanent automatic meteorological stations: Pyramid, 

Kala Patthar and South Col (Nepal, http://evk2.isac.cnr.it/realtime.html) in Khumbu Valley, Mount 

Everest National Park, at an altitude respectively of 5050 m asl, 5585 m asl and 7986 m asl. In the last 

site above mentioned the in-situ highest meteorological observations in the world take place. Monitoring 

activities are carried out in close cooperation with Nepal Hidrology and Meteorology Department (DHM), 

Regional Representative Office of WMO.

8.7.5 Other actions taken to support related capacity-building in developing countries

Many Italian Institutions, Universities and Agencies are active participants in international EU funded 

projects on climate change related topics and in National projects funded by means of bilateral 

agreements, with a special emphasis on research capacity building in developing countries such as: 

ABC (Atmospheric Brown Clouds, http://www-abc-asia.ucsd.edu);

AMMA (African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis, http://www.amma-international.org);

CIRCE (Climate Change and Impact Research: the Mediterranean Environment 

http://www.circeproject.eu);
241

CLIMRUN (Climate Local Information in the Mediterranean region Responding to User Needs, 

www.climrun.eu);

CliMiP (Climate change Mitigation and Poverty reduction) 

http://www.feem.it/getpage.aspx?id=5257&sez=research&padre=18&sub=70&idsub=86&pj=Ongo

ing);

IMPACT2C (Quantifying projected impacts under 2°C warming, http://www.hzg.de/mw/impact2c);

EUPORIAS (European Provision Of Regional Impacts Assessments on Seasonal and Decadal 

Timescales, http://www.euporias.eu);

ClimAfrica (Climate change predictions in Sub-Saharan Africa: impacts and adaptations, 

http://www.climafrica.net);

CLARIS (A Europe-South America Network for Climate Change Assessment and Impact Studies, 

http://www.claris-eu.org);

METEOMET (Metrology for Meteorology, http://www.meteomet.org);

NEXTDATA (devoted to climate change in mountain areas, http://www.nextdataproject.it);

SHARE (Station at High Altitude for Research on the Environment, 

http://www.evk2cnr.org/cms/it/ricerca/programmi_integrati/share);

SPICE (WMO Solid Precipitation Intercomparison Experiment 2012-2014, 

http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/IMOP/intercomparisons/SPICE/SPICE.html);

SUSKAT (A SUStainable atmosphere for the KAThmandu Valley;

http://www.iass-potsdam.de/regional-focus-sustainable-atmosphere-kathmandu-valley);

Activities of the GEO (Group on Earth Observations) Ecosystems SBA 

(http://www.earthobservations.org/index.shtml);

Education programmes implemented by means of several training workshops on ‘modelling of 

regional climate, extreme events, air quality and human health’ 

(http://www.ictp.it/homepage.aspx);

Evaluation of the carbon sink potential of an ecosystem of the oasis in Algeria, Rainfall, fire, 

elephant, and tree interactions in Southern African savannas and desertification (Italy – South 

Africa Bilateral Agreement);

Landfill emissions reduction by waste stabilisation processes: an effective way of managing 

renewable energy sources (Italy – South Africa Bilateral Agreement); 

Monitoring system for CO2 captured in a used deposit of hydrocarbons (Italy – Algeria Bilateral 

Agreement);

Optimization of water use by native plants in arid lands facing climate change and desertification

(Italy – Pakistan Bilateral Agreement).
242

9 EDUCATION, TRAINING AND PUBLIC AWARENESS233

9.1 Education and Public awareness

The trend in the awareness-raising initiatives specifically dedicated to climate change over the last three 

years, had a decline at national level while it increased at local level. On the other hand, there is a 

growing commitment to raise awareness on sustainable use of resources, in particular energy and 

renewable energy.

Like in the rest of Europe, the climate change campaign launched by the European Commission in each 

EU Member State –including Italy- with the motto “Turn down. Switch off. Recycle. Walk”, ended, and its 

website has been archived on 1/12/2011 (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/campaign/). 

Starting from young people and working with them has proven to be the most effective tool to build a 

conscious citizenship with regard to environmental issues. In order to build an effective educational path 

for young people it is essential to carry out a proper training of trainers and to update courses on specific 

environmental issues. It is therefore important the implementation of courses for teachers so that the 

school can become a place of awareness and dialogue among students, teachers and experts on the 

issues related to climate change. 

Schools are at the top for the dissemination and awareness on important issues such as energy saving, 

sustainable consumption, CO2 emissions, climate change; in other words, schools are the training ground 

of new generations to whom we will leave our Planet. 

The key actors in the promotion and implementation of innovative methods for teaching and learning and 

raising awareness on climate change in Italy are, as in the previous years, in large part Municipalities, 

Regional and Provincial Administrations and Regional Environmental Agencies (ARPAs). Among these, the 

most engaged in education and training activities are the Trentino and the Emilia Romagna Regions with 

the Environmental Education Network for sustainable development of Trento and the System of 

Information, Training and Environmental Education for Sustainability (INFEAS) of Emilia Romagna. The 

city of Trento is not by chance at the first place among the Italian cities for better quality of life. 

For easier reference, the initiatives on education and public awareness have been divided in two separate 

sections below. 

Education

In Italy the institutional reference for Environmental Education is the National Programme for 

Environmental Education, Information and Training (IN.F.E.A), coordinated by the Ministry for the 

Environment Land and Sea (MoE) and by the Regions. 

The INFEA is structured as an open and dynamic integration of systems on regional scale, where the 

regional administrations play a role of listening, proposal and coordination by fostering a constant 

dialogue with the actors involved in the field of the environmental education.

The INFEA Programme has contributed, with financial support, to spread throughout Italy, structures and 

tools to assist and strengthen the role of Regions and to direct the actions towards the set up of a 

 

233 Lead author: Stefania Fusani (ISPRA); Contributing authors: Sandra Moscone (ISPRA), Stefania Calicchia (ISPRA), 

Daniela Antonietti (ISPRA), Fabrizio Ciocca (ISPRA), Antonella Ceccarelli (ISPRA), Antonietta Licenziato (ISPRA), Maria 

Alessia Alessandro (ISPRA), Patrizia Polidori (ISPRA).

Special Thanks to: the Regional Environmental Agencies (ARPAs) of Calabria, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Lazio, 

Lombardia, Puglia, Toscana, Umbria, Veneto, the Provincial Environmental Agencies (APPAs) of Trento and Bolzano, 

the General Secretariat of Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea and the Italian Civil Protection Department.
243

National System of Education, training and environmental information. During 2007-2009 the IN.F.E.A 

Programme realized a number of initiatives on climate change and promoted renewable and efficiency 

energies. 

Another important institutional point of reference is the Italian National Commission for UNESCO, which 

coordinates the activities of the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014). In 

particular, every year the National Week of Education for Sustainable Development develops a large 

number of initiatives to raise awareness and education throughout the country. To the issue of climate 

change has been dedicated the DESS Week in 2007, while in recent years the issues of sustainable 

mobility (2010), water (2011), agriculture, ecosystems and power (2012) have been addressed and 2013 

was the year of "landscapes of beauty" (www.unescodess.it).

In this framework, the National System for Environmental Protection, composed by ISPRA and the 

Regional and Provincial Environmental Agencies, plays an important role, promoting and implementing 

educational programs, projects and initiatives on various environmental issues.

The Environmental Education Sector of ISPRA, which coordinates the Network of Focal Points of Education 

for Sustainability (Rete di Referenti dell’Educazione Orientata alla Sostenibilità - EOS), collects and 

processes data and information related to educational activities carried out in Italy, for their inclusion in 

the Environmental Data Yearbook. 

The first Italian Region to adopt legislation in the field of environmental education was the EmiliaRomagna Region with the Regional Law No. 15 of 1996, establishing the INFEA Regional System of 

Emilia Romagna. By Regional Law no. 27 of 2009, the INFEA Regional System of the Emilia Romagna 

Region was updated to focus more on the dissemination of a Development Plan based on active 

citizenship, peace, democracy, human rights, fair development, reasonable use of resources: all these 

aspects can be summarized with the concept of sustainability. As a result, in 2009, the INFEA Regional 

System has become INFEAS (Information, Training and Environmental Education for 

Sustainability). The INFEAS regional system is a network of organizations that engages regional public 

and private bodies in a process of active collaboration to promote, disseminate and coordinate the actions 

of education for sustainability.

Nowadays the CEAS (Centres for Education to Sustainability), established by the new Regional Law, 

deals with all matters related to environment and sustainability; they are targeting children and adults as 

well as aiming at the involvement of other local stakeholders.

The Networks of schools for education to sustainability are addressed to the education of the 

younger generation towards a sustainable development that can not compromise the life on the planet.

The INFEAS system recognizes to schools a key role in the dissemination of the culture of sustainability 

and aims to support and enhance all the institutions (or networks of institutions) which include in their 

educational plan these issues or those implementing in-house activities of education for sustainability. 

(http://ambiente.regione.emilia-romagna.it/infeas/temi/sistema). 

With the Provincial Law no. 3/99, the Autonomous Province of Trento has entrusted the Provincial Agency 

for the Protection of the Environment of the coordination and organization of environmental education 

projects, promotion, training and information (In.FEA). The Environmental Education Network for 

sustainable development of Trento (Rete trentina di educazione ambientale per lo sviluppo 

sostenibile) is a network of forty environmental educators that promotes the adoption of best practices 

with the aim of forming an "active citizenship" capable of a daily living with a more eco-friendly 

consciousness and behaviour. (http://www.appa.provincia.tn.it/educazioneambientale/). 
244

At National level, in December 2009, the Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea and the Ministry for 

Education, University and Research issued the “Guidelines for Environmental Education for Sustainable 

Development” (Linee guida per l’educazione ambientale e allo sviluppo sostenibile) addressed to primary 

and secondary schools in Italy. According to the UNECE Strategy for Education for Sustainable 

Development, Italy is committed to integrate Environmental Education and Sustainable Development into 

existing educational programmes and to create specific courses and programmes. 

The purpose of these Guidelines is to provide innovative orientations on the subject of Environmental 

Education and Sustainable Development for the elaboration of the curriculum by scholar institutions and 

for the organization of educational and teaching activities with the aim to facilitate its gradual, continuous 

and operational adoption. The overall objective is to build awareness and responsibility towards 

environmental topics, including Climate Change, that are crucial for the quality of life. 

The Guidelines, sent to all range of Italian schools, include ideas and recommendations for the design of 

specific training courses and proposals for environmental education methodologies; thematic fact sheets 

are also annexed with the aim to provide a scientific and technical support for teaching methodologies.

In 2010 the above mentioned Ministries launched two Competitions for the realization of National 

Educational Campaigns: 

“Things can change if..” targeting at children of kindergarten and primary schools and with the purpose of 

collecting ideas, proposals and suggestions for all age groups to promote small daily actions that can 

help improve the environment and the landscape. At the end of the year the best ideas were 

collected in a publication to be shared in school.

“School, environment and legality..” targeting at children from secondary schools and with the objective 

to realize a communication campaign prepared by students on issues such as waste recycling, 

sustainable consumption and tackling ecomafia. The best campaign was disseminated in all schools 

and on the main national newspaper and television channels.

http://hubmiur.pubblica.istruzione.it/web/istruzione/prot3337_09

EDUCATION: List of projects carried out since 2010 

Organisation/ 

Promoter/

Name of the activity Short Description

ISPRA 

(Institute for

Environmental

Protection and

Research)

VADDI

(Italian acronym of “Tell it

to dinosaurs!” Vallo A Dire ai

Dinosauri)

Game simulation kit on climate

change (updated version 2011 -

2013)

The activity of the simulation game "Tell it to the 

dinosaurs', organized at the Conference on Climate 

Change in 2007, was subsequently transformed into 

an educational kit that is aimed at students aged 

between 13 and 18 years. The simulation game 

develops from a virtual environment, that reflects 

however the real social dynamics and environmental 

elements, so it aims at stimulating the active 

participation of the players, with a problem-solving 

approach.

The kit has been presented to the public in May 2011 

with a National Seminar.

The communication campaign to promote and spread 

the game was launched later, through play sessions 

in schools, as well as the creation of training 

workshops for educators and teachers, including one 

in Abruzzo (L'Aquila, October 2011) in collaboration 

with the ARTA Abruzzo, and one in Tuscany 

(Florence, April 2013), in collaboration with the 

Region of Tuscany.

http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/formeducambiente

/educazione-ambientale/progetti-ed-iniziative-1/kitva.d.di/index
245

Provincial Environmental 

Agency of Bolzano 

(APPA Bolzano)

(Alto Adige Region) 

Environmental Education 

Projects on four thematic: 

Water, Climate, Noise, Waste. 

2011-2012-2013

Environmental education proposals that the 

Provincial Environmental Agency of Bolzano offers to 

primary, secondary and higher schools include 

activities, projects and workshops involving all 

students. In particular the Climate section is aimed 

to get aware children and teenagers of the necessity 

to protect climate with practices, educational 

activities and interactive tools. It’s includes the 

following initiatives:

1. “The climate for us” Laboratory lessons on 

Energy saving. Target Audience: Primary School; 

Participants no: 3,191

2. “Steps for climate” initiative for sustainable 

mobility. Target Audience: Primary School; 

Participants no: 14,062

3. “Journey into the climate” Interactive exhibition 

explain to the children the climate change 

phenomenon; Target Audience: Primary School; 

Participants no: 6,837

4. “Initiative "Journal of Climate" : young people 

are encouraged to think about the way they 

move and try alternatives to the car; Target 

Audience: Secondary school; Participants: 379

5. Laboratory "Active for climate": young people 

are encouraged to think about their daily 

behaviours looking for possible solutions to the 

climate change problem. 

Provincial Environmental 

Agency of Trento 

(APPA Trento)

Environmental Education 

Network of Trento

M’illumino di meno 

“Let’s brighten less” 

Energy Saving Day campaign

(2010/2011/2012/2013 Editions)

As part of the yearly energy saving campaign 

"M'illumino di meno" many events were organized at 

various locations in Trentino: information evenings, 

conferences, workshops, awareness campaigns and 

film screenings on the issues of energy conservation, 

alternative energy, climate change.

Provincial Environmental 

Agency of Trento 

(APPA Trento)

Environmental Education 

Network of Trento

Evenings and informative 

meetings on the topics of 

energy saving, renewable 

energy, climate changes in the 

Province of Trento

(2010-2011) 

A number of Evenings and informative meetings on 

the topics of energy saving, renewable energy, 

climate changes were organized in the Province of 

Trento with the purpose to raise awareness in the 

citizenship: 

Energy saving and solar panels" 

Energy saving

What energy? Problems and prospects – nuclear

Energy: how to use it better and save it

Building the future: green building and LEED 

system, ecology and well-being

The saving home 

The impossible is possible. Evening on alternative 

energy

Climate change: local and global actions

The energy resources, exploitation, and saving 

technologies. 

Provincial Environmental 

Agency of Trento 

(APPA Trento)

Environmental Education 

Network of Trento

Clima days: exhibition and quiz 

competition 

(2010)

The Environmental Education Network of Trento 

organized the guided tours to “Clima days” exhibition 

and quiz game on climate change in Borgo Valsugana 

(Trento) for primary and secondary schools. 

Provincial Environmental 

Agency of Trento 

(APPA Trento)

Environmental Education 

Network of Trento

Learning paths in the schools 

on: AIR-climate, energy, 

alternative energy sources and 

energy saving.

2010-2013

http://www.appa.provincia.tn.it/ed

ucazioneambientale/guidascuola/-

percorsi_didattici/012-10481.html

The Environmental Education Network of Trento 

organized a series of Learning paths in the schools of 

Trento Province: 

Learning paths “Air - Climate "

Learning Path: "Energy, alternative energy sources 

and energy saving"

Exhibition "A window on climate"

School years : 2010/2011; 2011/2012; 2012/2013

Provincial Environmental 

Agency of Trento 

Guided tours and walks on the 

theme of climate and alternative 

The Environmental Education Network of Trento 

organized a series of Guided tours and walks on the 
246

(APPA Trento)

Environmental Education 

Network of Trento

energy. 

(2011)

http://www.appa.provincia.tn.it/ed

ucazioneambientale/mostreinteratt

ive/pagina54.html

 

subject of climate and alternative energy in different 

locations of the province of Trento during the 

summer time, for residents and tourists: 

Val di Fiemme between forests and Sustainable 

Energy

On the tracks of the force of the water

Mechanical and electrical Technologies to use the 

power of nature. 

Municipality of Folgaria 

with the collaboration of 

the Province of Trento 

School for climate, Learning 

paths. 

2012

http://scuolaperilclima.ectrldev.co

m/

The Municipality of Folgaria, a popular tourist locality 

of the Dolomiti, organized a journey for children and 

families to discover the importance of good practice 

in environmental sustainability to help stimulate 

"eco-sustainable changes ". The course "School for 

Climate" allows participants to explore aspects of 

daily life related to the topic of energy saving, 

consumption, CO2 emissions, climate change. The 

activities of students and teachers are organized and 

managed through the project website. The children 

can experiment and learn through the test on the 

climate footprint. Teachers instead could adopt 

additional materials and suggestions for further 

information and activities to be carried out during 

their classes.

ARPA Veneto 

Regional Environmental 

Agency of Veneto 

Veneto Region 

Ministry for Education, 

University and Research

Environmental Suggestions, 

Learning paths. 

(2011)

Learning Path of environmental education for 

students and citizens to stimulate thought on 

consumption. Objectives: 

1 - To inform about energy, global warming, climate 

change, environmental impact resulting from daily 

choices and actions and consequences at the global 

level; new strategies and alternative and more 

efficient consumption models; 2 - to foster individual 

responsibility in daily choices and promote the active 

participation of citizens in socially responsible 

behaviour; 

3 - promote the activities of the IN.FEA Regional 

Network for Environmental Education of Veneto, as 

operational tool for the promotion and 

implementation of measures on the territory.

Activities:

The project involved the organization of conferences 

open to the public and meetings with students in the 

Veneto region on sustainable consumption.

http://www.arpa.veneto.it/arpav/paginegeneriche/suggestioni-dambiente

ARPA Veneto 

Regional Environmental 

Agency of Veneto 

IN.FEA Regional Network 

for Environmental 

Education of Veneto

Vicenza Hub of INFEA 

INFEA News

(2010 – 2012)

Published in March 2009, INFEA News, the monthly 

magazine in digital format of the Regional Network 

for Environmental Education in Veneto, includes 

news, articles, insights and photos relating to the 

activities and issues of environmental education. It is 

published on the web and sent to a dedicated 

mailing list.. 

The following editions are specifically dedicated to 

climate change :: 

- December 2010

http://www.laboratorioambientale.vi.it/news/index.p

hp?option=com_acajoom&act=mailing&task=view&li

stid=8&mailingid=173&Itemid=999

- May 2012 

http://www.laboratorioambientale.vi.it/news/index.p

hp?option=com_acajoom&act=mailing&task=view&li

stid=8&mailingid=344&Itemid=999

Province of Lucca

(Toscana) 

Specific laboratories on 

Climate Change,

December 2013

http://www.provincia.lucca.it/provi

nciainforma_show.php?id=10937

The Departments of Education and Environment of 

the Province of Lucca have promoted for the 2013-

2014 school year specific workshops on "Climate 

Change" for students of secondary schools of the 

second degree with a learning path linked to the 

training activities carried out by the Region of 
247

Tuscany. The training also includes a meeting 

between students and the climatologist Giampiero 

Maracchi, Institute of Biometeorology, National 

Research Council (CNR). 

ARPA Calabria

Regional Environmental 

Agency of Calabria

GEA (Group of 

Environmental Education)

School Institutes of 

STILO-PAZZANOBIVONGI (Reggio 

Calabria)

The man and the environment: 

a complex relationship! 

(2010)

The Chemical Laboratory of the provincial 

Department of Catanzaro of ARPA Calabria organized 

a talk on the theme: "The man and the environment: 

a complex relationship!" On this occasion it was 

projected the movie "The Age of Stupid", produced 

by WWF International and Greenpeace. The film, on 

climate change, has given the opportunity to the 

experts of ARPA Calabria and WWF to engage 

students on this issue. 

The Age of Stupid tells of an old man living alone in 

the devastated world of 2055, looking at “archive” 

footage from 2008, asking: why didn’t we stop 

climate change when we had the change?

ARPA Calabria

Regional Environmental 

Agency of Calabria

GEA (Group of 

Environmental Education)

School Institute 

“Gesumino Pedullà” di 

Siderno (RC)

“Ambientiamoci” (Get 

acclimatized)

(2010)

The Group of Environmental Education of ARPACal 

organized a series of educational meetings on the 

following topics: influence of human behaviour on the 

environment and orientation towards eco-friendly 

ways of life. During the meeting there were talks on 

"global warming" and the effect it has on the climate, 

on the rising of the seas, and on the greater 

frequency of violent weather phenomena such as 

hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornadoes and floods. 

ARPA Calabria

Regional Environmental 

Agency of Calabria

GEA (Group of 

Environmental Education)

Technical Institute “Enzo 

Ferrari”, Chiaravalle (CZ)

“Safeguard and Protection of 

the Environment”

(2011)

The purpose of the project is to raise awareness 

among students on the sustainable environmental 

behaviours in their life, for the protection of natural 

resources and in compliance with the law. The 

students addressed the correlation between industry 

and green house gases and human activities 

(industrial production, agriculture, waste 

management, etc..) as the main causes of the 

greenhouse effect and climate change.

ARPA Calabria

Regional Environmental 

Agency of Calabria

GEA (Group of 

Environmental Education)

University of Cosenza

School Institute “Fermi” 

(Reggio Calabria)

“From hydrogen bond to

climate change"

(2012)

Lecture given by prof. Emilio Spur of the Department 

of Ecology, University of Calabria, to the students of 

Fermi Institute of R. Calabria. During the lesson the 

teacher illustrated a study on the Mediterranean Sea, 

which shows that climate change is the cause of 

rising sea of changes in the marine flora and fauna 

but also new species of parasites such as Anisakis. 

Moreover, climate change is a threat to ecosystems

and to human life as it has increased the frequency 

of some "extreme events" such as hurricanes and 

floods.

ARPA Sicilia

Regional Environmental 

Agency of Sicily

CESV MESSINA

CEA Messina Onlus

European Solar Days: “The Sun 

Energy for the Earth”

(2013)

During the European Solar Days 2013 ARPA Sicily 

organized a day dedicated to the "School for 

Sustainable Energy" to promote the knowledge of the 

correct use of solar energy. The students of the 

Schools of all levels of the territory of Messina 

submitted their work (drawings and models, 

designed and created for the occasion) during the 

exhibition held in the Hall of Flags in Palazzo Zanca. 

 Rete Clima®

Clima Network 

(Information and action 

for sustainability and the 

fight against climate 

change)

Environmental education and 

Environmental training on 

climate.

2011- ongoing 

http://www.reteclima.it/educazion

e-e-formazione-ambientaleclimatica/

Climate Network (Rete Clima ®) is a non-profit 

organization, founded in 2011 as a technical network 

for the promotion of sustainability and awareness to 

the climate change issue at the local scale. The 

network organized a series of learning paths for 

primary, secondary and high schools: 

laboratories for the construction of small-scale 

plants powered by renewable sources 

teaching activities on scientific issues 

(environment, energy, sustainability, climate 
248

change) for secondary schools 

summer camps for education to environmental 

sustainability

lessons on practices and actions for energy saving 

at home and at school

design and delivery of "green days" and 

environmental events for Schools. 

Società Cooperativa “La 

Lumaca”

Goodlink Srl 

Let’s go to School of future! 

Feb-Apr 2013

http://www.lalumaca.org/stampa/

archivio/andiamo-a-scuola-difuturo

The Goodlink Company is the creator and promoter 

of the Green Social Festival and, in collaboration with 

the cooperative company “La Lumaca” organized the 

educational path "The school of future" for students 

and teachers of secondary schools in EmiliaRomagna. Classroom sessions and workshops were 

organized by specialized environmental educators. 

Public awareness 

At national level, the Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea organised several communication 

campaigns aimed at spreading environmental education and information at large. 

Although no events specifically dedicated to climate change were organized, many of the communication 

campaigns carried out were targeted at making children aware of environmental issues through the 

organization of workshops. 

Among the information and educational campaigns targeted at young people, in 2010 the "National Day 

of the Tree" was established on 21th of November, with the aim of raising public awareness on the 

importance of Italian and global arboreal and woodland heritage, on the protection of biodiversity, 

climate change mitigation, prevention of landslide and flood risk, and land security.

In the 2012 edition, a competition was set up, the "Tree Master", open to primary and secondary schools, 

inviting classrooms, pupils or interdisciplinary teams to develop journalistic surveys, reports, 

documentaries or simple articles about the importance of the trees for human life and the ecosystem.

In 2013 edition, in collaboration with ISPRA, the Municipality of Rome and the Regional Park of Appia 

Antica, several learning laboratories were organized for primary schools, with the aim to sensitize 

children on the importance of Trees. 

In 2010 it was also set up the “National Bike Day”, on the second Sunday of May, in collaboration with 

the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) and the Italian Cycling Federation. The Bike Day 

is organized in more than a thousand Italian municipalities.

Furthermore, in 2011 the Secretariat General of the MoE organized the Italian edition of the “European 

Mobility Week: In Town without my car" from 16 to 22 September 2011. The EU campaign, now in its 

tenth edition, has become over the years an international event that aims to encourage people to use 

alternative means of transport than private cars. Its focal theme for 2013 "Clean Air! It's your move", 

aims to make people aware on the link between motorized traffic and air pollution in urban areas, 

highlighting the active role that each citizen can have in improving air quality through their mobility 

choices. (http://www.minambiente.it/pagina/campagne-ed-iniziative). 

Besides these National initiatives, that have involved many Italian cities, also Municipalities, Regional and 

Provincial Administrations and Regional Environmental Agencies (ARPAs) have realized important 

initiatives aimed at raising the awareness of citizens (young or adults) to climate change issues through 

specific Communication Campaigns. Among these, ARPA Emilia Romagna is especially active in raising 

awareness of public, citizens and young people to the issue of climate change through the 
249

implementation of many projects, initiatives and articles dedicated to adaptation to climate change in the 

towns and in the Region. Many popular articles have been published by ARPA ER on national and 

international journals (ECOSCIENZA....). 

