Welcome to the Earth.Org Global Sustainability Index, where Earth.Org examines the policies and actions regarding the environment of every nation on earth. Combining the most respected global indexes on pollution, climate change, policy, energy, oceans, biodiversity we have produced an overall Global Index, which will be updated annually. This is the Global Sustainability Index scorecard for Italy.

Under a high emissions scenario, mean annual temperature in Italy is projected to rise by about 5.1°C on average from 1990 to 2100. 

It has a national target of reducing GHG emissions in 2020 by 18% below 2005 levels. However, Italy did not submit its own NDC or emissions reduction target under the Paris Agreement, committing instead to the EU NDC. 

Italy has invested heavily in renewable energy, having surpassed its 2020 target already. The share of renewables in Italy’s energy mix has shown a distinct upward trend from 6% in 2007 to 15%- around twice the G20 average-  in 2014. However, it must provide clarity on how it will implement the EU-wide move to competitive bidding for large-scale renewables. Further, while solar PV capacity installation was high from 2010-2013, little new net renewable energy capacity has been installed since

However, support for fossil fuel consumption in Italy has risen sharply since 2012. The bulk of its fossil fuel tax subsidies focus on consumption, including diesel tax credits and tax breaks for energy use in agriculture in forestry and industry. The government also provides tax exemptions for gas and coal production – around US$ 1 million in 2014.

Global Scorecards

You might also like: Global Emissions (2016)

References:
Earth.Org Global Sustainability Index Ranking image description: Italy Rankings – Policy: 110, Pollution: 16, Climate Change: 26, Oceans: 22, Biodiversity: 172, Energy: 5, Earth.Org Global Sustainability Index Ranking 15.