The key facts, figures, and policies behind Italy’s climate performance in 2009.
 | Italy's Emission TrendsClick on the image to see Italy's emission trends since 1990 (Graphic: WWF/Allianz) |
Improvements since 1990
G8 Ranking: 5
-Past emission trend from 1990 to 2007: +7.1%
-Current (2007) distance to the Kyoto target: +13.6%-points
-Increase of the share of renewable energy sources: +2.8%-points
Current Status
G8 Ranking: 1
-Emissions per capita: 9 tons CO2
-Emissions per GDP: 328 tons CO2 /M$
-CO2 per kWh electricity: 404 grams CO2
-Emissions in transport per capita: 2.2 tons CO2
Policies for the future
G8 Ranking: 6
- Blocking progress within the European Union on a common energy and climate package
- Planned new coal power plants and state aid to power plants incompatible with Kyoto targets, clean energy strategy missing
- Mandatory EU emission limits for new cars of 130g/km to be phased in from 2012 to 2015
- Half of industry emissions covered by EU Emission Trading Scheme
- Mandatory standards for new buildings and financial incentives for solar thermal installations and efficiency improvements in buildings, but energy efficiency certification still not in place
- No incandescent bulbs after 2011
 | Animation: G8 Climate Scorecards 2009Click on the image to see the climate performance of the G8 countries (Animation: Allianz) |
Italy ranks as high as fourth in the WWF/Allianz Climate Scorecards report because its per capita emissions are the lowest of the G8 due to its economic structure. But Italy’s absolute emissions have increased considerably since 1990 and are well above the Kyoto target.
The country has started some policy efforts, and it has increased the share of renewables in the energy mix, but in general policy is weak and a strategic approach is lacking.
Italy is developing a new feed-in tariff system for renewable energy sources to replace the current feed-in system, which has been criticized for diverting revenues to support fossil fuels.
Italy has agreed to European Union targets for 2020: reduce GHG emissions 20 percent below 1990 levels and 30 percent if other countries commit to reductions; reduce energy consumption by 20 percent; and increase the share of renewable energy in Germany’s energy mix to 17 percent. Italy plans to reintroduce nuclear power.
editor: James Tulloch
publishing date: July 1, 2009
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