PUBLIC AWARENESS: List of projects carried out since 2010

Organisation/ 

Promoter

Name of the activity Short Description

Ministry of the 

Environment, Land 

and Sea

Institute for wood 

plants and 

environment (IPLA);

National Union of 

Mountain Towns and 

Communities (UNCEM 

Piemonte);

Italian National 

Institute for 

Environmental 

Protection and 

Research (ISPRA);

European 

Environment 

Information and 

Observation Network 

(Eionet);

with the patronage of 

the Piedmont Region.

Alpine Climate Change 

Days

International Conference 

and Press Session

Turin, 30-31 March 2011

http://www.ipla.org/index.

php?option=com_content&

view=article&id=176:giorna

te-alpine-dei-cambiamenticlimatici-alpine-climatechangedays&catid=4:comunicatistampa&Itemid=47

The ALPINE CLIMATE CHANGE DAYS are promoted within the 

MANFRED project, financed by the European Programme “Alpine 

Space 2007-2013” and focused on Management Strategies to 

adapt Alpine space forests to climate change risks.

During an international conference in Turin, European experts 

have presented the results of analysis conducted in the Alps, as 

well as innovative solutions to adapt the Alpine area to climate 

change. Conference topics were:

an outline on climate change and scenarios for the alpine 

space;

the Report “SOER 2010 – The European Environment: State 

and Outlook” published by the EEA;

the results of projects carried out in the field of: spatial 

planning, tourism, forests, transnational ecological 

networks, prevention and management of risks.

Furthermore, the informative session with journalists and 

communication officers of public and private institutions was 

held aimed at spreading, through short key messages suitable 

for media coverage and institutional communication, data on 

climate change consequences as well as actions, objectives and 

results of projects, replicable in the region and beyond.

Municipality of 

Firenze

RACES - Raising Awareness 

on Climate and Energy 

Saving (financed by EC 

Programme LIFE+) 

http://www.liferaces.eu/en

(concluded on 30 April 

2011) 

The Florence City Council, together with other Italian cities -

Trento, Modena, Potenza and Bari – is the coordinating 

beneficiary of a project dealing with the local impact of the 

climate change. The project is co financed by the European 

Commission, under the LIFE+ Programme. R.A.C.E.S aims at:

inform all the people of the cities involved about the local 

impact of the climate change

to raise awareness on climate change within specific target 

groups: teachers, families and stakeholders video 

documentary, 1 publication on climate change including 

LIFE best practices and 1 publication on local climate 

aspects). 

Europe Direct Puglia

Bari University

Education Dept. of 

the Apulia Region 

CLIMA DAYS,

Exhibition on climate 

change: let’s start from our 

cities

Bari 19-23 April 2010

As part of the above-mentioned LIFE+ RACE project, Europe 

Direct Puglia, together with Bari University and the Education 

Dept. of Apulia Region have organised the CLIMA DAYS, an 

initiative consisting in an exhibition and in a series of microconferences focused on various aspects of climate change.

Furthermore, visits for school groups of interactive nature have 

been organised to better involve the kids, including the 

distribution of didactic material on the six topics of DESS “Cities 

and citizenship” theme: waste, energy, pollution, water, food, 

mobility.

Kyoto Club

CRES Project (Resilient 

climates) 

October 2011- January 

2012

http://www.climaresilienti.i

t/

CRES (Resilient climates) is a Kyoto Club project aimed at 

raising awareness on the use of alternative energies, in 

particular on energy audit of schools and public buildings. CRES 

project, financed by the Ministry of the Environment, Land and 

Sea, contributed to the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of 

Italy Unification by spreading awareness among students, 

teachers and local authorities officers on climate change ongoing 

on our planet. CRES main focus was: the analysis of climate 

change evolution during years, resilience, mitigation, 

adaptation, promotion of good practices and the elaboration of a 

new Sustainable Energy Action Plan for (S.E.A.P.).
250

Kyoto Club 

Kyoto Club Web Portal

http://www.kyotoclub.org/

Kyoto Club is a non-profit organization founded in February 

1999. Its members are business companies, associations and 

local municipalities and governments engaged in reaching the 

greenhouse gases reduction targets set by Kyoto Protocol.

To reach its goals Kyoto Club promotes awareness-raising 

initiatives, information and training to foster energy efficiency, 

renewable energy sources and sustainable mobility.

Towards public decision-makers Kyoto Club puts forward policy 

proposals to make decisions in the energy field more and more 

environmentally friendly

Guglielmo Marconi 

University, Rome

(Dep.t Energy and 

Environment)

MedClima Project, 

2012 

http://www.medclima.it/

The MedClima project (Climate alliance for Mediterranean cities) 

is aimed at establishing a network of energy-aware 

Mediterranean cities, members of the Covenant of Mayors. The 

project has developed an innovative webgis platform, to support 

municipalities and public authorities in the management and 

monitoring of energy consumptions and of related CO2

emissions, as well as in drafting the Sustainable Energy Action 

Plans encouraged by the EU through the Covenant of Mayors.

Municipality of 

Bolzano Klimaenergy-Award 

2012

20/22 September 2012 , 

Bolzano Fair 

http://www.klimaenergyaw

ard.it/14-2/

Klimaenergy Award is a competition that rewards the most 

virtuous Italian public entities in the energy field. It consists of a 

review of good environmental practices planned and 

implemented by the Italian municipalities and provinces. 

Promoted by Bolzano Fair and Bolzano Savings Bank 

Foundation, the award builds on tangible results and on 

replicability of projects in other public administrations, to draw 

the attention on the initiatives that can help to improve Italy’s 

ranking with respect to the objectives to be achieved by 2020 in 

terms of energy efficiency, renewable energy production and 

pollution abatement.

Climate Observatory 

of Trento 

Autonomous Province 

of Trento 

University of Trento

MUSE (Science 

Museum) 

CMCC 

Alpes Convention 

Viração 

Educomunicação 

Association 

Presentation of the IPCC 

5th Assessment Report 

on Climate Change at 

University of Trento, 

Faculty of Sociology 

21/10/2013

The Climate Observatory of Trento has organised a meeting with 

the Italian scientists which have contributed to the drafting of 

the IPCC 5th Assessment Report on Climate Change.

The Report has been presented by Antonio Navarra, from the 

Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change, and Sergio 

Castellari, the Italian Focal Point for IPCC.

The Climate Observatory of Trento, established in 2010, is 

responsible for the technical-scientific coordination of the 

Trentino region structures involved in research and monitoring 

of climate variables, as well as in scientific dissemination, 

information campaigns and in environmental education 

activities.

Autonomous Province 

of Trento

Climate Observatory 

of Trento

Climatically changing

(mind)

- Trentino climate 

Trento, 5-11 September 

2011

http://www.climatrentino.it

/programma/

A week of events sponsored by the Autonomous Province of 

Trento, to talk about climate change and the economic, social 

and environmental challenges both at local and global level. 

High-level scientific events with the contribution of Italian 

experts (including Sergio Castellari of CMCC), in order to reflect 

on the dynamics, the expected impacts and the necessary 

adaptation measures to be undertaken, accompanied by 

informative and entertaining spaces to approach a wider 

audience.

Natural Park 

Adamello Brenta

Autonomous Province 

of Trento

Climate-saving menus

2010, ongoing

http://www.pnab.it/vivereil-parco/dovemangiare.html

An information campaign to raise awareness on the climate 

impact of food, carried out by the Natural Park of Adamello 

Brenta, in collaboration with the EcoInstitute of Bolzano and 

with a number of restaurants located in the municipalities within 

the Park. Climate-saving menus have been designed taking into 

account sustainability criteria and revealing the climate impact 

in kilograms of CO2 emissions of each dish.

ARPA 

Emilia-Romagna

Regional 

Environmental 

Agency of EmiliaRomagna

UHI Project (Urban Heat 

Island)

“Development and 

application of mitigation 

and adaptation strategies 

and measures for 

counteracting the global 

Urban Heat Islands 

UHI Project aims at developing mitigation, risk prevention and 

management strategies concerning the urban heat island (UHI) 

phenomenon.

The UHI is a microclimatic phenomenon that occurs in the 

metropolitan areas. It consists in a significant increasing of the 

temperature in the urban area respect to the surrounding periurban and rural neighbourhoods. 

In particular, the project intends to provide a deeper knowledge 
251

phenomenon”. 

2012-2014 

http://www.eu-uhi.eu/

on the man-made risk of the UHI and its interactions with global 

climate change and set up suitable strategies for the mitigation 

of- and the adaptation to UHI. For these purposes a 

communication campaign was realized by 

UHI Project is developed in 8 of the most relevant metropolitan 

areas in Central Europe, in Italy are the metropolitan cluster of 

Bologna – Modena and the urban corridor of Venice – Padua. 

ARPA EmiliaRomagna

Regional 

Environmental 

Agency of EmiliaRomagna

CEAS Centres for 

Education to 

Sustainability Terre 

d’Argine -

Climate change: The 

Spaceship Earth: a step 

away from the Apocalypse)

Carpi (Modena)

6-31 dicembre 2012)

At the same time of the World Conference on Climate Change 

held in Doha (December 2012), an informative and educational 

exhibition was realized by the ONGs Panda Carpi – WWF Oasis 

"La Francesa" and the Educational Centre on Environment and 

sustainability CEAS Terre d’Argine - dedicated to measuring 

instruments for climate change entitled "Spaceship Earth: 

weather - climate - atmosphere." The initiative for the 

dissemination of scientific knowledge and raising awareness on 

the effects of climate change relies on the collaboration of ARPA 

Emilia Romagna - regional environmental agency - which 

provided the technical equipment and scientific documentation.

ARPA EmiliaRomagna Regional 

Environmental 

Agency of EmiliaRomagna

CMCC

Multimedia reading “La 

margherita di Adele” 

Bologna, 18 ottobre 2013

http://www.cmcc.it/events/

multimedia-reading-lamargherita-di-adele-2

Born from the collaboration between two climatologists Sergio 

Castellari (Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change -

CMCC and the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology 

- INGV, IPCC Focal Point for Italy) and Carlo Cacciamani (Hydro 

Meteo Climate Service of ARPA Emilia Romagna), the theatrical 

reading accompanies viewers on a breathtaking scenery on the 

future of the planet and especially of our territory, scientifically 

highly probable, but politically avoidable. The event is organized 

under the patronage of the Italian Climate Network.

Ambiente Italia 

with the financial 

support of the Emilia 

Romagna Region 

IRIDRA S.r.l. 

University of Udine

Green University of 

Bologna 

Alma Mater 

Studiorum University 

of Bologna 

WATACLIC

Water against Climate 

Change Life+

(2010-2012)

http://www.wataclic.eu/

Aim of the WATACLIC LIFE+ project is to demonstrate that, 

thanks to proper information and communication campaigns, 

technical and administrative stakeholders can very much 

contribute to the reduction of water (and energy) consumptions 

in urban areas.

The core activities of the project are the Communication 

Campaigns focusing on: Water and rules, water and money, 

water and citizens, water and energy, water and innovation and 

its targeted to key stakeholders from various sectors. 

Between February 2011 and June 2012 five different campaigns 

have been implemented: each campaign envisaged workshops 

organized by WATACLIC partners together with local partners 

(Regional Governments, Local Authorities, Universities and 

research centres, NGOs). At the end of this task 38 workshops 

took place involving more than 1400 participants representing 

around 650 entities.

The WATACLIC project foresees 2 international conferences, one 

in a eastern Europe country (Romania, September 2012) and on 

in a Mediterranean country (Greece, October 2012).

Reaching the project objectives will, in the long term, allow a 

large decrease of water abstraction for urban use in Italy. 

Finally, reduction of water use could contribute to a significant 

reduction of CO2 emissions.

Municipality of 

Ancona

Municipality of Bullas

Municipality of Patras

Forum of Adriatic and 

Ionian Cities

ISPRA

ACT – Adapting to 

Climate change in Time

http://www.actlife.eu/

(2010-2013)

ACT – Adapting to Climate change in Time is a project funded by 

the European Commission within the LIFE program on 

Environmental Policy and Governance. 

The main objective of this project is the development of a 

process capable of resulting in an effective municipal strategy 

for local climate change adaptation measures. This will be 

achieved by involving (and increasing awareness among) local 

stakeholders (businesses, citizens, health system, civil 

protection, etc) in a consultation process to help determine 

proportionate, appropriate and cost-effective measures to be 

included in the adaptation strategy. 

The project, carried out by the Municipality of Ancona as leader, 

allowed to: 

increase the knowledge base on problems linked to climate 
252

change and relevant stakeholders’ awareness; 

Understand the importance of implementing adaptation and 

resilience measures to be applied in the short-medium term 

to tackle current climate change and to prevent extreme 

events 

Start a sharing process with the citizenship on several 

relevant and urgent activities.

9.2 Public access to information

Several innovative and practical initiatives have been implemented at local level to improve citizen 

information on climate change issues, such as newsletters, electronic information systems, web sites, 

information desks, etc.

It is worth mentioning also the first edition of the Newspaper “The investigation of ISPRA inspector: the 

melting of glaciers” dedicated to Climate Change that has been included in the 11th edition (2012) of the 

Environmental Data Yearbook, the most extensive and complete collection of official environmental 

statistics published in Italy, prepared by ISPRA through a consolidated collaboration with the regional 

environmental agencies and provincial agencies. The Newspaper has been produced to disseminate 

YearBook data on climate change to young nonprofessional people through the use of a comic strip 

language. Based on DPSIR investigating model, the newspaper has the narrative structure of an 

investigative survey conducted by the ISPRA inspector and five agents, where each of them is 

investigating one of the model elements: Mr. D. the Driving forces, Mr. P. the Pressures, Mr. S the 

State, Mr. I the Impacts, and Mrs. R. the Responses.

Organisation/ 

Promoter/

Name of the activity Short Description

Province of Rome Provincial Help-desk 

on renewable 

energies and energy 

saving

http://www.sportelloen

ergia.info/

To encourage energy saving and the development of renewable 

energy sources, the Province of Rome, in collaboration with the 

Lazio Region, launched the project "Provincial help-desk for 

renewable energy and energy saving." The help-desk gives 

support to people wishing to install renewable energy systems, 

on the necessary administrative procedures for obtaining 

permissions. It also helps to spread good practices on energy 

saving, green building and eco-friendly purchase and gives 

information on the availability of funding and incentives. 

Furthermore it offers guidance to local administrations, citizens, 

private organisations and SMEs towards the production of 

sustainable energy and to help them to make informed and 

efficient energy consumption choices.

ARPA Emilia Romagna

Regional 

Environmental Agency 

of Emilia-Romagna

Hydro Meteo Climate 

Service

CLIPART

Climatic Planning and 

Reviewing Tools for 

regions and local 

authorities

CLIPART is the Sub Project 10 of EnercitEE under the EU 

programme INTERREG IVC, aimed at providing procedures and 

tools to support regional and local authorities in climate policy 

planning and implementation. Given the relevance and the 

urgency of the climatic issue, an overall regional or local green 

house gas budget should be devised and set every year with 

sector assignments. 

A Guideline for local administrators was realized on climatic 

planning in several European languages. 

www.enercitee.eu/clipart

ARPA Emilia Romagna

Regional 

Environmental Agency 

of Emilia-Romagna

BLUE AP Project -

Bologna Local Urban 

Environment Adaptation 

Plan for a Resilient City.

http://www.blueap.eu/s

ite/

2012-2014

BLUE AP is a LIFE+ project for the implementation of an 

Adaptation Plan to Climate Change for the Municipality of 

Bologna, providing for some concrete local measures to test, in 

order to make the city more resilient and able to meet the 

climate change challenges.

The BLUE AP planning and testing actions developed in the city of 

Bologna will lead to the creation of guidelines useful for the 

definition of similar adaptation plans, that can be adopted by 

other medium-size Italian cities.
253

Bologna will be the pilot-city that, first in Italy, will face climate 

changes with the appropriate and creative tools.

The City of Bologna, as a joint effort with the project partners ( 

ARPA Emilia-Romagna, Kyoto Club and Ambiente Italia), will 

implement a Local Adaptation Plan that will make the city more 

resilient and prepared to handle the consequences of climate 

change. This also occurs through the creation of a Local Climate 

Profile and the involvement of stakeholders and citizens on the 

territory.

9.3 Public participation 

The NGOs are very active in the initiatives of public awareness and involvement, particularly among 

young people, on the theme of climate change and to promote simple actions accessible to all, able to 

give a small contribution to the protection of our planet.

Such actions include the testing of active citizenship practices in order to give young people spaces and 

tools to express their critical viewpoint and their proposals on key environmental issues and climate 

change, but also with regard to the cultural, social and economic context in which they live and in which 

their personality is taking shape. The activities of non-profit organizations and NGOs in environmental 

protection consist not only in the promotion of actions for environmental protection, but also in the 

dissemination of an environmental culture, operating with responsibility for protecting the environment, 

everyone's Home. 

The following table provides some examples of actions for promoting and facilitating public participation 

on climate change policies and related measures.

Organisation/ 

Promoter

Name of the activity Short Description

RAI Radio 2 

“Caterpillar” radio 

broadcast

M’illumino di meno 

“Let’s brighten less” 

Energy Saving Day 

campaign 

1 week each year, during 

the month of February 

http://caterpillar.blog.rai.i

t/milluminodimeno/

Energy Saving Day is a national communication campaign 

dedicated to energy saving policies. 

This annual campaign was launched for the first time on 

February 16th, 2005, sponsored by the Ministry of the 

Environment, Protection of Land and Sea and also supported 

by the EU. Everybody is asked to reduce to the minimum 

their own private energy use during the show's airtime from 

6:00-7:30pm. By doing this the maximum visibility in the 

media and the largest participation by common people are 

concentrated on Energy Saving Day. 

The Municipality of Vicenza shared the Radio2 Initiative in 

2013 focusing on the theme of energy saving in public 

buildings and lighting systems. During the day a corner 

dedicated to the IEE Conurbant Project, was equipped, with 

the aim to propose the event "Mayor of Energies", inviting 

citizens to share their idea about Energy political and civil 

Policies for Europe 20-20-20. 

Municipality of Milan

in the framework of 

the Covenant of 

Mayors.

Congestion charge for 

a clean city

Milan, January 2012

The congestion charge is part of Milan’s Sustainable Energy 

Action Plan (SEAP), an ambitious roadmap charting the city’s 

progress towards CO2 emission reductions and adopted as 

part of its commitment to the Covenant of Mayors. Drivers 

entering the Milan city centre with certain categories of 

vehicles are required to pay a fee. The revenue collected will 

finance the city’s sustainable transport facilities. 

“Milan is the first city in Italy to introduce the congestion 

charge as a concrete step towards a more sustainable, safer 

and healthier life for all its citizens. It is an important tool to 

achieve the 20% CO2 emission reduction target which the 

city is committed to in the framework of the Covenant of 

Mayors.

Shylock Association - Climate Change - the The initiative was conceived and promoted to enhance and 
254

Theatre Centre

Cà Foscari University

of Venice 

Patronage of the UN 

Decade (2005-2014) of 

Education for 

Sustainable 

Development 

grand challenge 

National Literary 

Competition

in the framework of 

UNESCO DESS Italian 

National Commission

2013

foster creativity and reflection on climate change. 

The competition is divided into two categories: “The web 

gallery”, an on-line section dedicated to social media 

language and “Narrative and image” which consists of two 

sections of narrative and one section of image. The submitted 

works will be judged by a commission of selected experts 

among journalists, editors and managers of publications and 

programs dealing with environmental issues. 

Legambiente Climate in the city 

Report 2011 

http://upload.legambiente

.org/ecosportello.org/doc

umenti/rapporto_clima_in

_comune_web.pdf

Legambiente report on best practices in the field of energy 

implemented by local authorities to urge municipalities which 

have not yet grasped the sense of participation in the 

Covenant of Mayors to adopt the Sustainable Energy Action 

Plan (SEAP).

Alliance for Climate 

Italy Onlus

European Project 

NET-COM-Italy:

National Dialogue 

Platform of the Covenant 

of Mayors

Start date: 01/06/2011

Duration: 30 months

http://www.networkingco

venantofmayors.eu/

The European project NET-COM supports the EU Climate 

Package in the implementation of the Covenant of Mayors. 

The numerous Italian municipalities who have joined the pact 

need assistance in the preparation of plans and concrete and 

substantial actions; hence the creation of a dialogue platform 

facilitating networking, exchange of experiences and 

information and necessary coordination with upper provincial, 

regional and national levels. Within the Project , the A+CoM 

Award (2012-2013 editions) has been promoted for local 

authorities which have developed and approved their 

Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) as part of the 

adhesion to the Covenant of Mayors. Awareness raising is a 

strategic step of SEAP that is not only a technical and 

economic tool but also an important vehicle of information for 

citizens.

Italian Climate 

Network Onlus

Italian Climate 

Network Youth

Presentation of the IPCC 

Fifth Assessment Report 

(AR5) 

Milan – Palazzo Pirelli 

10 October 2013

http://www.italiaclima.org

/

Italian Climate Network is an association of citizens, business 

and NGO committed to solve climate issues and to ensure 

Italy a sustainable future. The main objective of Italian 

Climate Network Youth is to give life “to forge” a movement 

of young people, students and others throughout the country 

with the mission to raise awareness on the environmental 

and climate issues following the “train the trainer” model and 

keep Italian public opinion updated about the currently 

international negotiations and assert themselves as civil 

society. Italian Climate Network Onlus in collaboration with 

CMCC (The Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change) 

organizes an event to present the IPCC Fifth Assessment 

Report (AR5). A meeting for media, public, decision-makers, 

trade associations and all interested citizens with the 

participation of the Italian scientists who have contributed to 

the draft Report IPCC, open to questions.

Italian Climate 

Network Onlus

The Moving Planet!

24 September 2011

Rome, Milan

The first global event of mobilization for climate change 

organized by 350.org and some international partners. In 

Italy the main events of Rome and Milan, are organized by 

the Italian Climate Network through social networks and 

simultaneously with the main metropolis of the 5 continents. 

www.moving-planet.it!

Accenture 

Italian Foundation 

Board of 

Milan Universities 

Foundation 

Forest Skill

Call for solution

12 October 2011- 29 

February 2012

http://www.ideatre60.it/p

artecipa-aiconcorsi/concorso/forestskill/idea/47

The aim of this competition under the patronage of the 

Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, and the Ministry 

of Agriculture and Forestry is to raise awareness about the 

necessary actions to combat climate change and to identify 

project solutions to enhance and develop expertise and knowhow for the creation of new opportunities through the 

intelligent use of Italian wood and forest heritage. FELCE 

Project for example one of the winner of the completion, 

intends to promote the forest compensation of CO2 in a 

municipality of Brianza through the creation of a urban 

carbon sink by a certified process in accordance with the IPCC 

standards and the Kyoto Protocol. The certified forest will 

generate even carbon credits VER for the markets that can be 

purchased by companies which intend to compensate their 

CO2 emissions, giving the project the opportunity to be 

economically autonomous and able to generate opportunities 
255

within the green economy. 

Legambiente Young people change 

climate that changes

Project 

26 May 2010-

-26 May 2011

http://www.legambientes

cuolaformazione.it/index.

php

A national project sponsored by the Ministry for Youth and 

Sports with "Legambiente School and Training" and UDS 

(Union of Students). The city of Agrigento has been identified 

from Legambiente Sicily as the implementation seat while 

citizenship laboratories involve Piemonte, Lombardia, Liguria, 

Campania, Basilicata and Calabria regions. The project aims 

to perform laboratories to test active citizenship practices 

giving young people space and tools to express their critical 

point of view and their proposals on major environmental 

issues, first of all on climate change, but also with respect to 

the cultural, social and economic environment where they 

live and where their personality is in the process of being 

defined. “Young people change climate that changes” 

considers: the creation of territorial forum; the production of 

campaigns on environmental issues to make children key 

player of change; the monitoring throughout the path and the 

production of related documentation; the broadcast of an 

eco-newscast on local TV completely produced by young 

people supported by professional journalists and professional 

operators. At the end of the project a final meeting will occur 

with all young people participating from the seven Italian 

regions aimed at sharing the information and experiences 

implemented on their own territory. 

Legambiente Stop The Fever

and 

10:10 Campaign 

18 February 2011

http://www.s

topthefever.o

rg/home

http://www.1010global.or

g/global/about

http://www.1010global.or

g/it/che-cos%C3%A8-il1010

It is a site for public participation. Stop the fever is the new 

campaign of Legambiente to stop climate change, to reduce 

energy consumption, to promote renewable energy and to 

reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. It is addressed to 

individuals, businesses, local governments and schools, to an 

individual citizen who decides to go to work by bike, to a 

company that improves its energy efficiency, to a town 

announcing a solar roof plan. The site of Stop the fever hosts 

also the international 10:10 campaign born in England in 

2009. Legambiente has decided to support the campaign 

10:10 and to become Italy reference point. 10:10 is an 

international project aiming to spread in each sector of 

society a simple idea: the commitment to reduce our own 

carbon emissions by 10% in a year and work together to 

achieve this objective. An endless work of hundreds of 

volunteers. Any individual, family, business or organisation 

can make the cuts, by working together they can make a real 

difference.

9.4 Training 

Among the initiatives on capacity building for professionals, aimed at improving climate change mitigation 

and adaptation to climate change in business, industry and public administrations, it is worth mentioning 

the National Operational Programme “Governance and System Actions” implemented by the 

Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea whose objective is the strengthening and integration of the 

environmental governance system and the training offer proposed by the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, 

that ranks among the Italian Universities offering the most qualified masters specifically dedicated to the 

topic of climate change, carbon footprint and environmental sustainability. 

The Ca’ Foscari Graduate School, set up in 2011, aims to strengthen the higher education and training of 

young researchers and to prepare them for the millennium challenges. In particular, the School carries 

out the PhD Program in Science and Management of Climate Change”, a Research Doctorate (Third Cycle) 

that involves 3 years of study and research activities and which provides students with any necessary 

skill to perform highly qualified professions in universities and in public or private organizations. 
256

The School is based at the Department of Economics of the Ca’ Foscari University and the Doctoral 

Programme is organized in cooperation with the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change (CMCC). 

The National Operational Programme “Governance and System Actions” NOP GAS (or, as called in 

Italy: PON GAS), is funded by the EU ESF (European Social Fund) 2007-2013 under the Convergence 

objective, that aims to support institutional and governance capacity, in particular for achieving European 

goals related to lifelong learning and employment, and to promote and strengthen the Country 

innovation, quality and integration of education, training and work. 

The Ministry of the Environment, Land and Sea (MoE) plays the role of recipient administration of the 

project developed under the Priority Axis E: Institutional Capacity – Specific Objective 5.5 

"Strengthening and integrating the system of environmental governance" Action Line 7A “Horizontal 

actions for Environmental Integration", of which the Department of Public Administration of the 

Presidency of the Council of Ministers is the intermediate body. The Directorate General for Sustainable 

Development, Climate and Energy (DG SEC) of the MoE has the task of implementing the Action 7.A. 

The project aims to enhance the skills of public civil servants and technicians of regional and local 

governments in the Convergence Objective Regions (Calabria, Campania, Puglia and Sicily), in terms of 

environmental integration in decision-making and specifically on issues of sustainable development and 

climate change mitigation and adaptation. 

The objectives of the action can be summarized in the following points:

To provide business information, communication, training and exchange of best practices;

To improve the skills of staff so that they are functional at the regional and local development and for 

the rational use of environmental resources;

To develop interventions for adaptation, mitigation and reduction of greenhouse gases.

To achieve the above-mentioned objectives over the period of the program (2011/2015), the following 

training activities have been and will be developed: Training modules for skills development, Summer 

school, Conferences, Thematic Workshops, and Sector’s Studies. The program includes, for the first two 

years, 8 different training modules, 4 for each year and 1 for each region of the Convergence Objective, 

on "Actors, tools and governance in the context of climate change and sustainable development in the 

policies of territorial cohesion". In the Table below are reported some of the Workshops and Training 

Modules for skills development hold in the Italian Regions of Convergence.

Furthermore, as part of the technical training on the topic of climate change, some Regional and 

Provincial Agencies for Environmental Protection promoted in the period 2010-2013 specific training 

initiatives, also with the collaboration of other organizations and universities. These initiatives were also 

included in the Environmental Data Yearbook of ISPRA, in the section devoted to training activities 

promoted by the Italian System of Environmental Agencies, with reference to the years 2011-2012. 

In the table below are listed the actions reported by the Agencies, in addition to some relevant training 

events promoted in Italy by the Universities or other national and international organizations. 

Organisation/ 

Promoter/

Name of the activity 

and duration

Short Description

PON GAS Environment

Puglia Region

Ministry of the 

Environment, Land and 

Sea

“Mitigation and 

Adaptation to Climate 

Change”

The local Government 

role Training Days for 

civil servant of Local 

These training modules for skills development in the thematic 

laboratories on “Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change”, 

are carried out as training activities of the PON GAS 

Environment, and consist in lesson and training on the job 

based on the process of evaluation of environmental and 

development policies carried out by the Region, starting from 
257

Organisation/ 

Promoter/

Name of the activity 

and duration

Short Description

Ministry of Labour and 

Social Policy

public Administration

Bari 24-28 September 

2012

Lecce 8/12 October 

2012

EU Programming with particular reference to mitigation and 

adaptation policies to climate change and to the role that local 

government could play in support to the Central and Regional 

Administration towards the fight against climate change.

http://www.pongasminambiente.it/attachments/article/59/Pro

gramma_Regione%20Puglia.pdf

PON GAS Environment

Ministry of the 

Environment, Land and 

Sea

Ministry of Labour and 

Social Policy

Adaptation to Climate 

Change and Land 

Security, Workshop

Rome, 25 November 

2013

The Workshop “Adaptation to Climate Change and Land 

Security” is one of the Thematic Workshop planned by the 

Training activities in the framework of the PON GAS 

Environment, the National Operational Programme 

“Governance and System Actions”, funded by EU ESF 

(European Social Fund) 2007-2013. 

This technical workshop was addressed to managers and civil 

servants of public administration and tackled the problem of 

global warming, the hot spots areas, the inevitability of the 

impacts that climate change will have towards humans and on 

the ground. The EU adaptation strategy was introduced during 

the workshop as well as the need for each country to adopt a 

national strategy for adaptation.

www.pongasminambiente.it

PON GAS Environment

Calabria Region

Ministry of the 

Environment, Land and 

Sea

Ministry of Labour and 

Social Policy

“Climate change and 

sustainable 

evelopment”, training 

courses 

Lamezia Terme 

October-November 

2013

In the period October-November 2013 in the Calabria Region 

were conducted several Training modules for skills 

development in the thematic laboratories on “Climate change 

and sustainable development”. 

These training modules, in the framework of the Training 

activities of the PON GAS Environment, consist in lesson and 

training on the job based on the process of evaluation of 

environmental and development policies carried out by the 

Region, starting from EU Programming with particular 

reference to mitigation and adaptation policies to climate 

change. 

Among the issues addressed are those of the programming, 

planning and design of measures for the resilience of cities and 

territories, including the risk management (National Plan for 

Land Security), tools of the green economy (green businesses 

and young, taxation and environmental accounting; GPP) and 

the widespread practice of sustainability.

KORE University of Enna

(Sicily) 

Master in Climate 

Change Analysis 

2009-2010

Master in the sector of Analysis and Forecasts of Climate 

Change and Management of Mitigation Techniques consists of 

no.7 interdisciplinary modules. 

National and international scientific teaching, participation of 

Companies in the sector of industrial research and 

technologies to environmental mitigation. 

http://www.k2openlearning.it/CatalogoCorsi/MasteraltaFormaz

ione/tabid/232/language/en-US/Default.aspx

KORE University of Enna 

(Sicily)

International Summer 

School 

CNR

Climate Change in the 

Mediterranean, 

Training days 

Leonforte (EN) 

11-15 September 2009

Training course for graduates with scientific specialization 

aiming at introducing the knowledge of climate change 

observed and predicted by acquiring specialized techniques, 

through data analysis and modelling and verifying field 

dynamics of past climate change. 

The course consists of 5-day training with planned field trips 

for a maximum of 30 participants and national and 

international Professors. 

Universty of Urbino (PUPesaro and Urbino)Bachelor of Science 

and Technology for 

the Environment and 

The Master of Science is aimed at investigating the 

assessment of natural and environmental systems 

modifications induced by anthropic settlements and activities. 
258

Organisation/ 

Promoter/

Name of the activity 

and duration

Short Description

Territory

A.Y. 2010-2011

Furthermore, it provides a crosscutting training in order to 

identify adaptation strategies of the territorial system to 

climatic variations, as well as of reducing vulnerability.

http://www.uniurb.it/it/portale/index.php?mist_id=30&lang=I

T&tipo=IST&page=178&aa=2009/2010&id=1230083i

University of Insubria 

(VA)

Fondazione Cariplo, 

Law University of Nevada 

(USA)

Summer School –

"The Climate Change 

and the New 

Frontiers of 

Environmental Law: 

the European 

approach towards the 

United States"

Varese, 15-20 July 2013

The Stage on environmental Law analyzes and compares the 

European law with U.S. environmental policies related to 

climate change. 

The 6 day of training is open to students, graduates, bachelor 

of science, researchers, professors, members of the 

Department of Law, Economics and Cultures, practicing 

lawyers and professionals interested in the development of law 

and policy of climate change. 

http://www4.uninsubria.it/on-line/home/naviga-pertema/comunicazione/eventi/articolo4442.html

ICCG International Center 

of Climate Governance

Climate Change 

Governance 

Distance learning in 

English 

– 2013

The ICCG lecture series on Climate Change Governance aims 

at promoting long-distance training. They are targeted to the 

public at large and the world of policy making, in particular 

from developing countries where these issues are often underaddressed. The lectures are delivered by internationally 

renowned experts coming from both the academic and policy 

fields. The main research and policy institutions which work on 

the governance of the climate change are represented within 

our experts, e.g.; International Energy Agency, IPCC, 

European Commission, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, UNEP.

http://www.iccgov.org/StaticPage.aspx?IDPG=16&IDSM=5&ID

M=13&Lan=

Ca’ Foscari University of 

Venice - Department of 

Economics 

CMCC

Euro-Mediterranean 

Centre for Climate 

Change

The PhD Program in 

Science and 

Management of 

Climate Change

Monthly workshops in 

English 

2013-2014

The Doctoral Programme aims to train experts equipped with 

wide and in-depth scientific and economic education and a 

proven original research activity related to climate change 

dynamics and techniques for its assessment and management. 

The educational activities included in this programme are held 

in English. The programme may be broken down into two 

different curricula: one is called Dynamic Climatology” and the 

other “Impact and Management of Climate Change”. 

They include common educational activities aimed to create a 

sound scientific and economic background for the general 

understanding of climate change, together with specific 

educational activities related to the particular curriculum 

chosen by the doctoral student.

http://www.unive.it/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=124319

Ca’ Foscari University of 

Venice 

Challenge School

Management of 

Sustainability and 

Carbon Footprint

October 2013 –

November 2014

The Master in Management of Sustainability and Carbon 

Footprint (level I) aims to train professionals able of steering 

the variable of sustainability related especially to the policies 

of the Carbon Program, at the strategic level, as well as the 

operational level for calculating the 'carbon footprint, to

management and control of the causes and mitigation actions.

The training is intended to create the Carbon Manager, a 

professional with the appropriate skills to manage greenhouse 

gas emissions and implement decisions and mitigating actions.

http://www.unive.it/master-mscf

University of Perugia Climate Change 

Perugia, A.Y. 2012-2013

Master of Science in Energy Planning in the framework of the 

Faculty of Engineering 

http://www.ciriaf.it/ft/File/Didattica/lezioni/asdrubali_IA_Mod_

PE/4_cambiamenti_climatici.pdf

University of Padua 

Department of Industrial 

Engineering 

Master in Strategic 

Environmental 

Management - GAS

2013-2014 

The Master aims to train people who have multipurpose skills, 

knowledge and expertise in strategic environmental 

management (EMS), in the field of environmental 

management systems, in sustainable energy, in the life cycle 
259

Organisation/ 

Promoter/

Name of the activity 

and duration

Short Description

management and climate change. 

http://www.dii.unipd.it/

Emilia Romagna

Region

ASTER Consortium

for Innovation and 

Technology Transfer in 

Emilia-Romagna

Climate-KIC –

Pioneers into Practice

At the cutting edge of 

climate change 

innovation in Europe

(2010- 2011)

http://www.aster.it/tikiindex.php?page=Pionee

rs

Climate-KIC is an Initiative of EIT European Institute of 

Innovation & Technology with the aim to develop knowledge 

and foster innovation in four areas relevant for climate 

change. 

Climate-KIC has launched an exciting new knowledge 

development programme called Pioneers into Practice to 

promote world-class learning about the dynamics and 

management of system innovation for the transition to a low 

carbon economy in Europe. It is part of a package of activities 

developed by Climate-KIC to stimulate entrepreneurial action 

of economic and societal value.

The Emilia Romagna Region is among the six 6 major 

European Regions promoting the programme (Hessen –

Germany, Valencian region - Spain, Emilia Romagna -Italy, 

Lower Silesia - Poland, Central Hungary and the West Midlands 

- UK) that is committed to produce a new generation of 

specialists, entrepreneurs and policy-makers with high-level 

skills for the low carbon transition. They will be able to shape 

systems and processes that a low carbon economy requires, 

building new models of economic development.

The Pioneers programme is based on the assumption that the 

challenge of climate change requires a different type of 

innovation to that of conventional business competition. This 

arises from the commitment of most governments to urgent 

and ambitious targets for emission reduction and a ‘transition 

to a low carbon society. Therefore, the programme aims to 

create a new generation of low carbon innovators with the 

capacity to understand and manage this new type of 

innovation. It seeks to develop a mix of inter-disciplinary 

knowhow and managerial capability among practitioners in low 

carbon innovation. This will be done through a ‘learning-bydoing’ approach which will be accompanied by the 

development of social science knowledge about innovation.

Participants will be supported by leading European experts on 

transition and systems thinking, through a structured 

programme of learning by doing. They will provide a 

framework for participants to develop their knowledge of 

systemic innovation and its economic application.

CNR ISAC

( Institute for 

Atmospheric and Climate 

Science)

ARPA Calabria

Regional Environmental 

Agency of Calabria

I-Amica

Infrastructure of High 

Technology for Climate 

and Environmental 

Integrated Monitoring 

2012 – 2014

http://www.i-amica.it/iamica

One of the goals of the project is the organization of the 

Higher education Course involving technicians of the Multi-risk 

Center of ARPA Calabria and it is based on the strengthening 

of the network of observation for climate-environmental 

monitoring. The objective of the training course is to provide 

regional and local governments with some tools for the 

management of environmental issues and train professionals 

who are able to use the observation network of climate and 

environmental satellites of international infrastructure. 

ARPA

Emilia Romagna

Regional Environmental 

Agency of EmiliaRomagna

WATER CoRe: Water 

scarcity and droughts

2010-2012

http://www.arpa.emr.it/

watercore/

WATER CoRe is a coordinated action in European regions 

(INTERREG IVC) that intends to provide an exchange platform 

for water scarcity and drought issues on regional and local 

level for all European regions. 

The project focuses on the exploitation of the experiences 

made by the partners to prevent, monitor and combat the 

effects of drought and water scarcity caused by climate change 

effects. The project will result in a digital exchange platform, a 

good practice handbook, a survey specifying the opportunities 

to exchange good practices within the partnership, regional 

action plans to transfer experiences between regions, an elearning programme with thematic modules as well as policy 

recommendations. 

The e-learning programme and training days on climate 

change issues and their interrelation with water scarcity were 

realized by the Hydro-Meteo-Climate Service of ARPA Emilia 

Romagna, as well as the Water Core informative video. The 

video includes an interview to Mr. Sergio Castellari of CMCC 
260

Organisation/ 

Promoter/

Name of the activity 

and duration

Short Description

(Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change) Italian 

spokesperson of the IPCC. 

http://mtest1.lepida.tv/video/simc_280.mp4

A Leaflet on climate change and their impact on water 

resources was also realised. 

http://www.arpa.emr.it/cms3/documenti/clima_4.pdf

Toscana Region 

Regional Education 

Office of Tuscany

LaMMA Consortium 

(Laboratory of Monitoring 

and Environmental 

Modelling for Sustainable 

Development)

Course on climate 

change and water 

resources, 

2013

http://www.regione.tosc

ana.it/-/corso-sucambiamenti-climaticie-risorsa-acqua

The course, organized by the Department of Education of 

Tuscany Region, is aimed at teachers of primary and 

secondary schools and operators of environmental education 

in all the provinces of the Region. The training aims to support 

teachers in setting up a Teaching Unit on climate change and 

water resource by providing a framework of scientific 

knowledge on the phenomena of climate change and scarcity 

of water resources. Educational tools useful for building and 

create awareness and promote sustainable behaviour were 

also realized. Among the planned activities is also included the 

application of the of the simulation game methodology, 

through the use of the educational kit (VADDI) "Tell it to the 

dinosaurs" created by ISPRA.

Fondazione Cervia 

Ambiente

Cervia (RA)

Climate change and 

instruments of 

quantification, 

monitoring and 

reporting of 

greenhouse gas 

emissions

Cervia (RA), 15 June 

2010

Training course addressing the mandatory systems of 

monitoring, quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas 

emissions, carbon footprint of products and services –

Implementation of the Directives 2003/87 (EU Emission 

Trading Directive) and 2004/101/EC (Kyoto Protocol) by the 

Legislative Decree no. No. 216 of 04/04/2006. 

http://www.cerviaambiente.it

Rete Clima® 

Clima Network 

(Information and action 

for sustainability and the 

fight against climate 

change)

Environmental 

education and 

Environmental 

training on climate.

2011- ongoing 

http://www.reteclima.it/

educazione-eformazione-ambientaleclimatica/

Climate Network (Rete Clima ®) is a non-profit organization, 

founded in 2011 as a technical network for the promotion of 

sustainability and climate change awareness at the local scale. 

The network organized a series of training courses for adult 

(in the Company or for citizenship) including: 

motivational activities for the "corporate green behaviour" 

and the "green team building"; 

training on practices and actions for energy saving in the 

Company; 

specific training on working behaviour climate and 

environmental friendly; 

design and delivery of "green days" and environmental 

events for businesses, municipalities, associations with zero 

emissions; 

information and awareness evenings for citizenship

training on practices and actions for energy efficiency at 

home , in the Company, in the City. 

9.5 International cooperation 

The major economic crisis that Italy is going through for some years now did not allow to concentrate 

more efforts in many new international cooperation projects specifically dedicated to spreading 

awareness on climate change. 

However, cooperation activities are continuing in the framework of existing Memorandum of 

Understanding (MoU), such as the Sino-Italian Cooperation Program for Environmental Protection (SICP) 

signed in the year 2000 between the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS) and the 

State Environmental Protection Administration of China (SEPA). In over 10 years the cooperation 

agreement implemented over 200 projects in support of China’s Sustainable Development, thus 

becoming a model for bilateral cooperation. In this context, a new cooperation Program between China 

and Italy, especially dedicated to Climate Change, has been launched in March 2011 in Beijing by the 
261

Director General Corrado Clini of the Italian Ministry for the Environment and the Director General of the 

National Development and Reform Commission of China with the aims to start a joint program of 

activities in view of the creation of an international centre on climate change. Joint initiatives are 

implemented in the field of mitigation and adaptation to climate change, transfer and promotion of lowcarbon technologies, studies and researches as scientific support to decision-making. The cooperation 

program includes the following main projects: the Carbon Capture and Storage Comprehensive 

Application and Demonstration Project in Sha’anxi Province; the Capacity Building of Coastal Ecosystems 

to Adapt to Climate Change; the Xinjiang Uyggur Autonomous Region Climate Change Implementation 

Plan; the Climate Change Communication and Public Awareness Raising Project.

In Central and Eastern Europe, IMELS’s activity has been active since 2002, under Memorandum of 

Understanding (MoU) called “Environmental Protection Co-Operation”, signed with the former Ministry for 

Protection of Natural Resources and Environment of the Republic of Serbia and Montenegro. This 

agreement was aimed at developing a programme of bilateral cooperation in the fields of sustainable 

development, institutional strengthening and harmonization to both International and European 

legislative standards according to funds available from the Italian Law 84/2001 on Balkans’ 

reconstruction.

More recently the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea and the Serbian Ministry of 

Environment and Spatial Planning, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on May 2009 in order to, 

among else, maintain and enhance bilateral co-operation in the field of the CDM implementation on the 

basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit and as an efficient contribution to the sustainable 

development and the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions.

In Montenegro MoU signed in 2004 has been replaced by the Cooperation Agreement for Environmental 

Protection in Podgorica signed by the two governments in November 2012, represented by the Minister of 

the Environment. The agreement allowed the carrying out of activities that include, among others, 

support to institutional development and capacity building, and for environmental management, 

particularly in the areas of air quality, climate change, prevention and control of pollution. 

In the framework of the Cooperation Agreement on environmental protection between the Albanian 

Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water administration and the Italian Ministry for Environment, 

Land and Sea, technical support is supplied to Albania for the implementation of the Long Range 

Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) Convention then the support to the Albanian team to develop 

capacity to assess and plan air quality on local/urban scale, in particular in urban and industrial areas 

regulated in the frame of the EU Air Quality Framework Directive 96/92/CE and relative “daughters” 

Directives. These activities represented the core of the project “Technical support services for pollutant 

emissions inventories implementation and air quality planning in Albania”.

In 2005, the Italian Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea has signed a Memorandum of 

Understanding on “Cooperation in the field of the Environment and Sustainable Development” with the 

Macedonian Ministry of the Environment and Physical Planning. The cooperation aims to develop 

supporting activities for Kyoto Protocol implementation, environmental protection, natural resources 

improvement, environmental pollution reduction, legal assistance to adopt the Acquis Communautaire, 

and promotion of sustainable development trough programmes, initiatives and jointed projects.

For this purposes, the Task Force for Central and Eastern Europe of the Italian Ministry for the 

Environment Land and Sea has established a permanent office in Skopje, in order to provide for the 
262

Macedonian counterparts legal and technical assistance necessary to the build-up of institutional 

structures, able to realize environmental policies more focused on sustainable development.

Moreover, in 2009 a Memorandum of Understanding on “Establishment of Wind Database in Republic of 

Macedonia” between the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea and the Macedonian Ministry 

of Economy has been signed. It is finalized to measure wind power in the Republic of Macedonia. The 

database will provide an institutional plan for the sustainable process of wind measurement and a 

database to be used for wind energy generation.

It is also worth mentioning the project “Educate for the future”, created by a Memorandum of 

Understanding between the Ministry of Education, University and Research and ENEA and aimed at 

promoting and disseminating the knowledge of issues related to sustainable development. In particular, 

this project also involved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Directorate General for Development 

Cooperation and IFAD - International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Ministry for the 

Environment Land and Sea. The initiative's main objective is to engage Italian schools in the 

implementation of development cooperation projects with Africa on issues such as energy, environment, 

biodiversity, climate change, new technologies and responsible consumption. 

Another valid model of International Cooperation in developing and transition countries is represented by 

the research activities carried out by the EvK2CNR Committee, an autonomous, non-profit association, 

which promotes scientific and technological research in mountain areas. Thanks to the close collaboration 

with the National Research Council (CNR), in 2007 a Research Unit was established within Ev-K2-CNR, 

coordinated by CNR Earth and Environment Department. In Italy, Ev-K2-CNR benefits also of the support 

of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, University and Research, the Ministry of 

Economy and Finance, the Ministry of the Environment, Land and Sea and the Ministry of Agriculture and 

Forestry. 

Ev-K2-CNR carries out scientific and technological research in the Hindu Kush – Karakorum – Himalaya 

(HKKH) region, with particular reference to Nepal, and Pakistan. It is best known for the Pyramid

International Laboratory Observatory, located in Nepal, at 5,050 m a.s.l. at the base of Mount 

Everest. Due to their relatively remoteness from highly populated and industrialized regions, mountains 

are considered ideal locations for investigating the impact of climate changes from regional to global 

scales. The promotion of environmental observations in these areas allows the acquisition of unique 

information about the background conditions of the environment. 

For these reason and following the UN resolutions and indications, Ev-K2-CNR launched the SHARE 

project - Stations at High Altitude for Research on the Environment - an observational network of 

international and institutional collaborating partners (UNEP, WMO, NASA, ESA and IUCN) with the aim to 

promote continuous scientific observations in key high-mountain regions able to contribute to knowledge 

on regional and global climate change. It collaborates with the Nepalese Government (Ministry of 

Science, Technology and Environment) and with International Research Programs. 

Capacity building activity is one of the crucial objectives of SHARE project: local institutions, as the Nepal 

Academy of Science & Technology, are directly involved in monitoring and research activities assuring 

support to environmental management policies and decision-making processes. By means of awareness 

raising, training and technology transfer initiatives, citizens are involved in discovering climate change 

and its effects on mountains chains and glaciers for a sustainable use. 

Among the wide range of projects supported by EU programs, including climate-related capacity 

development actions and strengthening institutional capacity of countries not included in Annex I, it is 
263

worth mentioning the Euromed Programme on “Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural 

and Man-made Disasters” (PPRD South), led by the Italian Civil Protection Department and aimed 

at improving Civil Protection at international, national and local levels, in the South Mediterranean Region 

both in institutional and operational terms. The project supported, among other, the implementation of 

measures for adaptation to the negative effects of climate change through: enhancing national 

institutions’ and stakeholders' capabilities to react to Natural Disasters caused by climate change and 

creating an environment for active dissemination of information, raising of public awareness and 

exchange of best practices.

A further initiative led by the Italian Civil Protection Department is the EU funded Capacity building 

project “EVRECA! - European Volunteers for Response of Emergencies in the Caribbean (2013-2014)”, 

whose main objective is to define guidelines and standards for the recruitment and training of volunteers 

in the field of emergency management and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) activities. Secondly, the 

project aims to deploy the volunteers in third countries with the aim of strengthening local authorities' 

preparedness, early warning systems, response and deployment of volunteers. A stronger institutional 

response to natural disasters will directly benefit local communities' resilience and awareness of hydrometeorological risks. The EU volunteers will enhance the level of preparedness and awareness of 

institutional stakeholders and of local volunteering organisations in order to better respond to hydrometeorological disasters.

Organisation/ 

Promoter

Name of the activity Short Description

Ministry of Education, 

University and 

Research

Ministry for the 

Environment Land 

and Sea

ENEA 

Italian National 

Agency for New 

Technologies, Energy 

and Sustainable 

Economic 

Development 

IFAD

International Fund

for Agricultural 

Development

Educate for the future

Project 

New knowledge and 

educational

actions for a sustainable 

future

http://www.educarsialfutur

o.it/

The Project Educate for the future aims at establishing a 

"national network of schools for a sustainable future" dedicated 

to:

• create new Learning paths and multidisciplinary teaching

materials, in collaboration with ENEA researchers, on the Project 

themes ;

• publish on the web multimedia educational products to ensure 

the widest possible dissemination among students and allow 

their use in the classrooms with interactive whiteboards;

• promoting school initiatives and demonstration projects in the 

area;

• activate cooperation programs and partnerships between 

African and Italian schools for the exchange of training 

experience and development projects.

The project "Educate for the Future" wants to start a scientific 

collaboration between the research community and the school to 

provide students with an up-to-date knowledge on the state of 

our ecosystem and on the scientific and technological 

innovations of interest to build jointly a sustainable future.

It is aimed at all schools from primary to high school, interested 

in deepening the new knowledge needed to educate for the 

future: energy, environment, biodiversity, climate change, new 

technologies, responsible consumption, international cooperation 

and ecoethics.

The project has developed the Campaign SUSTAIN "Sustainable 

Future Students African Italian Network". SUSTAIN, thanks to 

the collaboration between ENEA and IFAD, promotes 

partnerships between African and Italian schools with the aim to 

establish new relationships between students of the North and 

South of the world. Schools can initiate educational exchange 

and cooperation projects, focused on the diffusion of new 

technologies and renewable energy for sustainable development 

of rural communities. Students from an Italian school, simply 

donating a few Euros, can contribute to purchase a photovoltaic 

kit, which will provide energy to a school in a rural African 

village. Thanks to the first contributions received from schools 

and students’ councils, twenty PV systems have been installed in 
264

schools of rural villages in Mauritania and Burkina Faso.

Ev-K2-CNR SHARE Project 

Stations at High Altitude for 

Research on the 

Environment 

2005-2014

Sustainable use of 

mountains, event 

The Alliance Initiative, 

event

Cancun, Mexico 

(Conference of the Parties -

COP 16) 

1-4 December 2010

These two side events have been organized by the Ev-K2-CNR 

Committee within the SHARE Project at the Conference of the 

Parties COP 16 of UNFCCC and they are both dedicated to the 

sustainable use of mountains. The first one focuses on 

adaptation and mitigation strategies in Hindu Kush Karakorum 

Himalaya and the second one on the Nepal’s Mountain Alliance 

Initiative for Climate Change and the protection of glaciers and 

mountain chains. 

http://www.evk2cnr.org/cms/files/evk2cnr.org/Brochure_Share

_ITA.pdf

Ev-K2-CNR SHARE Project - Stations 

at High Altitude for 

Research on the 

Environment

2005-2014

School meetings on 

climate, environment and 

mountains 

Nepal, Valle del Khumbu 

June 2012

On the occasion of the World Environment Day (WED 2012) the 

Ev-K2-CNR Committee within the SHARE Project (Stations at 

High Altitude for Research on the Environment) has organized a 

series of school meetings in the Khumbu Valley in Nepal to talk 

about climate, environment and mountains. This initiative for 

children of primary and secondary schools is aimed at raising 

awareness among young people about the importance of 

Himalaya mountains and glaciers for local communities and for 

the whole mankind. During the meetings a coloured and 

amusing flyer dedicated to mountains and their vulnerability has 

been distributed and the competition “Draw your mountains” 

has been launched to let children express their sense of 

environment and climate change. The main objective of SHARE 

Project (Stations at High Altitude for Research on the 

Environment) is to promote continuous scientific observations in 

key high-mountain regions able to contribute to knowledge on 

regional and global climate change to mitigate effects and to 

promote a sustainable use. 

Ev-K2-CNR

CNR

Chamber of 

Commerce of Lecco

Polytechnic of Turin

Territorial Hub of 

Lecco

High Summit Lecco 2013

International Conference on 

Mountains and Climate 

Change 

Lecco, Italy

22-25 October 2013

A High level International Conference on Mountains and Climate 

Change to present the state of the art of current knowledge on 

mountain ecosystem from scientific and socio-economic points 

of view. During the conference a series of awareness raising 

events have been organized in Lecco to involve citizens in 

discovering climate change and its effects on mountains:

- Multimedial Pyramid EvK2CNR-Cobat, a video campaign on 

climate change effects projected on the copy of the Pyramid 

International Laboratory/Observatory, the high altitude scientific 

research center located at the base of the Nepal side of Everest 

managed by CNR ( Italian National Research Council ) and the 

Nepal Academy of Science & Technology 

-Breathing Himalaya, a multimedia itinerary among nature 

and science, a study and solidarity experience to describe 

Sherpa way of life and the influence of environmental conditions 

on lungs and hearth diseases 

-Ragni di Lecco, a film festival produced by mountain climbers

-Science in the Square, a box station for air quality analyses 

able to evaluate different atmospheric compounds by using 

renewable energy

-The voice of the mountain, theatrical shows with researchers 

and mountain climbers

Italian Civil Protection 

Department (DPC)

Euromed 

Programme

(ENPI – IPA)

Prevention, 

Preparedness and 

Response to Natural and 

Man-made Disasters 

(PPRD South) 

2008-2013

http://www.euromedcp.eu/

The Euromed Programme PPRD South was signed between the 

European Commission (EU funding of EUR 5 million) and the 

Consortium established by the Italian Civil Protection 

Department as leader, jointly with the Civil Protection 

Authorities of Egypt, Algeria, France and the United Nations 

International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR).

The projections on impact of natural disasters due to climate 

change, combined with poverty in many Southern Mediterranean 

Countries, need continuous efforts to improve capacities to cope 

with disasters and to invest more in Disaster Risk Reduction 

Policies and Community Resilience. To this end, the Programme 
265

was aimed to contribute to the development and reinforcement 

of the quality of Civil Protection services in the EuroMediterranean region and to the continuation of institutional 

cooperation in the field, both between the EU and the 

Mediterranean Partner Countries and among the Mediterranean 

Partner Countries themselves (Albania, Algeria, Bosnia & 

Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, 

Montenegro, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, Turkey). 

The objectives of the project have been pursued – in close 

partnership with the Programme’s network of 13 National 

Correspondents - through 4 broad areas of activity aimed at:

1. Risk Assessment – by developing tailored national and 

regional assessment tools such as the Regional Risk Atlas 

and the Civil Protection Operational Manual;

2. Prevention and Preparedness – by organizing training 

workshops, study visits and demand-driven technical 

assistance, by sensitizing the creation of National Platforms 

for Disaster Risk Reduction and by supporting regional 

coordination;

3. Response – by improving the coverage and the coordination 

on existing Warning Systems and the relevant Operational 

Centres and implementing simulation exercises;

4. Information/Communication – by developing a user-friendly 

Web Portal, improving the level of information and the 

awareness of risk-prone populations regarding risk exposure, 

prevention and response. 

In particular, the “Prevention and Preparedness activities” 

include the organization and implementation of: 

17 thematic training workshops under the prevention and 

preparedness area of activity in Albania, Algeria, Croatia, 

Cyprus, Egypt, France, Jordan, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, 

Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia and Turkey with 

around 300 participants coming from the 13 Partner 

Countries; 

3 workshops with table-top and simulation exercises under 

the Response area of activity in Croatia, France, Morocco and 

Turkey with more than 110 participants coming from the 13 

Partner Countries;

A comprehensive training (4 workshops) under the Response 

area on “How to design, organize and manage a field 

exercise”, dedicated to the ENPI Countries;

The thematic training workshops delivered under the Prevention 

and Preparedness component focused in particular on: Flood 

Risk reduction, Information in Emergency, Awareness-Raising, 

Early Warning System, Emergency Preparedness and Disaster 

Mitigation for Critical Facilities’ Failure, Tsunami Emergency 

Preparedness in Mediterranean Coastal Zones, Increasing 

Disaster Resilience in Urban Settings, Multi-hazard Risk 

Assessment in Urban Environment. The target audience of the 

training workshops included high-level managers and 

operational staff and officials.

Italian Civil Protection 

Department (DPC)

EC Humanitarian Aid 

and Civil Protection 

EVRECA!

European Volunteers for 

Response of 

Emergencies in the 

CAribbean'

2013-2014

The Italian Civil Protection Department is the coordinator of the 

capacity building project 'EVRECA! - European Volunteers for 

Response of Emergencies in the CAribbean', a Pilot Project EU 

Aid Volunteers. 

The main project’s objective is to define guidelines and 

standards for the recruitment and training of volunteers in the 

field of emergency management and disaster risk reduction 

(DRR) activities. This project deploys volunteers in third 

countries with the aim of strengthening local authorities' 

preparedness, early warning systems, response and hosting of 

volunteers. The EU volunteers will enhance the level of 

preparedness and awareness of institutional stakeholders and of 

local volunteering organisations in order to better respond to 

hydro-meteorological disasters.

Volunteers were trained in order to be deployed in the 

Caribbean's; a 5-day course will be organised in Italy by the 

Italian Civil Protection Department. The objective is to provide a 

better understanding of the socio political context and of the risk 

exposure of the population. 
266

The hosting organisations are located in Grenada. Barbados is 

considered as a ‘hub’ for capacity building activities in whole the 

region.

Agriconsulting SpA

CMCC 

Centre for Advanced 

Mediterranean 

Agronomic Studies 

(CIHEAM) of Bari.

Clima South: support to 

climate change 

mitigation and 

adaptation in the ENPI 

South region

2013-2017

http://www.enpiinfo.eu/mainmed.php?id=4

42&id_type=10

The project seeks to enhance regional cooperation between the 

EU and its southern Mediterranean neighbours and among the 

partner countries themselves (South–South) on climate change 

mitigation and adaptation, mainly through capacity development 

and information sharing. The overarching goal is to support the 

transition of ENP South countries towards low carbon 

development and climate resilience.

Activities include: 

Organisation of regional trainings and meetings on mitigation 

(e.g. monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) at national 

and sector level, including the establishment of national 

greenhouse gas inventories) and about adaptation (data 

management, vulnerability assessments, national adaptation 

strategies and plans);

Fostering EU-South and South-South peer-to-peer cooperation 

by bringing together experts, including academia and civil 

society, on climate change mitigation and adaptation issues;

Organisation of workshops, trainings and study visits involving 

the main stakeholders in climate change policy development 

and implementation; 

Creation of a website in Arabic, English and French, as a 

platform for accessing and sharing information;

Production of targeted climate change material in Arabic, 

English and French;

Setting up of a flexible expert facility to respond to information 

and training needs expressed by partner countries' authorities.

The project is implemented by Agriconsulting SpA, an Italian 

Private Consulting Company, as leader of a Consortium of 7 

Institutions, five Italian, one Belgian and one Spanish, among 

which the CMCC and the Centre for Advanced Mediterranean 

Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) of Bari.

CMCC

Euro-Mediterranean 

Centre on Climate 

Change

Puglia Region

INGV Istituto 

Nazionale di Geofisica 

e Vulcanologia

Serbian 

Hydrometeorological 

Service

OrientGate

A network for the 

integration of climate 

knowledge into policy 

and planning

SEE (South Eastern 

Europe Program)

2012 -2014

www.orientgateproject.org

The OrientGate project aims to implement concerted and 

coordinated climate adaptation actions across South Eastern 

Europe (SEE). The partnership comprises 19 financing partners, 

11 associates and three observers, covering 13 countries, and 

the role of the partners can be grouped into three main 

categories:

• National hydrometeorological services, responsible for 

monitoring climate variability and risk.

• Territorial development policy organisations, responsible for 

translating climate variability and climate risk assessment 

information into territorial development planning instruments.

• Scientific institutions.

The core output to be developed by OrientGate is a set of web 

tools, designed to provide access to data and metadata from 

climate observations and simulations that will be available 

through a data platform connected to the European Climate 

Adaptation Platform.

Other project outputs will include six pilot studies of specific 

climate adaptation exercises developed by the project’s three 

thematic centres (Forest and Agriculture, Drought, Water and 

Coasts, and Urban Adaptation and Health); capacity-building 

seminars and workshops; and a working partnership among the 

hydrometeorological services of SEE countries.
267

ANNEX 
ANNEX

Italy

First Biennial Report

December 2013
1. Introduction ..................................................................................................... 270

2. Information on GHG emissions and trends ....................................................... 271

2.1 Summary information on greenhouse gas emissions and trends....................................................... 271

2.2 National inventory arrangements....................................................................................................... 271

3. Quantified Economy-wide Emission Reduction Target (QEERT)........................ 284

3.1 Italy’s quantified economy-wide emission reduction target............................................................... 284

4. Progress in achievement of QEERT ................................................................... 288

4.1 Action taken and planned to achieve Italy’s QEERT............................................................................ 288

4.2 Estimates of emission reductions and removals and the use of units from the market-based 

mechanisms and land use, land-use changes and forestry activities........................................................ 301

5. Projections ....................................................................................................... 305

6. Provision of financial, technological support to developing country Parties ..... 312

7. Capacity-building support to developing country Parties ................................. 330
270

1. Introduction

This Annex to the Italy’s 6th National Communication (NC) under the UNFCCC is the 1st Biennial Report

(BR) of the Italy under decision 2/CP.17 of the Conference of the Parties under the UNFCCC. 

As defined in the UNFCCC biennial reporting guidelines for developed country Parties1, the information is 

structured into: 

Information on greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and trends and the GHG inventory including 

information on Italian national inventory arrangements (section 2);

Quantified economy wide emission reduction target (section 3);

Progress in achievement of the quantified economy-wide emission reduction targets (section 3);

Projections (section 5) and

Provision of financial, technological and capacity building support to developing countries (section 

6, 7).

Tabular information as defined in the common tabular format (CTF) for the UNFCCC biennial reporting 

guidelines for developed country Parties (UNFCCC decision 19/CP.18) are enclosed in the report and have 

been officially submitted to the UNFCCC secretariat. For the CTF submission, the electronic reporting 

facility provided by the UNFCCC Secretariat has been used as required by UNFCCC decision 19/CP.18.

 

1 Annex I to UNFCCC decision 2/CP.17
271

2. Information on GHG emissions and trends2

2.1 Summary information on greenhouse gas emissions and trends

In 2011, Italy’s total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding emissions and removals from land use, land 

use change and forestry (LULUCF) decreased by 5.8% between 1990 and 2011, from 489 million tons 

(Mt) of CO2-equivalent to 519 Mt in 1990 (base year set for all greenhouse gases).

The energy sector is the largest contributor to national total GHG emissions with a share, in 2011, of 

82.7%, followed by agriculture and industrial processes, accounting for 6.9% and 6.5% of total emissions 

respectively, waste contributing with 3.6% and use of solvents with 0.3%.

Figure 1: Trend of total GHG emissions (1990-2011) (Gg CO2 eq.)

The most important greenhouse gas, CO2, which accounted for 84.7% of total emissions in CO2

equivalent in 2011, showed a decrease by 4.7% between 1990 and 2011. In the energy sector, in 

particular, CO2 emissions, in 2011, are 2.8% lower than in 1990. CH4 and N2O emissions were equal to 

7.5% and 5.5%, respectively, of the total CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions in 2011. CH4 levels 

have decreased by 16.4% from 1990 to 2011, while N2O has decreased by 28.1%. As to the other 

greenhouse gases, HFCs account for 1.9% of total emissions, PFCs and SF6 are equal to 0.3% and 0.1% 

of total emissions, respectively. 

Further information on greenhouse emissions and trend are detailed in chapter 3.

2.2 National inventory arrangements

The Legislative Decree 51 of March 7th 2008 instituted the National System for the Italian Greenhouse 

Gas Inventory, following the requirements set in the article 5.1 of the Kyoto Protocol and in according to 

 

2 Authors: Daniela Romano, Marina Vitullo

-45,000

55,000

155,000

255,000

355,000

455,000

555,000

655,000 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

1. Energy 2. Industrial Processes

3. Solvent and Other Product Use 4. Agriculture 

5. Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry(5) 6. Waste 

80.5

7.4

0.5

7.8 3.8

Share 1990 1. Energy 

2. Industrial 

Processes

3. Solvent 

4. Agriculture 

6. Waste 

82.7

6.5

0.3

6.9 3.6

Share 2011

1. Energy 

2. Industrial 

Processes

3. Solvent 

4. Agriculture 

6. Waste 

1. Energy 

2. Industrial Processes

3. Solvent and Other Product Use

4. Agriculture 

6. Waste 

Total (including LULUCF)

-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 16020

LULUCF
272

the Decision n. 280/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning a mechanism for 

monitoring Community greenhouse gas emissions and for implementing the Kyoto Protocol (replaced in 

2013 by the regulation n. 525/2013 on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas 

emissions and for reporting other information at national and Union level relevant to climate change).

The Italian National System, currently in place, is fully described in the document National Greenhouse 

Gas Inventory System in Italy3.

Since the 5th National Communication no changes have occurred in the national inventory arrangements.

 

3

ISPRA, 2013. National Greenhouse Gas Inventory System in Italy. Rapporti 179/2013 

http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/pubblicazioni/rapporti/national-greenhouse-gas-inventory-system-in-italy.-year2013
273

CTF Table 1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions (kt CO2 eq)

Greenhouse gas 

emissions 

Base 

yeara 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Change 

from base 

to latest 

reported 

year

kt CO2 eq (%)

CO2 emissions including 

net CO2 from LULUCF 421,621 414,255 435,952 434,667 431,945 455,376 452,678 449,563 444,164 456,876 426,954 374,799 381,940 383,394 -9.07

CO2 emissions excluding 

net CO2 from LULUCF 434,656 444,944 462,278 468,284 470,531 486,560 489,367 488,078 483,543 475,441 463,922 415,089 425,499 414,239 -4.70

CH4 emissions including 

CH4 from LULUCF 44,359 44,495 46,191 44,929 43,887 43,073 41,601 41,267 39,717 40,035 38,404 38,282 37,453 36,756 -17.14

CH4 emissions excluding 

CH4 from LULUCF 43,761 44,336 45,844 44,696 43,761 42,787 41,385 41,107 39,578 39,313 38,192 38,013 37,290 36,568 -16.44

N2O emissions including 

N2O from LULUCF 37,680 38,569 39,627 39,669 38,919 38,461 39,477 37,751 32,394 31,920 29,700 28,154 27,132 26,939 -28.50

N2O emissions excluding 

N2O from LULUCF 37,396 38,422 39,483 39,561 38,846 38,334 39,367 37,668 32,322 31,679 29,615 28,053 27,076 26,873 -28.14

HFCs 351 671 1,986 2,550 3,191 3,902 4,635 5,401 6,106 6,855 7,513 8,164 8,745 9,306 2,551.29

PFCs 2,487 1,266 1,217 1,342 1,334 1,677 1,733 1,715 1,714 1,652 1,501 1,063 1,331 1,455 -41.51

SF6 333 601 493 795 740 468 502 465 406 428 436 398 373 351 5.54

Total (including 

LULUCF) 506,830 499,858 525,467 523,952 520,016 542,955 540,627 536,162 524,501 537,766 504,507 450,860 456,973 458,202 -9.59

Total (excluding 

LULUCF) 518,984 530,241 551,301 557,228 558,403 573,727 576,989 574,433 563,668 555,367 541,177 490,780 500,314 488,792 -5.82
274

CTF Table 1 Greenhouse Gas Source and Sink Categories (kt CO2 eq)

Greenhouse gas 

source and sink 

categories

Base 

yeara 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Change 

from base 

to latest 

reported 

year

kt CO2 eq (%)

1. Energy 417,736 431,111 449,687 454,549 456,681 471,488 473,538 471,902 466,813 458,165 449,202 405,192 415,299 404,444 -3.18

2. Industrial Processes 38,390 35,929 36,249 38,370 38,604 40,204 42,779 42,592 38,143 38,601 35,668 30,743 31,830 31,641 -17.58

3. Solvent and Other 

Product Use 2,455 2,235 2,301 2,214 2,215 2,163 2,128 2,123 2,126 2,075 1,954 1,829 1,677 1,656 -32.52

4. Agriculture 40,739 40,520 40,135 39,202 38,501 38,340 38,034 37,363 36,767 37,380 36,015 34,777 33,723 33,530 -17.69

5. Land Use, Land-Use 

Change and Forestryb

-12,154 -30,383 -25,835 -33,276 -38,386 -30,772 -36,363 -38,271 -39,167 -17,602 -36,670 -39,920 -43,341 -30,590 151.69

6. Waste 19,665 20,445 22,929 22,892 22,401 21,532 20,510 20,454 19,818 19,147 18,338 18,238 17,786 17,521 -10.9

7. Other NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0

Total (including 

LULUCF) 506,830 499,858 525,467 523,952 520,016 542,955 540,627 536,162 524,501 537,766 504,507 450,860 456,973 458,202 -9.59

Notes:

(1) Further detailed information could be found in the common reporting format tables of the Party’s greenhouse gas inventory, namely “Emission trends (CO2)”, “Emission trends (CH4)”, 

“Emission trends (N2O)” and “Emission trends (HFCs, PFCs and SF6)”, which is included in an annex to this biennial report; 

(2) 2011 is the latest reported inventory year; 

(3) 1 kt CO2 eq equals 1 Gg CO2 eq.

Abbreviation: LULUCF = land use, land-use change and forestry.

a The column “Base year” should be filled in only by those Parties with economies in transition that use a base year different from 1990 in accordance with the relevant decisions of the 

Conference of the Parties. For these Parties, this different base year is used to calculate the percentage change in the final column of this table.

b Includes net CO2, CH4 and N2O from LULUCF.
275

CTF Table 1 CO2 Source and Sink Categories (kt)

Greenhouse 

gas source 

and sink 

categories

Base 

yeara 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Change 

from base 

to latest 

reported 

year

kt %

1. Energy 404,072 416,989 436,230 441,387 443,693 458,530 460,499 459,367 454,781 446,236 437,403 393,750 403,546 392,750 -2.80

A. Fuel 

Combustion 

(Sectoral 

Approach)

400,728 413,811 433,642 438,944 441,428 455,690 458,345 457,250 452,587 444,056 435,138 391,580 401,224 390,435 -2.57

1. Energy 

Industries 136,503 139,841 151,894 154,498 161,401 161,982 159,962 159,829 160,984 160,769 156,106 131,167 132,557 130,565 -4.35

2. 

Manufacturing 

Industries and 

Construction

85,276 85,037 82,245 80,544 76,727 82,315 83,113 78,551 77,490 74,222 70,905 54,580 60,015 59,854 -29.81

3. Transport 101,269 111,445 120,101 122,178 124,138 125,097 127,081 125,825 127,145 127,209 122,273 117,897 117,481 116,428 14.97

4. Other 

Sectors 76,634 76,047 78,596 81,371 78,849 85,636 87,097 91,847 85,986 80,959 85,117 87,092 90,543 83,093 8.43

5. Other 1,046 1,440 806 354 314 660 1,091 1,198 982 896 738 844 627 495 -52.70

B. Fugitive 

Emissions from 

Fuels

3,344 3,178 2,588 2,443 2,265 2,840 2,154 2,117 2,194 2,181 2,264 2,170 2,322 2,315 -30.77

1. Solid Fuels 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -64.61

2. Oil and 

Natural Gas 3,344 3,178 2,588 2,443 2,265 2,840 2,154 2,117 2,194 2,181 2,264 2,170 2,322 2,315 -30.77

2. Industrial 

Processes 28,434 26,038 24,571 25,392 25,380 26,543 27,405 27,186 27,205 27,711 25,093 19,951 20,682 20,176 -29.05

A. Mineral 

Products 21,303 20,976 21,455 22,329 22,393 23,311 23,896 23,481 23,536 24,027 21,729 17,466 17,553 16,981 -20.29

B. Chemical 

Industry 3,254 1,659 1,362 1,346 1,426 1,679 1,839 1,784 1,727 1,759 1,488 1,178 1,663 1,585 -51.29

C. Metal 

Production 3,878 3,403 1,754 1,717 1,561 1,552 1,670 1,922 1,942 1,925 1,875 1,307 1,465 1,610 -58.48

D. Other 

Production NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00
276

E. Production of 

Halocarbons and 

SF6

F. Consumption 

of Halocarbons 

and SF6

G. Other NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

3. Solvent and 

Other Product 

Use 

1,642 1,463 1,275 1,283 1,286 1,290 1,283 1,299 1,317 1,287 1,226 1,146 1,050 1,080 -34.27

4. Agriculture

A. Enteric 

Fermentation

B. Manure 

Management

C. Rice 

Cultivation

D. Agricultural 

Soils 

E. Prescribed 

Burning of 

Savannas

F. Field Burning 

of Agricultural 

Residues

G. Other 

5. Land Use, 

Land-Use 

Change and 

Forestry

-13,035 -30,688 -26,326 -33,617 -38,586 -31,184 -36,689 -38,515 -39,379 -18,565 -36,968 -40,290 -43,560 -30,845 136.63

A. Forest Land -17,282 -32,369 -26,989 -33,118 -36,982 -30,648 -35,369 -36,388 -36,762 -20,645 -33,541 -36,641 -38,247 -29,544 70.95

B. Cropland -1,112 709 -578 -1,179 -1,122 -1,062 -1,001 -976 -1,047 -851 -1,048 -1,151 -1,185 3,333 -399.63

C. Grassland 2,843 -1,543 -1,227 -2,640 -3,809 -2,808 -3,660 -4,501 -4,933 -445 -5,795 -5,930 -7,549 -8,031 -382.50

D. Wetlands NE, NO NE, NO NE, NO NE, NO NE, NO NE, NO NE, NO NE, NO NE, NO NE, NO NE, NO NE, NO NE, NO NE, NO 0.00

E. Settlements 2,516 2,514 2,468 3,320 3,327 3,334 3,341 3,350 3,363 3,376 3,416 3,432 3,422 3,397 35.03

F. Other Land NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO 0.00

G. Other NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

6. Waste 507 454 202 222 171 197 180 226 239 207 200 242 222 235 -53.76

A. Solid Waste 

Disposal on 

Land

NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO 0.00
277

B. Waste-water 

Handling

C. Waste 

Incineration 507 454 202 222 171 197 180 226 239 207 200 242 222 235 -53.76

D. Other NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

7. Other (as 

specified in 

the summary 

table in CRF)

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

Total CO2

emissions 

including net 

CO2 from 

LULUCF

421,621 414,255 435,952 434,667 431,945 455,376 452,678 449,563 444,164 456,876 426,954 374,799 381,940 383,394 -9.07

Total CO2

emissions 

excluding net 

CO2 from 

LULUCF

434,656 444,944 462,278 468,284 470,531 486,560 489,367 488,078 483,543 475,441 463,922 415,089 425,499 414,239 -4.70

Memo Items:

International 

Bunkers 8,550 9,708 12,196 12,825 12,862 14,809 15,427 16,030 17,275 18,186 18,524 16,226 16,414 16,887 97.50

Aviation 4,161 5,674 8,016 8,011 7,313 8,527 8,620 9,111 9,833 10,430 10,087 8,968 9,440 9,726 133.74

Marine 4,389 4,035 4,181 4,814 5,550 6,283 6,806 6,919 7,442 7,756 8,437 7,258 6,974 7,161 63.15

Multilateral 

Operations NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE 0.00

CO2 Emissions 

from Biomass 7,134 10,120 12,262 13,450 12,924 15,017 18,195 17,426 18,252 20,259 23,168 26,249 26,527 31,396 340.08

Notes:

a The column “Base year” should be filled in only by those Parties with economies in transition that use a base year different from 1990 in accordance with the relevant decisions of the 

Conference of the Parties. For these Parties, this different base year is used to calculate the percentage change in the final column of this table.

b Fill in net emissions/removals as reported in CRF table Summary 1.A of the latest reported inventory year. For the purposes of reporting, the signs for removals are always negative (-) 

and for emissions positive (+).
278

CTF Table 1 CH4 Source and Sink Categories (kt)

Greenhouse gas source and 

sink categories

Base 

yeara 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Change from 

base to latest 

reported year

kt %

1. Energy 430 416 385 367 360 353 349 343 317 313 316 310 324 321 -25.31

A. Fuel Combustion (Sectoral 

Approach) 77 88 79 78 72 72 75 72 71 74 74 74 77 79 3.63

1. Energy Industries 9 9 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 6 -39.71

2. Manufacturing Industries and 

Construction 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 6 4 6 8 13.63

3. Transport 39 43 33 31 29 27 24 22 20 18 17 16 15 14 -64.21

4. Other Sectors 21 29 33 35 31 33 39 37 38 44 46 48 51 52 144.91

5. Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -69.93

B. Fugitive Emissions from Fuels 354 328 306 289 287 281 273 271 246 239 241 236 247 242 -31.59

1. Solid Fuels 6 3 4 4 4 5 3 3 3 4 4 2 3 3 -43.55

2. Oil and Natural Gas 348 325 302 285 284 277 270 268 243 235 238 234 244 238 -31.38

2. Industrial Processes 5 5 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 -46.42

A. Mineral Products NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

B. Chemical Industry 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -87.86

C. Metal Production 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 -8.92

D. Other Production

E. Production of Halocarbons and 

SF6

F. Consumption of Halocarbons 

and SF6

G. Other NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

3. Solvent and Other Product 

Use 

4. Agriculture 825 825 806 770 754 756 743 740 725 747 731 736 708 688 -16.68

A. Enteric Fermentation 585 588 583 544 529 530 519 520 509 529 524 524 511 512 -12.36

B. Manure Management 165 156 156 159 155 155 150 150 144 145 141 137 122 101 -38.93

C. Rice Cultivation 75 80 66 66 69 70 73 70 70 72 66 75 75 74 -1.68
279

D. Agricultural Soils NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

E. Prescribed Burning of 

Savannas NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO 0.00

F. Field Burning of Agricultural 

Residues 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.92

G. Other NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

5. Land Use, Land-Use Change 

and Forestry 28 8 17 11 6 14 10 8 7 34 10 13 8 9 -68.46

A. Forest Land 9 2 5 3 2 4 2 2 2 12 3 3 2 3 -65.04

B. Cropland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -54.65

C. Grassland 20 6 11 8 4 10 8 5 5 22 7 9 6 6 -70.15

D. Wetlands NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO 0.00

E. Settlements NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO 0.00

F. Other Land NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO 0.00

G. Other NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

6. Waste 823 866 989 989 968 926 876 871 840 809 769 762 741 730 -11.36

A. Solid Waste Disposal on Land 726 758 874 870 845 800 746 739 707 676 636 630 608 597 -17.84

B. Waste-water Handling 95 106 113 117 121 123 127 130 130 131 130 129 131 130 37.39

C. Waste Incineration 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 2 2 15.76

D. Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2337.84

7. Other (as specified in the 

summary table in CRF) NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

Total CH4 emissions including 

net CH4 from LULUCF 2112 2119 2200 2139 2090 2051 1981 1965 1891 1906 1829 1823 1783 1750 -17.14

Total CH4 emissions excluding 

net CH4 from LULUCF 2084 2111 2183 2128 2084 2037 1971 1957 1885 1872 1819 1810 1776 1741 -16.44

Memo Items:

International Bunkers 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 72.58

Aviation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 158.97

Marine 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 62.99

Multilateral Operations NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE 0.00

CH4 Emissions from Biomass

Notes:

a The column “Base year” should be filled in only by those Parties with economies in transition that use a base year different from 1990 in accordance with the relevant decisions of the 

Conference of the Parties. For these Parties, this different base year is used to calculate the percentage change in the final column of this table. 
280

CTF Table 1 N2O Source and Sink Categories (kt)

Greenhouse gas source 

and sink categories

Base 

yeara 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Change from 

base to latest 

reported year

kt %

1. Energy 15 17 17 18 18 18 18 17 17 17 17 16 16 16 6.85

A. Fuel Combustion (Sectoral 

Approach) 15 17 17 18 18 18 18 17 17 17 17 16 16 16 6.88

1. Energy Industries 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 6.12

2. Manufacturing Industries and 

Construction 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 -19.25

3. Transport 3 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 11.32

4. Other Sectors 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 6 33.92

5. Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -56.24

B. Fugitive Emissions from Fuels 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -4.67

1. Solid Fuels NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

2. Oil and Natural Gas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -4.67

2. Industrial Processes 22 23 26 27 25 24 27 25 9 6 3 4 2 1 -95.58

A. Mineral Products NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

B. Chemical Industry 22 23 26 27 25 24 27 25 9 6 3 4 2 1 -95.58

C. Metal Production NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

D. Other Production

E. Production of Halocarbons and 

SF6

F. Consumption of Halocarbons 

and SF6

G. Other NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

3. Solvent and Other Product 

Use 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 -28.99

4. Agriculture 76 75 75 74 73 72 72 70 70 70 67 62 61 62 -18.44

A. Enteric Fermentation

B. Manure Management 13 12 12 13 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 -5.24

C. Rice Cultivation

D. Agricultural Soils 63 63 62 61 61 60 60 58 58 58 54 50 49 50 -21.10

E. Prescribed Burning of 

Savannas NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO 0.00

F. Field Burning of Agricultural 

Residues 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.99

G. Other NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00
281

5. Land Use, Land-Use 

Change and Forestry 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 -76.67

A. Forest Land 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -65.04

B. Cropland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -90.24

C. Grassland 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 -70.15

D. Wetlands NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO 0.00

E. Settlements NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO 0.00

F. Other Land NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO 0.00

G. Other NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

6. Waste 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 4.98

A. Solid Waste Disposal on Land

B. Waste-water Handling 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5.78

C. Waste Incineration 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -32.54

D. Other NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

7. Other (as specified in the 

summary table in CRF) NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.00

Total N2O emissions including 

net CO2 from LULUCF 122 124 128 128 126 124 127 122 105 103 96 91 88 87 -28.50

Total N2O emissions excluding 

net CO2 from LULUCF 121 124 127 128 125 124 127 122 104 102 96 90 87 87 -28.14

Memo Items:

International Bunkers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 77.77

Aviation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 91.57

Marine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 62.99

Multilateral Operations NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE NE 0.00

N2O Emissions from Biomass

Notes:

a The column “Base year” should be filled in only by those Parties with economies in transition that use a base year different from 1990 in accordance with the relevant decisions of the 

Conference of the Parties. For these Parties, this different base year is used to calculate the percentage change in the final column of this table.
282

CTF Table 1 Emissions of HFCs, PFCs, SF6 (kt CO2 eq)

Greenhouse gas 

source and sink 

categories

Base 

yeara 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Change from 

base to latest 

reported year

kt %

Emissions of HFCsc - 

(kt CO2 eq) 351 671 1986 2550 3191 3902 4635 5401 6106 6855 7513 8164 8745 9306 2551.29

HFC-23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -89.75

HFC-32 NA, NO NA, NO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 100.00

HFC-41 NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO 0.00

HFC-43-10mee NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO 0.00

HFC-125 NA, NO 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 100.00

HFC-134 NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO 0.00

HFC-134a NA, NO 0 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 100.00

HFC-152a NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO 0.00

HFC-143 NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO 0.00

HFC-143a NA, NO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100.00

HFC-227ea NA, NO NA, NO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100.00

HFC-236fa NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO 0.00

HFC-245ca NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO 0.00

Unspecified mix of 

listed HFCsd - (kt CO2

eq)

NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO 0.00

Emissions of PFCsc - 

(kt CO2 eq) 2487 1266 1217 1342 1334 1677 1733 1715 1714 1652 1501 1063 1331 1455 -41.51

CF4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -32.25

C2F6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -91.66

C 3F8 NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100.00

C4F10 NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO 0.00

c-C4F8 NA, NO NA, NO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100.00

C5F12 NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO 0.00

C6F14 NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO 0.00
283

Unspecified mix of 

listed PFCs(4) - (Gg 

CO2 equivalent) 

NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO NA, NO 0.00

Emissions of SF6(3) 

- (Gg CO2 

equivalent)

333 601 493 795 740 468 502 465 406 428 436 398 373 351 5.54

SF6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.54

Notes:

a The column “Base year” should be filled in only by those Parties with economies in transition that use a base year different from 1990 in accordance with the relevant decisions of the 

Conference of the Parties. For these Parties, this different base year is used to calculate the percentage change in the final column of this table. 
284

3. Quantified Economy-wide Emission Reduction Target (QEERT)4

3.1 Italy’s quantified economy-wide emission reduction target

The EU and its member States, including Italy, communicated an independent quantified economy-wide 

emission reduction target of a 20 per cent emission reduction by 2020 compared with 1990 levels. This is

documented in the UNFCCC document FCCC/SB/2011/INF.1/Rev.1 of 7 June 2011. In the EU submission 

to the UNFCCC from 20 March 2012 (FCCC/AWGLCA/2012/MISC.1) the EU target is further explained. 

Conditions

CTF Table 2 (a) Description of quantified economy-wide emission reduction target: base 

year

Party Italy

Base year /base period 1990

Emission reduction target 

% of base year/base period % of 1990 

20.00

Period for reaching target BY-2020

Notes

Legally binding target trajectories for the period 2013-2020 are enshrined in both the EU-ETS Directive 

(Directive 2003/87/EC and respective amendments) and the Effort Sharing Decision (Decision No 

406/2009/EC). These legally binding trajectories not only result in a 20% GHG reduction in 2020 

compared to 1990 but also define the national annual target pathway to reduce EU GHG emissions from 

2013 to 2020. The Effort Sharing Decision sets annual national emission targets for all Member States for 

the period 2013-2020 for those sectors not covered by the EU emissions trading system (ETS), expressed 

as percentage changes from 2005 levels. In March 2013, the EU Commission formally adopted the 

national annual limits throughout the period for each Member State. By 2020, the national targets will 

collectively deliver a reduction of around 10% in total EU emissions from the sectors covered compared 

with 2005 levels. The emission reduction to be achieved from the sectors covered by the EU ETS will be 

21% below 2005 emission levels. Starting from 2013 aviation is in the scope of the EU-ETS, it’s mean 

that CO2 emissions from all flights falling within the aviation activities listed in Annex I of the EU ETS 

Directive which depart from an airport situated in the territory of a Member State and those which arrive 

in such an airport from a third country, excluding small commercial emitters. 

In Table 2(b) below gases and sectors covered for the emission reduction are reported; the global 

warming potential values considered are those reported in the 4thAR of the IPCC as adopted in the 

UNFCCC reporting guidelines for national GHG inventories of Annex I Parties (see Table 2(c)).

 

4 Author: Monica Pantaleoni
285

CTF Table 2(b) Description of quantified economy-wide emission reduction target: gases 

and sectors covered

Gases covered Base year for each gas (year): 

CO2

1990

CH4

1990

N2O 1990

HFCs 1990

PFCs 1990

SF6

1990

NF3

1995/2000a

Other Gases (specify)

Sectors covered Energy Yes

Transportb Yes

Industrial 

processesc

Yes

Agriculture Yes

LULUCF No

Waste Yes

Other Sectors (specify)

Notes

Abbreviations: LULUCF = land use, land-use change and forestry.

a Still to be decided.

b Transport is reported as a subsector of the energy sector. 

c Industrial processes refer to the industrial processes and solvent and other product use sectors.

CTF Table 2(c) Description of quantified economy-wide emission reduction target: 

global warming potential values (GWP)

Gases GWP values

CO2 4th AR

CH4 4th AR

N2O 4th AR

HFCs 4th AR

PFCs 4th AR

SF6 4th AR

NF3 4th AR

Other Gases (specify)

Notes

Abbreviations: GWP = global warming potential 
286

CTF Table 2(d) – Description of quantified economy-wide emission reduction target: 

approach to counting emissions and removals from the LULUCF sector

Role of LULUCF LULUCF in base year level and target Excluded

Contribution of LULUCF is calculated using

The Climate and Energy Package allows Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) and Emission Reduction 

Units (ERUs) to be used for compliance purposes, subject to a number of restrictions in terms of origin 

and type of project and up to an established limit. In addition, the legislation foresees the possible 

recognition of units from new market mechanisms provided that the necessary legal arrangements to 

create such units are in place. Under the EU ETS the limit is up to 50% of the required reduction below 

2005 levels. In the sectors not covered by the ETS, annual use shall not exceed to 3% of each Member 

States’ non-ETS greenhouse gas emissions in 2005.

Regarding use of CERs and ERUs, the exact number of units that can be used during the period 2013-

2020 can only be determined following the availability of final data concerning the use of these units 

during the period 2008-2012 and relevant greenhouse gas emissions data. For that reason the table 2(e) 

has not been filled.

AAUs for the period 2013-2020 have not yet been determined. The EU expects to achieve its 20% target 

for the period 2013-2020 with the implementation of the ETS Directive and the ESD Decision for the nonETS sectors, which do not allow the use of AAUs from non-EU Parties.

The exact number of carry-over units for the EU and its Member States from the first commitment period 

that can be used for compliance during the period 2013-2020 can only be determined after the true-up 

period of the first commitment period. In the second commitment period the use of such units in the 

PPSR account depend on the extent by which emissions during the second commitment period exceed the 

assigned amount for that commitment period, which can only be determined at the end of the second 

commitment period. At CMP.9 the EU made a declaration when adopting the Doha amendment of the 

Kyoto Protocol that the European Union legislation on Climate-Energy Package for the implementation of 

its emission reduction objectives for the period 2013-2020 does not allow the use of surplus AAUs carried 

over from the first commitment period to meet these objectives.

CTF Table 2(e)I Description of quantified economy-wide emission reduction target: 

market-based mechanisms under the Convention

Market-based mechanisms Possible scale of contributions 

under the Convention (estimated kt CO2 eq)

CERs

ERUs

AAUsi

Carry-over unitsj

Other mechanism units under the Convention (specify)d

Notes

Abbreviations: AAU = assigned amount unit, CER = certified emission reduction, ERU = emission reduction 

unit.

d As indicated in paragraph 5(e) of the guidelines contained in annex I of decision 2/CP.17 .

i AAUs issued to or purchased by a Party.

j Units carried over from the first to the second commitment periods of the Kyoto Protocol, as described in 

decision 13/CMP.1 and consistent with decision XX/CMP.8.
287

Regarding CTF Table 2(e)II there are general provisions in place in the EU legislation that allow 

for the use of such units. The necessary legal arrangements for the creation of such units have 

been put in place in the EU which is not the case at the point in time of the provision of this 

report.

CTF Table 2(e)II Description of quantified economy-wide emission reduction target: 

other market-based Mechanisms

Other market-based mechanisms Possible scale of contributions 

(Specify) (estimated kt CO2 eq)
288

4. Progress in achievement of QEERT5

4.1 Action taken and planned to achieve Italy’s QEERT

As remarked in chapter 4 of the NC, in the most recent years actions taken by Italy to mitigate climate 

change are driven by two different objectives:

- Kyoto Protocol target for the period 2008-2012

- the “EU Climate Energy Package” for the period 2013-2020 which include emission reductions to be 

undertaken by European Union (EU) and its Member states by the year 2020.

Under the Kyoto protocol the EU, as EU-15, has agreed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 8% by 

2008–2012, compared to base year levels, and has decided to fulfill its commitment jointly in accordance 

with the provisions of Kyoto Protocol Article 4 (“EU Burden Sharing Agreement”). In the framework of the 

EU Burden Sharing Agreement, Italy has committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 6.5% 

below base-year levels (1990).

The 8th and 9th March 2007 conclusion of the European Council named commits the European Member 

States to achieve by 2020 the following targets (the “20/20/20 package”):

- 20% reduction of EU greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990. This reduction could be raise to 

30% with a global agreement for the period post 2012.

- 20% reduction in energy use to be achieved by improving energy efficiency.

- 20% use of renewable energy

- 10% use of bio fuels in the transport sector.

This comprehensive set of legislation act also known as the ‘Climate and Energy package’ or “20/20/20 

package” was agreed at EU level to reach those objectives and is being implemented. The most relevant 

European legislation acts are: 

- Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the 

promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing 

directive 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC. This Directive also subdivides the 20% renewable objective 

between the EU Member States: at 2020 the 17% of the national final energy consumption of Italy 

should came from renewable sources.

- Directive 2009/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 amending 

Directive 2003/87/C so as to improve and extend the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading 

scheme of the community: this Directive revises and strengthens the EU Emissions Trading Scheme 

(EU ETS) already in place since 2005. A single EU-wide cap on emission allowances will apply from 

2013 and will be cut annually, reducing the number of allowances available at 2020 by 21% with 

reference to 2005. Moreover the directive extends the greenhouse gases involved and also the 

economic activities included in EU-ETS.

- Decision n. 406/2009/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the effort 

of Member States to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Community’s greenhouse 

gas emission reduction commitments up to 2020 (ESD): by 2020 Italy shall reduce the GHG 

emissions by 13% compared to 2005 levels, in all the sectors not covered by the EU ETS, such as 

transport, civil, agriculture and waste sectors.

- Directive 2012/27/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy 

efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC 

and 2006/32/EC: this Directive establishes a common framework of measures for the promotion of 

energy efficiency within the Union in order to ensure the achievement of the Union’s 2020 20 % 

headline target on energy efficiency and to pave the way for further energy efficiency improvements 

beyond that date.

At national level, in 2013, the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Economic Planning (CIPE) has approved 

deliberation providing guidance to update the national strategy in order to enable Italy to contribute in 

the achievements of the Kyoto Protocol target and commitments set by Decision 406/2009/EC (CIPE 

 

5 Authors: Emanuele Peschi, Marina Vitullo
289

deliberation 17/2013). Moreover the 8th march 2013 the Ministry of Economic Development, 

Infrastructures and Transport and the Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea have approved a decree 

outlining a new “National Energy Strategy”. This strategy identifies a path to achieve the 2020 targets, 

related to energy efficiency and renewable energy use, and contains a list of measures that should be 

implemented; this list of the measures is consistent with ones reported in the CIPE resolution.

As result of EU and National provisions, three main kinds of policies have been implemented or planned 

to meet the objectives.

1. Cross sectoral policies (see par. 4.3 of the NC):

- national Action Plan for Renewable Energy 2010 and Legislative decree 28/2011 (implementing 

directive 2009/28/CE);

- decree 28th December 2012 – Conto Termico (“Heating Account”) which encourages small-scale 

energy efficiency measures and the production of thermal energy from renewable sources;

- directive 2012/27/EC on energy efficiency

- the White Certificates (or Title of Energy Efficiency) system aimed at promoting energy 

efficiency and delivering emissions reductions in all the energy end use sectors;

- the “Kyoto rotation fund” that promotes public and private investment for energy efficiency, 

small high-efficiency systems for electricity, heating and cooling production, use of renewable 

sources in small plants, the sustainable management of forests and innovative technologies;

- ecodesign of energy-using products (directive2005/32/EC implemented by legislative decree 

20/2007).

2. Energy sector policies, which can be grouped in (see par. 4.4 of the NC):

- promotion of the use of renewable energy (for example green certificates system, allencompassing tariff, “conto energia”);

- promotion of cogeneration through incentive schemes, rewarding both the production of heat 

and the production of electricity;

- improvement of energy efficiency in industry;

- improvement of energy efficiency in the civil sector through specific actions targeted both at 

existing and new buildings and appliances (for example the tax rebates system);

- improvement of energy efficiency in transport through infrastructural measures, intermodal 

measures and fleet update measures;

- directive 2009/28/EC which imposes the 10% of use of biofuel for transport at 2020.

3. No energy sectors:

- reduction of N2O emissions from nitric acid production processes in the industrial sector (see 

par. 4.5.1 of the NC);

- reduction of N2O emissions from agricultural soils through the rationalization in the use of 

fertilizers (see par. 4.5.2 of the NC);

- reduction of CH4 emissions from manure management through support to electricity production 

from biogas combustion (see par. 4.5.2 of the NC);

- improvement of waste management regarding the composition of waste disposed into landfills 

(see par. 4.5.3 of the NC);

- forestry (see par. 4.5.4 of the NC)

In table 3 a list of the policies and measures implemented and planned is reported.
290

CTF Table 3 Progress in achievement of the quantified economy-wide emission reduction target: information on mitigation actions and 

their effects

Name of mitigation actiona Sectors 

affectedb

GHGs 

affected

Objective 

and/or activity 

affected

Type of 

instrumentc

Status of 

implementationd

Brief 

descriptione

Start year of 

implementation

Implementing 

entity or 

entities

Impact 

2020 

(kt 

CO2eq)

Third "Conto Energia" 

(art.3 paragraph 1, 

decree 6 august 2010) 

and Fourth "Conto 

Energia" (Decree 5 may 

2011)

* Energy CO2

Supporting the 

expansion of 

photovoltaic 

plants through 

feed in tariffs 

until a maximum 

capacity of 8000 

MW 

Economic implemented

Paragraph 

4.4.1 of the 

NC

2010

National 

government 2300

Third "Conto Energia" : 

photovoltaic (art.3 

paragraph 2, decree 6 

august 2010)

* Energy CO2

Supporting the 

expansion of 

photovoltaic 

plants through 

feed in tariffs 

until a maximum 

capacity of 3000 

MW 

Economic implemented

Paragraph 

4.4.1 of the 

NC

2010

National 

government 900

Green Certificate -

budget law 2008 * Energy CO2

Green Certificate 

increased every 

year by 0,75% 

for 2007 - 2012 

and establish 

"omnicomprensiva" 

rate for plants 

<1 MWe

Economic implemented

Paragraph 

4.4.1 of the 

NC

2008

Regulatory 

Authority 4000

European regional 

development fund 

(ERDF), National 

Strategic Framework 

2008-2013 - RES

* Energy CO2

Supporting 

system for RES 

whit Regional 

operative 

program (POR) 

and Interregional 

operative 

program (POIN)

Economic implemented

Paragraph 

4.3.8 of the 

NC

2008

Local 

government 1400
291

Name of mitigation actiona Sectors 

affectedb

GHGs 

affected

Objective 

and/or activity 

affected

Type of 

instrumentc

Status of 

implementationd

Brief 

descriptione

Start year of 

implementation

Implementing 

entity or 

entities

Impact 

2020 

(kt 

CO2eq)

White certificates -

decree December 2007 -

Industry

*

Energy, 

Industry/ 

industrial 

processes

CO2

Supporting 

electric energy 

saving for the 

period 2008-

2012

Economic implemented

Paragraph 

4.3.4 of the 

NC

2008

Regulatory 

Authority 2020

Legislative decree 

201/07 (transposition of 

directive 2005/32/EC) -

Industry

*

Energy, 

Industry/ 

industrial 

processes

CO2

Installation of 

highly efficient 

electric motors 

and inverters 

through 

minimum 

mandatory 

standards

Economic implemented

Paragraph 

4.4.5 of the 

NC

2008

National 

government 1920

White certificates -

decree december 2007 -

CHP

* Energy CO2

Supporting CHP 

and district 

heating plants 

for 2008-2012

Economic implemented

Paragraph 

4.3.4 of the 

NC

2008

Regulatory 

Authority 970

European regional 

development fund 

(ERDF), National 

Strategic Framework 

2008-2013 - Electric 

energy saving

*

Energy, 

Industry/ 

industrial 

processes

CO2

Supporting 

electric energy 

saving with POR 

and POIN

Economic implemented

Paragraph 

4.3.8 of the 

NC

2008

Local 

government 660

Nitric acid *

Industry/ 

industrial 

processes

N2O

Reduction of 

N2O emissions in 

nitric acid 

production plants

Other 

(Implement

ation of Best 

Available 

Technology)

implemented

Paragraph 

4.5.1 of the 

NC

2008 - 2010

Companies / 

businesses / 

industrial 

associations

740
292

Name of mitigation actiona Sectors 

affectedb

GHGs 

affected

Objective 

and/or activity 

affected

Type of 

instrumentc

Status of 

implementationd

Brief 

descriptione

Start year of 

implementation

Implementing 

entity or 

entities

Impact 

2020 

(kt 

CO2eq)

Building Regulation 

(Legislative decree 

192/05 as amended by 

legislative decree 

311/06)

* Energy CO2

Minimum 

mandatory 

standards on 

new and existing 

buildings 

(Energy 

Efficiency)

Regulatory implemented

Paragraph 

4.4.5 of the 

NC

2010

Local 

government 3610

Budget law 2007 and 

budget law 2008 * Energy CO2

Supporting of 

energy saving in 

existing buildings 

through tax 

deduction of 

55%. 

Fiscal implemented

Paragraph 

4.4.5 of the 

NC

2008 - 2009

National 

government 610

Budget law 2009 * Energy CO2

Supporting of 

energy saving in 

existing buildings 

through tax 

deduction of 

55%

Fiscal implemented

Paragraph 

4.4.5 of the 

NC

2010

National 

government 440

White certificates -

decree December 2007 -

Commercial

* Energy CO2

Supporting of 

energy saving 

2008-2012 

(Energy 

Efficiency)

Economic implemented

Paragraph 

4.3.4 of the 

NC

2008

Regulatory 

Authority 3120

Legislative decree 

201/07 (transposition of 

directive 2005/32/EC ) -

Residential

* Energy CO2

First regulation 

on mandatory 

energy efficiency 

standards for 

energy-using 

products 

Regulatory implemented

Paragraph 

4.4.5 of the 

NC

2008

Local 

government 2600

National Strategic 

Framework 2007-2013 -

ERDF - CHP

* Energy CO2

Supporting CHP 

and energy 

savings with POR 

and POIN

Economic implemented

Paragraph 

4.3.8 of the 

NC

2007

Regulatory 

Authority 240
293

Name of mitigation actiona Sectors 

affectedb

GHGs 

affected

Objective 

and/or activity 

affected

Type of 

instrumentc

Status of 

implementationd

Brief 

descriptione

Start year of 

implementation

Implementing 

entity or 

entities

Impact 

2020 

(kt 

CO2eq)

National Strategic 

Framework 2007-2013 -

ERDF - Residential 

energy saving

* Energy CO2

Supporting 

electric energy 

saving with POR 

and POIN

Economic implemented

Paragraph 

4.3.8 of the 

NC

2007

National 

government 420

Infrastructural measures * Transport CO2

High Capacity 

and High Speed 

road. Regional 

networks for 

passengers and 

freight, subway

Other 

(Planning) implemented

Paragraph 

4.4.6 of the 

NC

2007

National 

government 5700

National Strategic 

Framework 2007-2013 -

FESR

* Transport CO2

Intermodal 

infrastructure 

projects: 

metropolitan 

railways

Other 

(Planning) implemented

Paragraph 

4.4.6 of the 

NC

2007

Local 

government 1280

Emission standard for 

new car (Regulation (EC) 

No 443/2009)

* Transport CO2

Fleet update at 

120 g CO2/km in 

2015 and 95 g 

CO2/km in 2020

Regulatory implemented

Paragraph 

4.4.6 of the 

NC

2010

Regional 

entities 10200

Legislative decree 

128/05 (transposition of 

directive 2003/30/EC)

* Transport CO2

Mandatory use 

biofuels (target 

4.5% to 2012)

Regulatory implemented

Paragraph 

4.4.6 of the 

NC

2007

National 

government 1490

Legislative Decree 

28/2011 ( transposition 

of directive 2009/28/EC)

* Transport CO2

Mandatory use 

biofuels (target 

10% to 2020)

Regulatory implemented

Paragraph 

4.4.6 of the 

NC

2013

National 

government 1580

Nitrogen fertilizer * Agriculture N2O

Rationalization in 

the use of 

nitrogen fertilizer

Regulatory implemented

Paragraph 

4.5.2 of the 

NC

2010

Local 

government 790
294

Name of mitigation actiona Sectors 

affectedb

GHGs 

affected

Objective 

and/or activity 

affected

Type of 

instrumentc

Status of 

implementationd

Brief 

descriptione

Start year of 

implementation

Implementing 

entity or 

entities

Impact 

2020 

(kt 

CO2eq)

Animal storage * Agriculture CH4

Recovery of 

biogas from 

animal storage 

system

Regulatory implemented

Paragraph 

4.5.2 of the 

NC

2010

Local 

government 400

Separate collection of 

waste *

Waste 

management

/waste

CH4

Compliance with 

separate 

collection targets 

and reduction of 

biodegradable 

waste disposed 

into landfills

Regulatory implemented

Paragraph 

4.5.3 of the 

NC

2008

Local 

government 3700

National Action Plan for 

Renewable Energy 2010 Energy CO2

Measures under 

the NAP - RES 

2010 reducing 

energy losses 

through the 

modernization of 

the national 

electricity 

transmission grid 

and of the 

distribution grid

Other 

(Planning) planned

Paragraph 

4.3.1 of the 

NC

2014

Regulatory 

Authority 990
295

Name of mitigation actiona Sectors 

affectedb

GHGs 

affected

Objective 

and/or activity 

affected

Type of 

instrumentc

Status of 

implementationd

Brief 

descriptione

Start year of 

implementation

Implementing 

entity or 

entities

Impact 

2020 

(kt 

CO2eq)

National Action Plan for 

Renewable Energy 2010 

- Legislative decree 

28/2001 - Kyoto fund

Energy CO2

Measures to 

achieve the 2020 

target provided 

by the NAP 2010 

and further 

incentives for 

the 

implementation 

of the Decree. 

28/2011 to 

reach the 110 

TWh target from 

renewable 

sources, 

including the 

development of 

smart grid. 

Supporting small 

interventions for 

renewable 

energy with 

capital loans at 

subsidized 

interest rate.

Economic planned

Paragraph 

4.3.1 and 

4.3.5 of the 

NC

2014

National 

government 6320

New measure of 

promoting and 

supporting RES-E

Energy, 

Industry/ 

industrial 

processes

CO2

Measures to be 

determined after 

the achievement 

of 130 TWh 

renewable 

electricity target, 

as indicated in 

the "National 

Energy Strategy" 

report

planned

Paragraph 

4.4.1 of the 

NC

2014

National 

government 10000
296

Name of mitigation actiona Sectors 

affectedb

GHGs 

affected

Objective 

and/or activity 

affected

Type of 

instrumentc

Status of 

implementationd

Brief 

descriptione

Start year of 

implementation

Implementing 

entity or 

entities

Impact 

2020 

(kt 

CO2eq)

National Action Plan for 

Renewable Energy 2010 

and National Action Plan 

for Energy Efficiency 

2011

Energy, 

Industry/ 

industrial 

processes

CO2

Measures for the 

promotion of 

thermal energy 

from renewable 

sources and 

incentives to 

small-scale 

interventions to 

increase the 

production of 

thermal energy 

from renewable 

sources

Economic planned

Paragraph 

4.3.1 and 

4.3.4 of the 

NC

2014

National 

government

10600

National Action Plan for 

Energy Efficiency 2011 -

2006/32 Directive -

White certificates 2012 -

2016

Energy, 

Industry/ 

industrial 

processes

CO2

Further extend 

of energy saving 

targets (White 

certificates 

2012-2016)

Economic planned

Paragraph 

4.3.4 of the 

NC

2013

Regulatory 

Authority 3500

National Action Plan for 

Renewable Energy 2010 

and National Action Plan 

for Energy Efficiency 

2011 - White certificates 

2016 - 2020 - Office 

equipment

Energy, 

Industry/ 

industrial 

processes

CO2

Promoting 

energy efficiency 

in implementing 

the actions 

foreseen in the 

NAP 2010 

(efficient lighting 

systems, ICT 

systems, 

replacement of 

electric heating 

systems) for the 

period 2016-

2020.

Economic planned

Paragraph 

4.3.1 and 

4.3.4 of the 

NC

2016

Regulatory 

Authority 3580
297

Name of mitigation actiona Sectors 

affectedb

GHGs 

affected

Objective 

and/or activity 

affected

Type of 

instrumentc

Status of 

implementationd

Brief 

descriptione

Start year of 

implementation

Implementing 

entity or 

entities

Impact 

2020 

(kt 

CO2eq)

National Action Plan for 

Energy Efficiency 2011 -

2006/32 Directive -

Supporting of High 

efficiency CHP 

(09/05/2011 Law) with 

white certificates - Kyoto 

fund - industry

Energy, 

Industry/ 

industrial 

processes

CO2

Promotion of 

cogeneration and 

trigeneration -

industry

Economic planned

Paragraph 

4.3.4 and 

4.3.5 of the 

NC

2013

National 

government 2260

National Action Plan for 

Renewable Energy 2010 

and National Action Plan 

for Energy Efficiency 

2011 - White certificates 

2016 - 2020 - industry

Energy, 

Industry/ 

industrial 

processes

CO2

Further use up 

to 2020 of the 

white certificate 

system to 

promote 

measures of 

mechanical 

vapour 

compression, 

energy saving in 

the chemical 

industry, glass, 

paper and heat 

recovery in 

industrial energy 

intensive 

processes 

Economic planned

Paragraph 

4.3.1 and 

4.3.4 of the 

NC

2016

Regulatory 

Authority 3690

Reformulation of energy 

taxation - industry

Energy, 

Industry/ 

industrial 

processes

CO2

Remodulation of 

excise duty to 

promote low 

carbon content 

fuels in industrial 

sector

Fiscal planned 2015

National 

government 1500
298

Name of mitigation actiona Sectors 

affectedb

GHGs 

affected

Objective 

and/or activity 

affected

Type of 

instrumentc

Status of 

implementationd

Brief 

descriptione

Start year of 

implementation

Implementing 

entity or 

entities

Impact 

2020 

(kt 

CO2eq)

Legislative decree 

28/2011

Energy, 

Industry/ 

industrial 

processes

CO2

Promotion of 

renewable 

thermal energy 

use in industry

Economic planned

Paragraph 

4.3.1 of the 

NC

2014

National 

government 1640

Legislative decree 

28/2011 Energy CO2

Promoting 

energy saving in 

the civil sector 

(public, 

domestic, 

tertiary): 

insulation, 

replacement 

windows and 

boilers, 

installation of 

heat pumps and 

solar thermal 

panels

Economic planned

Paragraph 

4.3.1 of the 

NC

2014

National 

government 4690

National Action Plan for 

Energy Efficiency 2011 -

White certificates 2012 -

2016

Energy CO2

Promoting 

energy saving Economic planned

Paragraph 

4.3.4 of the 

NC

2014

National 

government 1230

National Action Plan for 

Renewable Energy 2010 

and National Action Plan 

for Energy Efficiency 

2011 - White certificates 

2016 - 2020

Energy CO2

Promoting 

energy saving Economic planned

Paragraph 

4.3.1 and 

4.3.4 of the 

NC

2014

National 

government 2530
299

Name of mitigation actiona Sectors 

affectedb

GHGs 

affected

Objective 

and/or activity 

affected

Type of 

instrumentc

Status of 

implementationd

Brief 

descriptione

Start year of 

implementation

Implementing 

entity or 

entities

Impact 

2020 

(kt 

CO2eq)

National Action Plan for 

Energy Efficiency 2011 -

2006/32 Directive -

Supporting of High 

efficiency CHP 

(09/05/2011 Law) with 

white certificates 2012-

2016 - Kyoto fund -

Tertiary

Energy CO2

Promotion of 

cogeneration and 

trigeneration in 

tertiary sector

Economic planned

Paragraph 

4.3.4 and 

4.3.5 of the 

NC

2014

National 

government 1490

Directive 2010/31/EC -

New standards of 

efficiency in buildings

Energy CO2

Further 

reduction of 

energy 

consumption in 

buildings and 

promotion of 

renewable 

energy in the 

building and 

incentive 

mechanism 

through the tax 

deduction

Fiscal planned

Paragraph 

4.4.5 of the 

NC

2013

National 

government 4000

Extension from 2013 to 

2020 of tax deduction of 

55%

Energy CO2

Energy saving in 

existing buildings Fiscal planned

Paragraph 

4.4.5 of the 

NC

2013

National 

government 1150

Reformulation of energy 

taxation - civil sector Energy CO2

Remodulation of 

excise duty to 

promote low 

carbon content 

fuels in civil 

sector

Economic planned

Paragraph 

4.4.5 of the 

NC

2014

National 

government 1000
300

Name of mitigation actiona Sectors 

affectedb

GHGs 

affected

Objective 

and/or activity 

affected

Type of 

instrumentc

Status of 

implementationd

Brief 

descriptione

Start year of 

implementation

Implementing 

entity or 

entities

Impact 

2020 

(kt 

CO2eq)

Intermodal measures Transport CO2

Infrastructures, 

intermodal and 

increasing of the 

electric public 

transport 

Other 

(Planning) planned

Paragraph 

4.4.6 of the 

NC

2015

National 

government 3500

Measures to improve the 

fleets update -

Regulation (EC) No 

443/2009

Transport CO2

Reduce the 

average 

emissions

Economic planned

Paragraph 

4.4.6 of the 

NC

2015

National 

government 1800

Reformulation of energy 

taxation - transport 

sector

Transport CO2

Remodulation of 

excise duty to 

promote low 

carbon content 

fuels in transport 

sector

Economic planned

Paragraph 

4.4.6 of the 

NC

2015

National 

government 500

a) Parties should use an asterisk (*) to indicate that a mitigation action is included in the ‘with measures’ projections

b) To the extent possible, the following sectors should be used: energy, transport, industry/industrial processes, agriculture, forestry/LULUCF, waste 

management/waste, other sectors, cross-cutting, as appropriate.

c) To the extent possible, the following types of instrument should be used: economic, fiscal, voluntary agreement, regulatory, information, education, research, other

d) To the extent possible, the following descriptive terms should be used to report on the status of implementation: implemented, adopted, planned. 

e) Additional information may be provided on the cost of the mitigation actions and the relevant timescale.
301

4.2 Estimates of emission reductions and removals and the use of units from the market-based mechanisms and land use, land-use 

changes and forestry activities

The relevant information is provided in CTF Tables 4, 4(a)II and 4(b).

In Table 4 total emissions excluding LULUCF as reported in 2013 submission to the UNFCCC, in the framework of the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, are 

included. Preliminary data have been estimated for 2012. 

The contribution from LULUCF has been deduced from the accounting tables provided to the UNFCCC where 2012 data has been estimated as average of the 

2008-2011 figures.

CTF Table 4 - Reporting on progress

Total emissions 

excluding LULUCF

Contribution 

from LULUCFd

Quantity of units from market based 

mechanisms under the Convention

Quantity of units from other 

market based mechanisms

Yearc(kt CO2 eq) (kt CO2 eq) (number of units) (kt CO2 eq) (number of 

units) (kt CO2 eq)

1990 518,984.17 NA NO NO NO NO

2010 500,313.89 -17,631.40 NO NO NO NO

2011 488,792.02 -16,276.40 597,088,153.00 597,088.15

2012 464,553.41 -16,787.65 190,106,903.00 190,106.91

Notes:

Abbreviation: GHG = greenhouse gas, LULUCF = land use, land-use change and forestry.

a Reporting by a developed country Party on the information specified in the common tabular format does not prejudge the position of other Parties with regard to the 

treatment of units from market-based mechanisms under the Convention or other market-based mechanisms towards achievement of quantified economy-wide emission 

reduction targets.

b For the base year, information reported on the emission reduction target shall include the following: (a) total GHG emissions, excluding emissions and removals from 

the LULUCF sector; (b) emissions and/or removals from the LULUCF sector based on the accounting approach applied taking into consideration any relevant decisions of 

the Conference of the Parties and the activities and/or land that will be accounted for; (c) total GHG emissions, including emissions and removals from the LULUCF 

sector. For each reported year, information reported on progress made towards the emission reduction targets shall include, in addition to the information noted in 

paragraphs 9(a–-c) of the UNFCCC biennial reporting guidelines for developed country Parties, information on the use of units from market-based mechanisms.

c Parties may add additional rows for years other than those specified below.

d Information in this column should be consistent with the information reported in table 4(a)I or 4(a)II, as appropriate. The Parties for which all relevant information on 

the LULUCF contribution is reported in table 1 of this common tabular format can refer to table 1.
302

Italy has decided to account for Article 3.3 and 3.4 LULUCF activities at the end of the commitment period, therefore no information on KP-LULUCF 

accounting is included in the SEF tables. In CTF Table 4(a)II, information on accounting for the KP-LULUCF activities based on the reporting for the year 

2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 are given. 

CTF Table 4(a)II Progress in achievement of the quantified economy-wide emission reduction target – further information on 

mitigation actions relevant to the counting of emissions and removals from the land use, land-use change and forestry sector in 

relation to activities under Article 3, paragraphs 3 and 4, of the Kyoto Protocol

Greenhouse gas source and sink 

categories

Base 

yeard

Net emissions/removalse Accounting 

parametersh

Accounting 

quantityi

2008 2009 2010 2011 Totalg

kt CO2 eq

A. Article 3.3 activities 

A.1. Afforestation and Reforestation -27,888

A.1.1. Units of land not harvested since the 

beginning of the commitment periodj

-6,390 -7,218 -7,817 -6,463 -27,888 -27,888

A.1.2. Units of land harvested since the 

beginning of the commitment periodj

A.2. Deforestation 375 377 379 380 1,511 1,511

B. Article 3.4 activities

B.1. Forest Management (if elected) -27,944 -30,245 -31,304 -23,977 -113,470 -50,967

3.3 offsetk 0 0

FM capl 50,967 -50,967

B.2. Cropland Management (if elected) 0 NA NA NA NA NA 0 0

B.3. Grazing Land Management (if elected) 0 NA NA NA NA NA 0 0

B.4. Revegetation (if elected) 0 NA NA NA NA NA 0 0

Note: 1 kt CO2 eq equals 1 Gg CO2 eq. 

a Reporting by a developed country Party on the information specified in the common tabular format does not prejudge the position of other Parties with regard to the 

treatment of units from market-based mechanisms under the Convention or other market-based mechanisms towards achievement of quantified economy-wide emission 

reduction targets.

b Developed country Parties with a quantified economy-wide emission reduction target as communicated to the secretariat and contained in document 

FCCC/SB/2011/INF.1/Rev.1 or any update to that document, that are Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, may use table 4(a)II for reporting of accounting quantities if LULUCF 
303

is contributing to the attainment of that target. 

c Parties can include references to the relevant parts of the national inventory report, where accounting methodologies regarding LULUCF are further described in the 

documentation box or in the biennial reports.

d Net emissions and removals in the Party’s base year, as established by decision 9/CP.2.

e All values are reported in the information table on accounting for activities under Article 3, paragraphs 3 and 4, of the Kyoto Protocol, of the CRF for the relevant 

inventory year as reported in the current submission and are automatically entered in this table. 

f Additional columns for relevant years should be added, if applicable.

g Cumulative net emissions and removals for all years of the commitment period reported in the current submission.

h The values in the cells “3.3 offset” and “Forest management cap” are absolute values. 

i The accounting quantity is the total quantity of units to be added to or subtracted from a Party’s assigned amount for a particular activity in accordance with the 

provisions of Article 7, paragraph 4, of the Kyoto Protocol.

j In accordance with paragraph 4 of the annex to decision 16/CMP.1, debits resulting from harvesting during the first commitment period following afforestation and 

reforestation since 1990 shall not be greater than the credits accounted for on that unit of land.

k In accordance with paragraph 10 of the annex to decision 16/CMP.1, for the first commitment period a Party included in Annex I that incurs a net source of emissions

under the provisions of Article 3 paragraph 3, may account for anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions by sources and removals by sinks in areas under forest 

management under Article 3, paragraph 4, up to a level that is equal to the net source of emissions under the provisions of Article 3, paragraph 3, but not greater than 

9.0 megatonnes of carbon times five, if the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions by sources and removals by sinks in the managed forest since 1990 is equal 

to, or larger than, the net source of emissions incurred under Article 3, paragraph 3.

l In accordance with paragraph 11 of the annex to decision 16/CMP.1, for the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol only, additions to and subtractions from the 

assigned amount of a Party resulting from Forest management under Article 3, paragraph 4, after the application of paragraph 10 of the annex to decision 16/CMP.1 and 

resulting from forest management project activities undertaken under Article 6, shall not exceed the value inscribed in the appendix of the annex to decision 16/CMP.1, 

times five.
304

The use of units from market-based mechanisms and land use, land-use change and forest activities 

(LULUCF), from 2008 to 2012, counts towards the achievement of the Kyoto Protocol targets for the first 

commitment period. Final data on surrendered units are available only for the EU ETS for these years. 

Final CP1 compliance actions for sectors which are not covered by the EU ETS will take place when 

reviewed inventory data will be available for the complete period, in the “true-up” period in 2015. As a 

result, data on the final use of flexible mechanisms and sinks are not available for the 1st BR.

CTF Table 4b reports the annual quantities of units which have been transferred to the retirement 

account in 2011 and 2012 for Italy. This amount equals the units surrendered in 2008-2011 within the EU 

ETS therefore it is only a partial indicator of the fulfillment of the target in the first commitment period.

CTF Table 4(b) Reporting on progress 

Units of market based 

mechanisms

Year

2011 2012

Kyoto 

Protocol 

unitsd

Kyoto Protocol 

units

(number of units) 597,088,153 190,106,903

(kt CO2 eq) 597,088 190,107

AAUs

(number of units) 567,758,394 170,503,486

(kt CO2 eq) 567,758 170,503

ERUs

(number of units) 752,006 4,809,456

(kt CO2 eq) 752 4,809

CERs

(number of units) 28,577,753 14,793,961

(kt CO2 eq) 28,578 14,794

tCERs

(number of units) NO NO

(kt CO2 eq) NO NO

lCERs

(number of units) NO NO

(kt CO2 eq) NO NO

Other 

units d,e

Units from 

market-based 

mechanisms 

under the 

Convention

(number of units)

(kt CO2 eq)

Units from other 

market-based 

mechanisms

(number of units)

(kt CO2 eq)

Total

(number of units) 597,088,153 190,106,903

(kt CO2 eq) 597,088 190,107

Abbreviations: AAUs = assigned amount units, CERs = certified emission reductions, ERUs = emission reduction units, 

lCERs = long-term certified emission reductions, tCERs = temporary certified emission reductions.

Note: 2011 is the latest reporting year.

a Reporting by a developed country Party on the information specified in the common tabular format does not 

prejudge the position of other Parties with regard to the treatment of units from market-based mechanisms under the 

Convention or other market-based mechanisms towards achievement of quantified economy-wide emission reduction 

targets.

b For each reported year, information reported on progress made towards the emission reduction target shall include, 

in addition to the information noted in paragraphs 9(a-c) of the reporting guidelines, on the use of units from marketbased mechanisms. 

c Parties may include this information, as appropriate and if relevant to their target.

d Units surrendered by that Party for that year that have not been previously surrendered by that or any other Party

e Additional rows for each market-based mechanism should be added, if applicable.
305

5. Projections6

Italian emissions projections up to 2020 and 2030 are presented for a ‘with measures’ scenario and a 

‘with additional measures’ scenario (tables 6a and 6c), together with the most relevant parameter used in 

the projections calculation and analysis (table 5).

As reported in chapter 5 of the present national communication, it is not possible to elaborate a without 

measures scenario mostly because many measures adopted in the last years are structural and linked 

with many sectors so that it is impossible to separate the effects of past measures and upcoming 

measures. Since 1990 there has been a steady increase use of natural gas share and a corresponding 

decrease of oil products together with a relevant technological change in the electricity generation sector 

happened after 2000, when many combined cycle plants, mainly fed with natural gas and synthesis gas 

by oil products gasification, became operational. However the emissions projections of WM scenarios 

reported in the previous National Communications, mainly the second and the third one, could supply 

esteems of emissions without the measures implemented after 2000. For this reasons table 6b has not 

been elaborated.

Regarding historical data (tables 6a and 6c) the increasing trend of emissions since 1990 up to 2005 

must be noticed, while emissions from 2005 to 2011 show a strong decrease, mainly due to the effects of 

the economic crisis which affects all sectors of the economy since 2008.

As shown in figure 5.1, even if there is an evident decoupling between GDP and GHG emissions a strong 

dependence still remain, especially in historical data and in the WM scenario.

Figure 5.1: Trends of GDP and GHGs emissions (WM and WAM scenario)

Comparison between table 5 and tables 6a and 6c shows a strong correlation between total gross inland 

consumption and GHGs emissions, as highlighted in figure 5.2. That is the reason why most of the 

‘additional measures’ presented in chapter 4 of the NC acts reducing the energy consumption and the 

energy sector is the one showing the biggest effects in terms of emission reduction when comparing WM 

and WAM scenarios at 2020 and 2030 (see figure 5.3).

 

6 Author: Emanuele Peschi
306

CTF Table 5 Summary of key variables and assumptions used in the projections analysisa

Key underlying assumptions Historicalb Projected

Assumption Unit 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Gross Domestic Product 10^9 Euro 2005 constant prices basis 1,173 1,249 1,368 1,436 1,418 1,449 1,538 1,617 1,699

Gross domestic product 

growth rate % 1.30 1.90 1.00 -0.25 0.44 1.23 1.02 1.02

Population thousands 56,694 56,846 56,929 58,462 60,340 61,138 61,634 61,938 62,129

Population growth rate and 

base year value % 0.05 0.03 0.54 0.64 0.26 0.16 0.10 0.06

Total gross inland 

consumption - ‘with 

measures’ scenario

Mtoe 6,412 6,749 7,237 7,893 7,349 7,272 7,701 7,815 7,671

Total gross inland 

consumption - ‘with 

additional measures’ 

scenario

Mtoe 6,412 6,749 7,237 7,893 7,349 6,972 6,926 6,936 6,940

International coal import 

prices 2005 € / toe 78 126 126 149 168 179

International oil import 

prices 2005 € / toe 335 358 481 541 609 685

International gas import 

prices 2005 € / toe 189 252 310 353 401 445

Carbon price € (2005 price) / t CO2 0 10 13 22 26 30

Gross value-added total 

industry Value (2005 € billion) 311 328 335 342 314 317 327 333 340

Share of the industrial sector 

in GDP % 26.55 26.24 24.48 23.80 22.14 21.88 21.24 20.61 20.01

Gross value-added services Value (2005 € billion) 687 736 864 921 938 960 1,024 1,082 1,143

Share of the services sector 

in GDP % 58.62 58.92 63.20 64.14 66.12 66.27 66.59 66.92 67.26

Passenger person kilometres 

(all transport modes in 

absolute figures)

billion pass-km, excluding civil aviation 727 831 943 931 919 909 937 960 981

Freight ton-km (all transport 

modes in absolute figures)

billion tonn-km >50km, only national 

vectors 191 210 216 240 211 208 226 242 259

a) Parties should include key underlying assumptions as appropriate.

b) Parties should include historical data used to develop the greenhouse gas projections reported.
307

CTF Table 6a Information on updated greenhouse gas projections under a ‘with measures’ scenarioa

GHG emissions and removalsb GHG emission 

projections

(kt CO2 eq) (kt CO2 eq)

Sector

c,d Base year 

(1990) 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011 2020 2030

Energy 227,682.83 227,682.83 230,424.81 243,433.96 264,201.59 235,014.37 225,341.26 238,297.35 243,955.14

Transport 103,105.53 103,105.53 114,100.64 122,441.81 127,461.30 118,910.98 117,851.35 114,627.00 120,776.00

Industry/industrial processes 127,792.28 127,792.28 124,749.35 122,361.17 124,953.57 94,880.46 94,548.12 113,226.83 112,487.99

Agriculture 40,738.59 40,738.59 40,520.46 40,135.38 37,362.53 33,722.59 33,530.43 33,425.78 33,368.70

Forestry/LULUCF -12,153.74 -12,153.74 -30,382.90 -25,834.57 -38,271.35 -43,340.86 -30,590.07 -32,086.09 -29,547.86

Waste management/waste 19,664.96 19,664.96 20,445.39 22,928.87 20,454.43 17,785.50 17,520.85 16,501.97 13,315.38

Gas 

CO2 emissions including net CO2

from LULUCF 421,621.13 421,621.13 414,255.34 435,951.80 449,563.22 381,939.57 383,394.43 406,611.58 416,695.53

CO2 emissions excluding net CO2

from LULUCF 434,656.30 434,656.30 444,943.68 462,277.69 488,078.03 425,499.38 414,239.22 438,723.91 446,230.65

CH4 emissions including CH4 from 

LULUCF 44,358.93 44,358.93 44,494.56 46,191.08 41,266.94 37,452.63 36,756.26 34,592.69 30,701.41

CH4 emissions excluding CH4 from 

LULUCF 43,760.90 43,760.90 44,335.69 45,843.74 41,106.94 37,290.20 36,567.66 34,571.44 30,714.23

N2O emissions including N2O from 

LULUCF 37,679.71 37,679.71 38,568.73 39,627.21 37,750.97 27,132.14 26,939.29 28,588.58 28,758.43

N2O emissions excluding N2O from 

LULUCF 37,396.31 37,396.31 38,422.16 39,483.23 37,667.51 27,075.62 26,873.17 28,583.58 28,758.34

HFCs 351.00 351.00 671.29 1,985.67 5,400.56 8,744.58 9,306.04 12,568.00 16,568.00

PFCs 2,486.74 2,486.74 1,266.38 1,217.43 1,715.00 1,330.83 1,454.54 1,251.00 1,251.00

SF6 332.92 332.92 601.45 493.43 465.39 373.27 351.38 381.00 381.00

Total with LULUCFf 506,830.43 506,830.43 499,857.75 525,466.62 536,162.08 456,973.02 458,201.94 483,992.85 494,355.37

Total without LULUCF 518,984.17 518,984.17 530,240.65 551,301.19 574,433.43 500,313.88 488,792.01 516,078.93 523,903.22

a) In accordance with the “Guidelines for the preparation of national communications by Parties included in Annex I to the Convention, Part II: UNFCCC reporting 

guidelines on national communications”, at a minimum Parties shall report a ‘with measures’ scenario, and may report ‘without measures’ and ‘with additional 

measures’ scenarios. If a Party chooses to report ‘without measures’ and/or ‘with additional measures’ scenarios they are to use tables 6(b) and/or 6(c), respectively. 

If a Party does not choose to report ‘without measures’ or ‘with additional measures’ scenarios then it should not include tables 6(b) or 6(c) in the biennial report. 

b) Emissions and removals reported in these columns should be as reported in the latest GHG inventory and consistent with the emissions and removals reported in the 
308

table on GHG emissions and trends provided in this biennial report. Where the sectoral breakdown differs from that reported in the GHG inventory Parties should 

explain in their biennial report how the inventory sectors relate to the sectors reported in this table.

c) In accordance with paragraph 34 of the “Guidelines for the preparation of national communications by Parties included in Annex I to the Convention, Part II: UNFCCC 

reporting guidelines on national communications”, projections shall be presented on a sectoral basis, to the extent possible, using the same sectoral categories used in 

the policies and measures section. This table should follow, to the extent possible, the same sectoral categories as those listed in paragraph 17 of those guidelines, 

namely, to the extent appropriate, the following sectors should be considered: energy, transport, industry, agriculture, forestry and waste management. 

d) To the extent possible, the following sectors should be used: energy, transport, industry/industrial processes, agriculture, forestry/LULUCF, waste management/waste, 

other sectors (i.e. cross-cutting), as appropriate.
309

CTF Table 6c Information on updated greenhouse gas projections under a ‘with additional measures’ scenarioa

GHG emissions and removalsb GHG emission 

projections

(kt CO2 eq) (kt CO2 eq)

Sectorc,d Base year 

(1990)

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011 2020 2030

Energy 227,682.83 227,682.83 230,424.81 243,433.96 264,201.59 235,014.37 225,341.26 195,126.08 175,054.67

Transport 103,105.53 103,105.53 114,100.64 122,441.81 127,461.30 118,910.98 117,851.35 102,182.21 98,963.58

Industry/industrial processes 127,792.28 127,792.28 124,749.35 122,361.17 124,953.57 94,880.46 94,548.12 107,800.62 110,275.15

Agriculture 40,738.59 40,738.59 40,520.46 40,135.38 37,362.53 33,722.59 33,530.43 33,425.78 33,368.70

Forestry/LULUCF -12,153.74 -12,153.74 -30,382.90 -25,834.57 -38,271.35 -43,340.86 -30,590.07 -32,086.09 -29,547.86

Waste management/waste 19,664.96 19,664.96 20,445.39 22,928.87 20,454.43 17,785.50 17,520.85 16,501.97 13,315.38

Gas 

CO2 emissions including net CO2

from LULUCF

421,621.13 421,621.13 414,255.34 435,951.80 449,563.22 381,939.57 383,394.43 345,639.32 324,518.86

CO2 emissions excluding net CO2

from LULUCF

434,656.30 434,656.30 444,943.68 462,277.69 488,078.03 425,499.38 414,239.22 377,751.65 354,053.98

CH4 emissions including CH4 from 

LULUCF

44,358.93 44,358.93 44,494.56 46,191.08 41,266.94 37,452.63 36,756.26 34,391.30 30,470.94

CH4 emissions excluding CH4 from 

LULUCF

43,760.90 43,760.90 44,335.69 45,843.74 41,106.94 37,290.20 36,567.66 34,370.05 30,483.77

N2O emissions including N2O from 

LULUCF

37,679.71 37,679.71 38,568.73 39,627.21 37,750.97 27,132.14 26,939.29 28,719.96 28,239.78

N2O emissions excluding N2O from 

LULUCF

37,396.31 37,396.31 38,422.16 39,483.23 37,667.51 27,075.62 26,873.17 28,714.96 28,239.70

HFCs 351.00 351.00 671.29 1,985.67 5,400.56 8,744.58 9,306.04 12,568.00 16,568.00

PFCs 2,486.74 2,486.74 1,266.38 1,217.43 1,715.00 1,330.83 1,454.54 1,251.00 1,251.00

SF6 332.92 332.92 601.45 493.43 465.39 373.27 351.38 381.00 381.00

Total with LULUCFf 506,830.43 506,830.43 499,857.75 525,466.62 536,162.08 456,973.02 458,201.94 422,950.58 401,429.58

Total without LULUCF 518,984.17 518,984.17 530,240.65 551,301.19 574,433.43 500,313.88 488,792.01 455,036.66 430,977.45

a) In accordance with the “Guidelines for the preparation of national communications by Parties included in Annex I to the Convention, Part II: UNFCCC reporting 

guidelines on national communications”, at a minimum Parties shall report a ‘with measures’ scenario, and may report ‘without measures’ and ‘with additional 

measures’ scenarios. If a Party chooses to report ‘without measures’ and/or ‘with additional measures’ scenarios they are to use tables 6(b) and/or 6(c), respectively. 
310

If a Party does not choose to report ‘without measures’ or ‘with additional measures’ scenarios then it should not include tables 6(b) or 6(c) in the biennial report. 

b) Emissions and removals reported in these columns should be as reported in the latest GHG inventory and consistent with the emissions and removals reported in the 

table on GHG emissions and trends provided in this biennial report. Where the sectoral breakdown differs from that reported in the GHG inventory Parties should 

explain in their biennial report how the inventory sectors relate to the sectors reported in this table.

c) In accordance with paragraph 34 of the “Guidelines for the preparation of national communications by Parties included in Annex I to the Convention, Part II: UNFCCC 

reporting guidelines on national communications”, projections shall be presented on a sectoral basis, to the extent possible, using the same sectoral categories used in 

the policies and measures section. This table should follow, to the extent possible, the same sectoral categories as those listed in paragraph 17 of those guidelines, 

namely, to the extent appropriate, the following sectors should be considered: energy, transport, industry, agriculture, forestry and waste management. 

d) To the extent possible, the following sectors should be used: energy, transport, industry/industrial processes, agriculture, forestry/LULUCF, waste management/waste, 

other sectors (i.e. cross-cutting), as appropriate. 
311

Figure 5.2: Trends of Gross inland consumption and GHGs emissions (WM and WAM scenario)

Figure 5.3: Effects of additional measures for each sector in 2020 and 2030
312

6. Provision of financial, technological support to developing country

Parties7

The tables below represent the financial resources devoted by the Italian government to the multilateral 

and bilateral activities in the years 2011 and 2012. Based on the projects financed, it is provided a 

selection of projects that can be directly considered related to technology transfer.

The Italian activities are mostly addressed to: sustain multilateral funds, dedicated to reduce the impact 

of human activities on climate change, and support mitigation and adaptation measures in most 

vulnerable countries - particularly: North African region, Balkan region, Brazil, China, and Pacific Small 

Islands. 

In particular, the bilateral projects are dedicated: to foster the use and the exploitation of renewable 

energies, to protect from vulnerability to extreme climate variability and mitigation of harmful emissions, 

to improve the scientific expertise of the institution responsible for the preparation of distribution models 

on climate change, as well as to protect and conserve natural resources, water management, waste-toenergy, sustainable urban planning and eco-building, developing low-emission transport systems and 

technologies, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity protection and forest management. 

Technology transfer projects are mostly developed in China, Brazil and Pacific Small Islands. They are 

focused on the promotion of best practises in energy efficiency sector, best available technologies, as well 

as the implementation of technologies based on renewable energies.

In general terms, the Italian government distributed 561.130.000 millions USD in multilateral activities, 

and 75.990.000 millions Euro in bilateral activities.

For more details related to the projects’ description, please see the 6th National Communication.

 

7 Authors: Emanuela Vignola, Alessandro Negrin
313

CTF Table 7_2011 Provision of public financial support summary 2011

Table 7

ITA_BR1_v1

.1

Provision of public financial support: summary information in 2011a

Allocation channels

Year

European euro - EUR USDb

Core/ 

generalc

Climate-specificd

Core/ 

generalc

Climate-specificd

Mitigation Adaptation Crosscuttinge Otherf Mitigation Adaptation Crosscuttinge Otherf

Total contributions through multilateral 

channels:

300,630,000.

00

8,780,000.0

0

1,090,000.0

0

9,790,000.0

0

Multilateral climate change fundsg8,380,000.0

0

 Other multilateral climate change fundsh

Multilateral financial institutions, including 

regional development banks

271,640,000.

00

1,090,000.0

0

3,760,000.0

0

 Specialized United Nations bodies 28,990,000.0

0

400,000.00 6,030,000.0

0

Total contributions through bilateral, regional 

and other channels

36,850,000.0

0

4,240,000.0

0

1,220,000.0

0

31,340,000.0

0

2,000,000.0

0

Total 36,850,000.0

0

4,240,000.0

0

1,220,000.0

0

31,340,000.0

0

2,000,000.0

0

300,630,000.

00

8,780,000.0

0

1,090,000.0

0

9,790,000.0

0

Abbreviation: USD = United States dollars.

a Parties should fill in a separate table for each year, namely 2011 and 2012, where 2014 is the reporting 

year. 

b Parties should provide an explanation on methodology used for currency exchange for the information provided in table 7, 7(a) and 7(b) in the box below.

c This refers to support to multilateral institutions that Parties cannot specify as climate-specific.

d Parties should explain in their biennial reports how they define funds as being climatespecific.

e This refers to funding for activities which are cross-cutting across mitigation and 

adaptation.

f Please specify.

g Multilateral climate change funds listed in paragraph 17(a) of the “UNFCCC biennial reporting guidelines for developed country Parties” in decision 2/CP.17.
314

h Other multilateral climate change funds as referred in paragraph 17(b) of the “UNFCCC biennial reporting guidelines for developed country Parties” in decision 2/CP.17.

Custom Footnotes

Each Party shall provide an indication of what new and additional financial resources they have provided, and clarify how they have determined that such resources are new and additional. Please 

provide this information in relation to table 7(a) and table 7(b). 

Documentation Box:

Since 2002, in order to meet the commitment under decisions FCCC/CP/2001/L.14, FCCC/CP/2001/L.15, and the “Bonn Declaration” of 2001, the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and 

Sea (IMELS) has been authorized by the law June 1, 2002, n° 120, to finance activities in developing countries to contribute to the implementation of the UNFCCC. 

Those resources are not considered in the Official Development Assistance register/accounting and are thus considered “new and additional” ones. 

In fact, with the signature of the Kyoto Protocol and its ratification, new and additional financial resources aimed at technology transfer in the environmental sector were triggered. These can be 

considered additional resources, responding to the commitments set forth by articles 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5 of the Framework Convention on Climate Change, which have to be used by industrialized 

countries for assisting developing countries and transition economies in the implementation of policies and strategies according to the Convention objectives. In particular, they are required to supply 

financial resources through programs and projects which promote the transfer of technologies bound to reducing the impacts of human activities on climate change and support adaptation measures.
315

CTF Table 7_2012 Provision of public financial support summary 2012

Table 7 ITA_BR1_v1.1

Provision of public financial support: summary information in 2012a

Allocation channels

Year

European euro - EUR USDb

Core/ 

generalc

Climate-specificd

Core/ generalc

Climate-specificd

Mitigation Adaptation Cross-cuttinge Otherf Mitigation Adaptation Crosscuttinge Otherf

Total contributions through multilateral channels: 260,500,000.00 5,990,000.00 1,400,000.00

Multilateral climate change fundsg2,200,000.00

 Other multilateral climate change fundsh

Multilateral financial institutions, including regional 

development banks

241,960,000.00

 Specialized United Nations bodies 18,540,000.00 3,790,000.00 1,400,000.00

Total contributions through bilateral, regional and 

other channels

39,140,000.00 9,740,000.00 570,000.00 28,830,000.00

Total 39,140,000.00 9,740,000.00 570,000.00 28,830,000.00 260,500,000.00 5,990,000.00 1,400,000.00

Abbreviation: USD = United States dollars.

a Parties should fill in a separate table for each year, namely 2011 and 2012, where 2014 is the reporting year. 

b Parties should provide an explanation on methodology used for currency exchange for the information provided in table 7, 7(a) and 7(b) in the box below.

c This refers to support to multilateral institutions that Parties cannot specify as climate-specific.

d Parties should explain in their biennial reports how they define funds as being climate-specific.

e This refers to funding for activities which are cross-cutting across mitigation and adaptation.

f Please specify.

g Multilateral climate change funds listed in paragraph 17(a) of the “UNFCCC biennial reporting guidelines for developed country Parties” in decision 2/CP.17.

h Other multilateral climate change funds as referred in paragraph 17(b) of the “UNFCCC biennial reporting guidelines for developed country Parties” in decision 2/CP.17.
316

Custom Footnotes

Each Party shall provide an indication of what new and additional financial resources they have provided, and clarify how they have determined that such resources are new and additional. Please provide this 

information in relation to table 7(a) and table 7(b). 

Documentation Box:

Since 2002, in order to meet the commitment under decisions FCCC/CP/2001/L.14, FCCC/CP/2001/L.15, and the “Bonn Declaration” of 2001, the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS) 

has been authorized by the law June 1, 2002, n° 120, to finance activities in developing countries to contribute to the implementation of the UNFCCC. 

Those resources are not considered in the Official Development Assistance register/accounting and are thus considered “new and additional” ones. 

In fact, with the signature of the Kyoto Protocol and its ratification, new and additional financial resources aimed at technology transfer in the environmental sector were triggered. These can be considered 

additional resources, responding to the commitments set forth by articles 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5 of the Framework Convention on Climate Change, which have to be used by industrialized countries for assisting 

developing countries and transition economies in the implementation of policies and strategies according to the Convention objectives. In particular, they are required to supply financial resources through 

programs and projects which promote the transfer of technologies bound to reducing the impacts of human activities on climate change and support adaptation measures.
317

CTF Table 7a_2011 Provision of public financial support: multilateral 2011
318

CTF Table 7a_2012 Provision of public financial support: multilateral 2012
319

CTF Table 7b_2011 Provision of public financial support: bilateral and other 2011

Table 7(b) ITA_BR1_v1.1

Provision of public financial support: contribution through bilateral, regional and other channels in 2011a

Recipient country/ 

region/project/programmeb

Total amount

Statusc Funding 

sourceg

Financial 

instrumentg

Type of 

supportg, h Sectord Additional information Climate-specific e

f

European 

euro - EUR USD

Total contributions through bilateral, 

regional and other channels

38,800,000.00

China / Sino- Italian Climate 

Change Cooperation Programme

15,600,000.00 Provided OOF Grant CrosscuttingEnergy, 

Other 

(capacity 

building, 

technologies 

transfer)

Iraq / Iraq Climate Action 2,500,000.00 Provided OOF Grant CrosscuttingAgriculture, 

Forestry, 

Water and 

sanitation

SIDS / Cooperation on Climate 

Change

160,000.00 Provided OOF Grant CrosscuttingEnergy

Balkanic area / Balkanic Climate 

Initiatives: Serbia, Montenegro, 

Macedonia, Albania

1,640,000.00 Provided OOF Grant CrosscuttingEnergy, 

Agriculture, 

Crosscutting, 

Other 

(Capacity 

Building)

Mediterranean area / 

Mediterranean Climate Initiatives

1,500,000.00 Provided OOF Grant CrosscuttingEnergy

Mexico / Mexico Climate 

Initiatives

520,000.00 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Energy, 

Other 

(water), 

Other 

(waste)
320

India / 240,000.00 Provided OOF Grant Cross-

cutting

Energy

Argentina / 500,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Forestry, 

Other 

(other)

Benin / 150,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Other 

(other)

Brazil / 190,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Energy, 

Forestry

Bolivia / 1,400,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Forestry, 

Agriculture, 

Water and 

sanitation, 

Cross-

cutting

Burkina Faso / 80,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Other 

(other)

Cameroon / 40,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Other (other )

China / 1,110,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Agriculture

Cuba / 270,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Agriculture

Dominican Republic / 40,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Agriculture, 

Other 

(other)

Ecuador / 60,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Cross-

cutting

Egypt / 150,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Cross-

cutting

El Salvador / 640,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Adaptation Cross-

cutting, 

Other (other)

Ethiopia / 60,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Water and 

sanitation, 

Cross-

cutting
321

Ghana / 320,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Agriculture, 

Cross-

cutting

Guatemala / 90,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Cross-

cutting

Haiti / 30,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Forestry

Honduras / 330,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Water and 

sanitation

Iraq / 900,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Other 

(other)

Kenya / 50,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Water and 

sanitation

Lebanon / 1,260,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Agriculture, 

Cross-

cutting

The former Yugoslav Republic of 

Macedonia / 

210,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Cross-

cutting

Mozambique / 120,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Agriculture, 

Forestry

Myanmar / 220,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Agriculture, 

Forestry

Nicaragua / 370,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Adaptation Water and 

sanitation, 

Agriculture

Niger / 80,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Cross-

cutting

Senegal / 770,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Energy, 

Water and 

sanitation, 

Agriculture

United Republic of Tanzania / 60,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Energy, 

Water and 

sanitation, 

Agriculture

Tunisia / 2,000,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Other () Cross-

cutting
322

Viet Nam / 540,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Water and 

sanitation

Zimbabwe / 210,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Adaptation Crosscutting

Brazil / 2,440,000.00 Provided OOF Grant CrosscuttingEnergy, 

Forestry

China / 1,950,000.00 Committed OOF Grant CrosscuttingEnergy, 

Transport

Abbreviations: ODA = official development assistance, OOF = other official flows; USD = United States dollars.

a Parties should fill in a separate table for each year, namely 2011 and 2012, where 2014 is the reporting year.

b Parties should report, to the extent possible, on details contained in this table.

c Parties should explain, in their biennial reports, the methodologies used to specify the funds as provided, committed and/or pledged. Parties will provide the information 

for as many status categories as appropriate in the following order of priority: provided, committed, pledged.

d Parties may select several applicable sectors. Parties may report sectoral distribution, as applicable, under “Other”.

e Parties should report, as appropriate, on project details and the implementing agency.

f Parties should explain in their biennial reports how they define funds as being climate-specific. 

g Please specify.

h Cross-cutting type of support refers to funding for activities which are cross-cutting across mitigation and adaptation.
323

CTF Table 7b_2012 Provision of public financial support: bilateral and other 2012

Table 7(b) ITA_BR1_v1.1

Provision of public financial support: contribution through bilateral, regional and other channels in 2012a

Recipient country/ 

region/project/programmeb

Total amount

Statusc Funding 

sourceg

Financial 

instrumentg

Type of 

supportg, h Sectord Additional information Climate-specific e

f

European 

euro - EUR USD

Total contributions through bilateral, 

regional and other channels

39,140,000.00

China / 3,530,000.00 Provided ODA Grant CrosscuttingTransport, 

Energy, 

Other 

(other)

Iraq / Iraq climate actions 1,900,000.00 Provided OOF Grant CrosscuttingAgriculture, 

Forestry, 

Water and 

sanitation

Balkanic area (Serbia, 

Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania) / 

2,720,000.00 Provided OOF Grant CrosscuttingEnergy

Mediterranean area / 

Mediterranean climate initiatives

800,000.00 Provided OOF Grant CrosscuttingEnergy

Mexico / Mexico climate 

initiatives

320,000.00 Committed OOF Grant Mitigation Energy

SIDS / Pacific Small Islands 

Developing States

4,500,000.00 Committed OOF Grant CrosscuttingEnergy

India / 500,000.00 Provided OOF Grant CrosscuttingEnergy

Brazil / 7,300,000.00 Provided OOF Grant Mitigation Energy, 

Forestry

Albania / 400,000.00 Provided ODA Grant CrosscuttingAgriculture, 

Other 

(other)

Argentina / 30,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Adaptation Other 

(other)
324

Bolivia / 420,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Energy, 

Agriculture, 

Other 

(water)

Cuba / 190,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Water and 

sanitation, 

Agriculture

Peru / 100,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Other 

(other)

Tunisia / 120,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Other 

(other)

Morocco / 70,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Adaptation Other 

(other)

Lebanon / 3,260,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Energy, 

Water and 

sanitation

Mozambique / 170,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Cross-

cutting

Ethiopia / 40,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Cross-

cutting

Zambia / 70,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Forestry

Nicaragua / 360,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Energy, 

Water and 

sanitation, 

Other 

(other)

Honduras / 270,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Energy, 

Water and 

sanitation, 

Other 

(other)

Kenya / 80,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Cross-

cutting

Water and 

sanitation, 

Other 

(other)
325

Burkina Faso / 30,000.00 Provided ODA Grant CrosscuttingWater and 

sanitation, 

Other 

(other)

Niger / 60,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Other 

(other)

Ghana / 40,000.00 Provided ODA Grant CrosscuttingEnergy, 

Crosscutting

Senegal / 820,000.00 Provided ODA Grant CrosscuttingEnergy, 

Water and 

sanitation, 

Agriculture

Benin / 40,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Forestry

Viet Nam / 470,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Adaptation Water and 

sanitation

Nepal / 60,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Other 

(other)

Ecuador / 50,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Other 

(other)

Uganda / 70,000.00 Provided ODA Grant Mitigation Energy

China / 8,970,000.00 Provided OOF Grant CrosscuttingTransport, 

Energy, 

Crosscutting

Balkanic Area (Serbia, 

Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania) / 

180,000.00 Committed OOF Grant CrosscuttingEnergy

Brazil / 1,200,000.00 Committed OOF Grant Mitigation Energy, 

Forestry

Abbreviations: ODA = official development assistance, OOF = other official flows; USD = United States dollars.

a Parties should fill in a separate table for each year, namely 2011 and 2012, where 2014 is the reporting year.

b Parties should report, to the extent possible, on details contained in this table.

c Parties should explain, in their biennial reports, the methodologies used to specify the funds as provided, committed and/or pledged. Parties will provide the information 

for as many status categories as appropriate in the following order of priority: provided, committed, pledged.
326

d Parties may select several applicable sectors. Parties may report sectoral distribution, as applicable, under “Other”.

e Parties should report, as appropriate, on project details and the implementing agency.

f Parties should explain in their biennial reports how they define funds as being climate-specific. 

g Please specify.

h Cross-cutting type of support refers to funding for activities which are cross-cutting across mitigation and adaptation.
327

CTF Table 8 Provision of Technology Development and Transfer Support

Provision of technology development and transfer supporta,b

Recipient country and/or region Targeted area Measures and 

activities related 

to technology 

transfer

SectorcSource of the 

funding for 

technology 

transfer

Activities 

undertaken by

Status Additional informationd

China Mitigation and 

Adaptation

CCS 

Technologies 

studies; 

geological 

investigation, 

data collection 

and 

interpretation; 

emission sources 

investigation and 

analysis

Other (Carbon 

capture and 

storage)

Public Private and 

Public

Implemented

China Mitigation and 

Adaptation

Design, 

demonstration 

and validation of 

an open platform 

for data sharing; 

Processing and 

management for 

urban sustainable 

transportation

Transport Public Public Implemented

Mexico Mitigation Application of 

solar energy for 

food refrigeration

Energy, 

Agriculture

Public Private and 

Public

Implemented

Multilateral / UNIDO Mitigation Promotion of best 

practices in 

energy efficiency 

sector. 

Identification and 

mobilization of 

technical 

assistance 

measures and 

support to the 

implementation 

of 

environmentallysound investment 

Energy Public Public Implemented
328

and energy-

efficient 

technology.

Multilateral / UNDP Mitigation Promotion of best 

available 

technologies for 

tackling climate 

change

Other (Cross 

cutting)

Public Public Implemented

Brazil Mitigation Application of 

solar heating for 

industrial 

process, in the 

Pirelli plant based 

in Feira de 

Santana. 

Application of 

direct steam 

generation at 

plant. Application 

of a medium 

temperature solar 

collector receiver 

tube-based high-

efficiency 

selective coating 

DSG with high 

performance

Energy Private and 

Public

Private and 

Public

Implemented

Papua New Guinea Mitigation Installation of 

three mini PV 

solar systems, a 

mini hydro 

project, a 

biodiesel project 

and several 

training activities

Energy Public Public Planned

Pacific Small Islands - Kiribati Adaptation Installation of 

solar pump 

system 

Other (Water) Public Public Implemented
329

Pacific Small Islands - Kiribati Mitigation Setting up and 

checking of wind 

sensors on the 

Tower; Training 

of Government 

Representatives

Energy Public Public Implemented

Pacific Small Islands - Micronesia Mitigation Installation of 

four photovoltaic 

(PV) power 

systems; data 

sharing. 

Energy Public Public Implemented

Pacific Small Islands - Salomon 

Islands

Mitigation Application of 

small scale solar 

lighting system

Energy Public Public Implemented

a To be reported to the extent possible. 

b The tables should include measures and activities since the last national communication or biennial report.

c Parties may report sectoral disaggregation, as appropriate. 

d Additional information may include, for example, funding for technology development and transfer provided, a short description of the measure or activity and co-financing arrangements.
330

7. Capacity-building support to developing country Parties8

The major economic crisis that Italy is going through for some years now, did not allow to concentrate 

more efforts in many new bilateral cooperation agreements with developing countries including 

specifically capacity building support projects dedicated to training on climate change mitigation or 

technology development. 

However, cooperation activities are continuing in the framework of existing Memorandum of 

Understanding (MoU), such as the Sino-Italian Cooperation Program for Environmental Protection (SICP) 

signed in the year 2000 between the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS) and the 

State Environmental Protection Administration of China (SEPA). In over 10 years the cooperation 

agreement implemented over 200 projects in support of China’s Sustainable Development, thus 

becoming a model for bilateral cooperation. In this context, a new cooperation Program between China 

and Italy, especially dedicated to Climate Change, has been launched in March 2011 in Beijing by the 

Director General Corrado Clini of the Italian Ministry for the Environment and the Director General of the 

National Development and Reform Commission of China, with the aims to start a joint program of 

activities in view of the creation of an international centre on climate change. Joint initiatives are 

implemented in the field of mitigation and adaptation to climate change, transfer and promotion of lowcarbon technologies, studies and researches as scientific support to decision-making. The cooperation 

program includes the following main projects: the Carbon Capture and Storage Comprehensive 

Application and Demonstration Project in Sha’anxi Province; the Capacity Building of Coastal Ecosystems 

to Adapt to Climate Change; the Xinjiang Uyggur Autonomous Region Climate Change Implementation 

Plan; the Training Program on Climate Change and Sustainable Development.

In Central and Eastern Europe, IMELS’s activity has been active since 2002, under Memorandum of 

Understanding (MoU) called “Environmental Protection Co-Operation”, signed with the former Ministry for 

Protection of Natural Resources and Environment of the Republic of Serbia and Montenegro. This 

agreement was aimed at developing a programme of bilateral cooperation in the fields of sustainable 

development, institutional strengthening and harmonization to both International and European 

legislative standards according to funds available from the Italian Law 84/2001 on Balkans’ 

reconstruction.

More recently the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea and the Serbian Ministry of 

Environment and Spatial Planning, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on May 2009 in order 

to, among else, maintain and enhance bilateral co-operation in the field of the CDM implementation on 

the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit and as an efficient contribution to the sustainable 

development and the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions.

In Montenegro the MoU signed in 2004 has been replaced by the Cooperation Agreement for 

Environmental Protection in Podgorica, signed by the two governments in November 2012, represented 

by the Ministers of the Environment. The agreement allowed the carrying out of activities that include, 

among others, support to institutional development and capacity building, and for environmental 

management, particularly in the areas of air quality, climate change, prevention and control of pollution. 

In the framework of the Cooperation Agreement on environmental protection between the Albanian 

Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water administration and the IMELS technical support is supplied 

to Albania for the implementation of the Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) Convention, 

then the support to the Albanian team to develop capacity to assess and plan air quality on local/urban 

scale, in particular in urban and industrial areas regulated in the frame of the EU Air Quality Framework 

Directive 96/92/CE and relative “daughters” Directives. These activities represented the core of the 

project “Technical support services for pollutant emissions inventories implementation and air quality 

planning in Albania”.

In 2005, IMELS has signed the Memorandum of Understanding “Cooperation in the field of the 

Environment and Sustainable Development” with the Macedonian Ministry of the Environment and 

Physical Planning. The cooperation aims to develop supporting activities for Kyoto Protocol 

 

8 Author: Stefania Fusani
331

implementation, environmental protection, natural resources improvement, environmental pollution 

reduction, legal assistance to adopt the Acquis Communautaire, and promotion of sustainable 

development trough programmes, initiatives and jointed projects.

For this purposes, the Task Force for Central and Eastern Europe of the Italian Ministry for the 

Environment Land and Sea has established a permanent office in Skopje, in order to provide for the 

Macedonian counterparts legal and technical assistance necessary to the build-up of institutional 

structures, able to realize environmental policies more focused on sustainable development.

Moreover, in 2009 a Memorandum of Understanding on “Establishment of Wind Database in Republic of 

Macedonia” between the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea and the Macedonian Ministry 

of Economy has been signed. It is finalized to measure wind power in the Republic of Macedonia. The 

database will provide an institutional plan for the sustainable process of wind measurement and a 

database to be used for wind energy generation.

Another valid model of International Cooperation in developing and transition countries is represented by 

the research activities carried out by the EvK2CNR Committee, an autonomous, non-profit Italian 

association, which promotes scientific and technological research in mountain areas. Thanks to the close 

collaboration with the Italian National Research Council (CNR), in 2007 a Research Unit was established 

within Ev-K2-CNR, coordinated by CNR Earth and Environment Department. In Italy, Ev-K2-CNR benefits 

also of the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, 

the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of the Environment, Land and Sea and the Ministry of 

Agriculture and Forestry. Ev-K2-CNR carries out scientific and technological research in the Hindu Kush –

Karakorum – Himalaya (HKKH) region, with particular reference to Nepal, and Pakistan. It is best known 

for the Pyramid International Laboratory Observatory, located in Nepal, at 5,050 m a.s.l. at the base of 

Mount Everest. Due to their relatively remoteness from highly populated and industrialized regions, 

mountains are considered ideal locations for investigating the impact of climate changes from regional to 

global scales. 

For these reasons and following the UN resolutions and indications, Ev-K2-CNR launched the SHARE 

project - Stations at High Altitude for Research on the Environment - an observational network of 

international and institutional collaborating partners (UNEP, WMO, NASA, ESA and IUCN) with the aim to 

promote continuous scientific observations in key high-mountain regions able to contribute to knowledge 

on regional and global climate change. It collaborates with the Nepalese Government (Ministry of 

Science, Technology and Environment) and with International Research Programs. 

Capacity building activity is one of the crucial objectives of SHARE project: local institutions, as the Nepal 

Academy of Science & Technology, are directly involved in monitoring and research activities assuring 

support to environmental management policies and decision-making processes. By means of awareness 

raising, training and technology transfer initiatives, citizens are involved in discovering climate change 

and its effects on mountains chains and glaciers for a sustainable use. 

Among the wide range of projects supported by EU programs including climate-related capacity 

development actions and strengthening institutional capacity of countries not included in Annex I, it is 

worth mentioning the Euromed Programme on “Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and 

Man-made Disasters” (PPRD South), led by the Italian Civil Protection Department and aimed at 

improving Civil Protection at international, national and local levels, in the South Mediterranean Region 

in both institutional and operational terms. 

The projections on impact of natural disasters due to climate change, combined with poverty in many 

Southern Mediterranean Countries, need continuous efforts to improve capacities to cope with disasters 

and to invest more in Disaster Risk Reduction Policies and Community Resilience. To this end, the 

Programme is aimed to contribute to the development and reinforcement of the quality of Civil Protection 

services in the Euro-Mediterranean region and to the continuation of institutional cooperation in the field, 

both between the EU and the Mediterranean Partner Countries and among the Mediterranean Partner 

Countries themselves (Albania, Algeria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, 

Montenegro, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, Turkey). The project supports, among 

other, the implementation of measures for adaptation to the negative effects of climate change through: 

enhancing national institutions’ and stakeholders' capabilities to react to Natural Disasters caused by 

climate change and creating an environment for active dissemination of information, raising of public 
332

awareness and exchange of best practices. Among the four components of the project, the “Prevention 

and Preparedness” component includes the organization of training workshops, study visits and demanddriven technical assistance, by sensitizing the creation of National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction 

and by supporting regional coordination. 

A further initiative led by the Italian Civil Protection Department is the EU funded Capacity building 

project 'EVRECA! “European Volunteers for Response of Emergencies in the Caribbean” whose main 

objective is to define guidelines and standards for the recruitment and training of volunteers in the field 

of emergency management and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) activities. Secondly, the project aims to 

deploy the volunteers in third countries with the aim of strengthening local authorities' preparedness, 

early warning systems, response and hosting of volunteers. A stronger institutional response to natural 

disasters will directly benefit local communities' resilience and awareness of hydro-meteorological risks. 

The EU volunteers will enhance the level of preparedness and awareness of the institutional stakeholders 

and of the local volunteers’ organizations in order to better respond to hydro-meteorological disasters.

In Table 9 are provided details of these capacity building activities achieved by Italy.
333

CTF Table 9 Provision of capacity-building support

Programme 

or project 

title

Recipient 

country / 

region

Targeted 

area

Description of programme or project Comments

Sino-Italian 

Climate Change 

Cooperation 

Program 

(March 2011-

ongoing)

China 

Adaptation

Technology 

development 

& transfer

In the framework of the Sino-Italian Cooperation Program for Environmental 

Protection (SICP) a new cooperation Program between China and Italy, 

especially dedicated to Climate Change, has been launched in March 2011 in 

Beijing with the aims to start a joint program of activities in view of the 

creation of an international centre on climate change. Joint initiatives are 

implemented in the field of mitigation and adaptation to climate change, 

transfer and promotion of low-carbon technologies, studies and researches 

as scientific support to decision-making. The cooperation program includes 

the following main projects:

• Xinjiang Climate Change Implementation Plan: The project’s objective is to 

support Xinjiang province to develop and improve the Regional Climate 

Change Implementation Plan (published in 2012). Training and workshops 

were organized to promote the understanding on national policy of 

environmental protection and climate change. 

• Media Communications and Public Relations: The project has the objective 

to build the multi-sector mechanism and multi level network for climate 

change communication in China. The project has produced “China's Policies 

and Actions for Addressing Climate Change report (2011)”, Media Training 

for addressing climate change before Durban Conference, a series of 

workshops and dissemination materials for promoting social awareness.

• Carbon Capture and Storage Comprehensive Application and 

Demonstration Project in Sha’anxi Province: the project has the objective to 

identify a feasible approach and the best technologies for large scale Carbon 

Capture, Use and Storage implementation. It is conducting Northern Shaanxi 

CO2 emission sources investigation and analysis, with the focus on nonpower industry.

• Capacity Building of Coastal Ecosystems to Climate Change Adaptation: 

The Project was implemented in Wenzhou city, involving on the Chinese side 

the State Oceanic Administration and Zhejiang Research Institutes. The 

objective is to build a methodology to evaluate the climate change effect on 

the coastal and marine environment, and identify actions for the protection 

of the coastal and marine environment. The key indicators of human 

activities and climate change pressure were defined.

• Training Program on Climate Change and Sustainable Development: 

specific courses on “capacity building on climate change” and “climate 

change: policy, conventions and statistical systems”. The training aims at 

providing Chinese participants with theoretical instruments and practical 

cases on Italian and European experiences in the field of environmental 

protection and climate change. 
334

Programme 

or project 

title

Recipient 

country / 

region

Targeted 

area

Description of programme or project Comments

Sino-Italian 

Cooperation 

Program for 

Environmental 

Protection 

(SICP) 

(2000-

ongoing)

China 

Technology 

development 

& transfer

Multiple 

areas 

The Sino- Italian Training Program on Sustainable Development and 

Environmental Management is one of the activities included in the SinoItalian Cooperation Program (SICP) for Environmental Protection launched in 

the year 2000 by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea 

(IMELS), together with the State Environmental Protection Administration of 

China (SEPA). 

Capacity Building component of the Training Program now plays an essential 

role: IMELS promotes advanced international experiences, ideas and 

management approaches, to strengthen the comprehensive capability of the 

related staff in the Chinese government, institutions, environmental 

administration, media and NGOs. It is by far the largest Sino-foreign joint 

training program for environmental management.

Advanced Training Courses organized in collaboration with the Venice 

International University (VIU): 

• 2013 - Courses on Industrial Energy Efficiency, in China and in Italy, 

addressed to MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) 

officials, experts and professionals coming from the industry sector to show 

practical case studies on Italian and European experiences.

• 2012 – two Courses at VIU, "Low Carbon Economy”: Principles and tools 

for promoting and developing low carbon cities” addressed to the 

Environmental Protection Bureaus of Beijing and Shanghai; “Capacity 

Building on Climate Change”: Policy implementation, mitigation and 

adaptation strategies addressed to the National Development and Reform 

Commission. 

• 2011 - Three Courses at the VIU organized with the Chinese Academy of 

Social Sciences (CASS): "Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy", aimed to 

discuss different renewable energy sources (biomass, wind and geothermal 

systems); "Sustainable Urban Development and Eco-building", dedicated to 

energy efficiency, sustainable mobility and eco-communities; Session on 

Damage Assessment for Environmental Pollution Accidents held in Beijing, 

organized by the Environmental Risk Management and Damage Survey and 

Assessment Center of the Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning 

(CAEP).

• 2010 - A training course on Sustainable Development in Beijing, in 

collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the 

Ministry of Science and Technology of China (MOST). The training is intended 

to introduce and compare Chinese and Italian approaches to: energy 

efficiency, eco-building, green economy and climate change.

IMELS has implemented so far more than 

200 projects in China in collaboration with 

the Chinese Government departments, 

universities, research institutes and 

enterprises. Through pilot projects, 

cooperative research and environmental 

protection capacity building, it covered a 

number of fields in the sustainable 

development, such as: Energy Efficiency, 

Clean Energy & Renewable Energy; Assist 

China to implement international conventions 

about the environment; Air Monitoring; 

Urban Sustainable Development & Ecobuilding; Waste Recycle; Sustainable 

Transportation; Integrated Management on 

Water Resources; Eco Conservation & Sand 

Control; Sustainable Agriculture; Capacity 

Building for Environmental Protection. 
335

Programme 

or project 

title

Recipient 

country / 

region

Targeted 

area

Description of programme or project Comments

“Environmental 

Protection CoOperation” 

Bilateral 

Agreement 

Italy-Serbia 

(2003-

ongoing)

Serbia

Technology 

development 

& transfer

Multiple 

areas 

This agreement was aimed at developing a programme of bilateral 

cooperation in the fields of sustainable development, institutional 

strengthening and harmonization to both International and European 

legislative standards according to funds available from the Italian Law 

84/2001 on Balkans’ reconstruction.

More recently the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea and the 

Serbian Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, a Memorandum of 

Understanding (MoU) on May 2009 in order to, among else, maintain and 

enhance bilateral co-operation in the field of the CDM implementation on the 

basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit and as an efficient 

contribution to the sustainable development and the reduction of greenhouse 

gases emissions.

In Central and Eastern Europe, IMELS’s 

activity has been active since 2002, under 

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) called 

“Environmental Protection Co-Operation”, 

signed with the former Ministry for Protection 

of Natural Resources and Environment of the 

Republic of Serbia and Montenegro

“Environmental 

Protection CoOperation” 

Bilateral 

Agreement 

ItalyMontenegro 

(2004-

ongoing)

Montenegro

Technology 

development 

& transfer

Multiple 

areas 

In Montenegro MoU signed in 2004 has been replaced by the Cooperation 

Agreement for Environmental Protection in Podgorica signed by the two 

governments in November 2012, represented by the Minister of the 

Environment. The agreement allowed the carrying out of activities that 

include, among others, support to institutional development and capacity 

building, and for environmental management, particularly in the areas of air 

quality , climate change , prevention and control of pollution. 

In Central and Eastern Europe, IMELS’s 

activity has been active since 2002, under 

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) called 

“Environmental Protection Co-Operation”, 

signed with the former Ministry for Protection 

of Natural Resources and Environment of the 

Republic of Serbia and Montenegro

Cooperation 

Agreement on 

environmental 

protection 

between the 

Ministries of 

Environment of 

Italy and 

Albania

(2005-

ongoing)

Albania 

Technology 

development 

& transfer

Multiple 

areas 

In the framework of the Cooperation Agreement on environmental protection 

between the Albanian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water 

administration and the Italian Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea, 

technical support is supplied to Albania for the implementation of the Long 

Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) Convention then the support to 

the Albanian team to develop capacity to assess and plan air quality on 

local/urban scale, in particular in urban and industrial areas regulated in the 

frame of the EU Air Quality Framework Directive 96/92/CE and relative 

“daughters” Directives. These activities represented the core of the project 

“Technical support services for pollutant emissions inventories 

implementation and air quality planning in Albania” (2010). 
336

Programme 

or project 

title

Recipient 

country / 

region

Targeted 

area

Description of programme or project Comments

Cooperation 

Agreement on 

environmental 

protection 

between the 

Ministries of 

Environment of 

Italy and 

Macedonia

(2009-

ongoing)

Macedonia

Technology 

development 

& transfer

Multiple 

areas 

The cooperation aims to develop supporting activities for Kyoto Protocol 

implementation, environmental protection, natural resources improvement, 

environmental pollution reduction, legal assistance to adopt the Acquis 

Communautaire, and promotion of sustainable development trough 

programmes, initiatives and jointed projects.

in 2009 a Memorandum of Understanding on “Establishment of Wind 

Database in Republic of Macedonia” between the Italian Ministry for the 

Environment, Land and Sea and the Macedonian Ministry of Economy has 

been signed. It is finalized to measure wind power in the Republic of 

Macedonia. The database will provide an institutional plan for the sustainable 

process of wind measurement and a database to be used for wind energy 

generation.
337

Programme 

or project 

title

Recipient 

country / 

region

Targeted 

area

Description of programme or project Comments

Prevention, 

Preparedness 

and Response 

to Natural and 

Man-made 

Disasters 

(PPRD South) 

(2008-2013) 

Euromed 

Programme 

South 

Mediterranea

n Countries:

Albania, 

Algeria, 

Bosnia & 

Herzegovina, 

Croatia, 

Egypt, 

Israel, 

Jordan, 

Lebanon, 

Montenegro, 

Morocco, 

Palestine, 

Tunisia, 

Turkey

Mitigation 

Technology 

development 

& transfer

The PPRD South was signed between the European Commission (EU 

funding of EUR 5 million) and the Consortium established by the Italian 

Civil Protection Department, as leader and the Civil Protection Authorities 

of Egypt, Algeria, France and the United Nations International Strategy for 

Disaster Reduction (UNISDR). The projections on impact of natural disasters 

due to climate change, combined with poverty in many Southern 

Mediterranean Countries, need continuous efforts to improve capacities to 

cope with disasters and to invest more in Disaster Risk Reduction Policies 

and Community Resilience. To this end, the Programme was aimed to 

contribute to the development and reinforcement of the quality of Civil 

Protection services in the Euro-Mediterranean region and to the continuation 

of institutional cooperation in the field, both between the EU and the 

Mediterranean Partner Countries and among the Mediterranean Partner 

Countries themselves. The objectives of the project have been pursued 

through 4 broad areas of activity aimed at:

1. Risk Assessment – by developing tailored national and regional 

assessment tools such as the Regional Risk Atlas and the Civil Protection 

Operational Manual;

2. Prevention and Preparedness – by organizing training workshops, study 

visits and demand-driven technical assistance, by sensitizing the creation of 

National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction and by supporting regional 

coordination;

3. Response – by improving the coverage and the coordination on existing 

Warning Systems and the relevant Operational Centres and implementing 

simulation exercises;

4. Information/Communication – by developing a user-friendly Web Portal, 

improving the level of information and the awareness of risk-prone 

populations regarding risk exposure, prevention and response. 

In particular, the “Prevention and Preparedness activities” include the 

organization and implementation of several thematic training workshops 

focused in particular on: Flood Risk reduction, Information in Emergency, 

Awareness-Raising, Early Warning System, Emergency Preparedness and 

Disaster Mitigation for Critical Facilities’ Failure, Tsunami Emergency 

Preparedness in Mediterranean Coastal Zones, Increasing Disaster Resilience 

in Urban Settings, Multi-hazard Risk Assessment in Urban Environment. The 

target audience of the training workshops included high-level managers and 

operational staff and officials. 

Among the wide range of project supported 

by EU programs including climate-related 

capacity development actions and 

strengthening institutional capacity of 

countries not included in Annex I, there is 

the Euromed Programme on “Prevention, 

Preparedness and Response to Natural and 

Man-made Disasters” aimed at improving 

Civil Protection at international, national and 

local levels, in the South Mediterranean 

Region in both institutional and operational 

terms. The project offer a strong support to 

the implementation of measures for 

adaptation to the negative effects of climate 

change through: enhancing national 

institutions’ and stakeholders' capabilities to 

react to Natural Disasters caused by climate 

change, creating an environment for active 

dissemination of information, raising of public 

awareness and exchange of best practices.
338

Programme 

or project 

title

Recipient 

country / 

region

Targeted 

area

Description of programme or project Comments

Capacity building 

project 

'EVRECA! -

European 

Volunteers for 

Response of 

Emergencies in 

the Caribbean 

(2013-2014)

Caribbean 

Region

Barbados 

and Grenada 

Islands

Mitigation

Multiple 

areas 

The main objective of this project is to define guidelines and standards for 

the recruitment and training of volunteers in the field of emergency 

management and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) activities. Secondly, the 

proposal aims to deploy the volunteers in third countries in order to follow 

the path of ongoing projects with the aim of strengthening local authorities' 

preparedness, early warning systems, response and deployment of

volunteers. A stronger institutional response to natural disasters will directly 

benefit local communities' resilience and awareness of hydro-meteorological 

risks. The EU volunteers will enhance the level of preparedness and 

awareness of the institutional stakeholders and of the local volunteers 

organizations in order to better respond to hydro-meteorological disasters.

http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/euaidvolu

nteers/euav_factsheet_DPC_en.pdf
339

Programme 

or project 

title

Recipient 

country / 

region

Targeted 

area

Description of programme or project Comments

SHARE Project 

- Stations at 

High Altitude for 

Research on the 

Environment

(2005-2014)

Asia ( Nepal 

and 

Pakistan), 

Africa 

(Uganda), 

Europe 

(Italy).

Technology 

development 

& transfer

Mitigation 

SHARE project - Stations at High Altitude for Research on the Environment 

was launched in 2005 by the EvK2CNR Committee coordinated by CNR Earth 

and Environment Department. 

SHARE Project is an observational network of international and institutional 

collaborating partners (UNEP, WMO, NASA, ESA and IUCN) with the aim to 

promote continuous scientific observations in key high-mountain regions, 

which due to their remoteness from highly populated and industrialized 

regions are considered to be ideal locations for investigating the impact of 

climate changes from regional to global scales. The promotion of 

environmental observations in these areas allows the acquisition of unique 

information about the background conditions of the environment. It 's for 

these reason and following the UN resolutions and indications, Ev-K2-CNR 

launched the SHARE project . In 2012, on the occasion of the World 

Environment Day (WED 2012) the Ev-K2-CNR Committee has organized a 

series of school meetings in the Khumbu Valley in Nepal within the SHARE 

Project , to talk about climate, environment and mountains. Also a drawing 

competition "Draw your mountains” has been launched to let children 

express their sense of environment and climate change. Capacity building 

activity is one of the crucial objectives of SHARE project: local institutions, as 

the Nepal Academy of Science & Technology, are directly involved in 

monitoring and research activities assuring support to environmental 

management policies and decision-making processes. By means of 

awareness raising, training and technology transfer initiatives, citizens are 

involved in discovering climate change and its effects on mountains chains 

and glaciers for a sustainable use. During each field mission carried out by 

European scientists the involvement of local researchers and technicians for 

the transferring of scientific and technological knowledge is guaranteed 

during the usual research activities. Local technicians will be thoroughly

trained in the management and maintenance of sophisticated environmental 

monitoring systems. Furthermore, politicians and local decision-makers are 

provided with information useful for the definition of national development 

policies. 

EvK2CNR Committee is an autonomous, nonprofit association, which promotes scientific 

and technological research in mountain 

areas. It benefits of the support of CNR and 

also of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 

Ministry of Education, Universities and 

Research, the Ministry of Economy and 

Finance, the Ministry of the Environment, 

Land and Sea and the Ministry of Agriculture 

and Forestry. Ev-K2-CNR carries out 

scientific and technological research in the 

Hindu Kush – Karakorum – Himalaya (HKKH) 

region, with particular reference to Nepal, 

and Pakistan. It is best known for the 

Pyramid International Laboratory 

Observatory, located in Nepal, at 5,050 m 

a.s.l. at the base of Mount Everest. 
340

Programme 

or project 

title

Recipient 

country / 

region

Targeted 

area

Description of programme or project Comments

Clima South: 

support to 

climate change 

mitigation and 

adaptation in 

the ENPI South 

region

(2013-2017)

Algeria, 

Egypt, 

Israel, 

Jordan, 

Lebanon, 

Libya, 

Morocco, 

Occupied 

Palestinian 

Territory, 

Syrian Arab

Republic, 

Tunisia) 

Mitigation

Adaptation 

The project seeks to enhance regional cooperation between the EU and its 

southern Mediterranean neighbours and among the partner countries 

themselves (South–South) on climate change mitigation and adaptation, 

mainly through capacity development and information sharing. The 

overarching goal is to support the transition of ENP South countries towards 

low carbon development and climate resilience.

Activities include: 

• Organisation of regional trainings and meetings on mitigation (e.g. 

monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) at national and sector level, 

including the establishment of national greenhouse gas inventories) and 

about adaptation (data management, vulnerability assessments, national 

adaptation strategies and plans);

• Fostering EU-South and South-South peer-to-peer cooperation by bringing 

together experts, including academia and civil society, on climate change 

mitigation and adaptation issues; 

• Organisation of workshops, trainings and study visits involving the main 

stakeholders in climate change policy development and implementation; 

• Creation of a website in Arabic, English and French, as a platform for 

accessing and sharing information;

• Production of targeted climate change material in Arabic, English and 

French;

• Setting up of a flexible expert facility to respond to information and training 

needs expressed by partner countries' authorities.

The project is implemented by Agriconsulting 

SpA, an Italian Private Consulting Company, 

as leader of a Consortium of 7 Institutions, 

five Italian, one Belgian and one Spanish, 

among which the CMCC and the Centre for 

Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies 

(CIHEAM) of Bari. 
341

Programme 

or project 

title

Recipient 

country / 

region

Targeted 

area

Description of programme or project Comments

OrientGate

A network for 

the integration 

of climate 

knowledge into 

policy and

planning

SEE Program

(South Eastern 

Europe 

Program)

2012-2014

South 

Eastern 

Europe

Adaptation

Multiple 

areas 

The OrientGate project, coordinated by the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on 

Climate Change (CMCC), aims to implement concerted and coordinated 

climate adaptation actions across South Eastern Europe (SEE). The 

partnership comprises 19 financing partners, 11 associates and three 

observers, covering 13 countries, that together will explore climate risks 

faced by coastal, rural and urban communities, contributing to a better 

understanding of the impacts of climate variability and climate change on 

water regimes, forests and agro ecosystems.

Main outputs are a set of web tools, designed to provide access to data and 

metadata from climate observations and simulations that will be available 

through a data platform connected to the European Climate Adaptation 

Platform.

Other project outputs will include six pilot studies of specific climate 

adaptation exercises developed by the project’s three thematic centres 

(Forest and Agriculture, Drought, Water and Coasts, and Urban Adaptation 

and Health); capacity-building seminars and workshops; and a working 

partnership among the hydrometeorological services of SEE countries.

Among the Italian Partners there are Puglia Region and INGV Istituto 

Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia

The South East Europe Transnational 

Cooperation Programme is a unique 

instrument which, in the framework of the 

Regional Policy's Territorial Cooperation 

Objective, aims to improve integration and 

competitiveness in an area which is as 

complex as it is diverse.