Italy

Italy falls three spots to 46th in the CCPI and receives an overall low rating. The country receives a medium rating in GHG Emissions and Energy Use, low in Renewable Energy, and very low in Climate Policy.

The National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), last revised in 2024, is Italy’s overarching climate policy. The NECP sets no economy-wide target for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. The non-Emissions Trading System (ETS) sector target is 40.6% for 2030, short of the 43.7% that the EU Effort Sharing Regulation requires. The CCPI country experts criticise the NECP as not being ambitious enough and inconsistent with Italy‘s EU and Paris Agreement commitments.

Still over-reliant on fossil fuels with unfortunate delay of coal phase-out

As in previous years, the experts emphasise that Italy‘s energy policy remains strongly dependent on fossil fuels. The government still lacks an action plan for phasing out fossil fuel subsidies. Through the NECP, Italy prioritises fossil gas as a bridging fuel, aiming to position the country as a Mediterranean gas hub, mainly supplied from North Africa. The government’s long-term strategy also envisions a nuclear energy comeback and a major role for carbon capture and storage. The experts are critical of this strategy, pointing to the coal phase-out delayed to 2038, more than 70 fossil infrastructure projects under evaluation, and the underuse of the country’s considerable renewables potential. The 2030 renewables targets of 39.4% of final energy consumption and 63% of power generation are well below what industry and NGOs consider achievable. In 2025, the experts noted that progress continued on the Tyrrhenian Link project, which is designed to strengthen grid stability and renewable integration between the mainland, Sicily, and Sardinia.

The NECP targets 6.5 million electric vehicles (EVs) and a 34% renewable energy share in transport by 2030. However, the experts note that implementation is lagging, with EV registrations at 4.2% in 2024, below the EU average and, resultantly, transport emissions continue to rise. The experts also highlight setbacks in building efficiency policy, as access to renovation incentives has been heavily restricted and no new tools support improved heating and cooling performance. No decarbonisation strategy exists in industry and recent government measures to address the energy crisis further incentivise fossil gas use.

International climate participant but not proactive and in need of more ambition

Internationally, Italy participates in the Carbon Neutrality Coalition, Global Methane Pledge, and Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance (as a ‘friend’). However, the experts point out that Italy is not proactive and mostly follows EU positions, sometimes criticises them, and often fails to meet its pledges.

The experts urge Italy to adopt more ambitious climate and energy policies that are 1.5°C-compatible. They call for rapid acceleration of the electrification of all sectors, supported by transition subsidies, and for an immediate end to fossil fuel subsidies. They also demand that Italy stop new fossil fuel projects and complete the coal phase-out immediately, rather than delaying it to 2038.

Key Outcomes

CCPI experts

The following national experts agreed to be mentioned as contributors for this year’s CCPI:

• Mauro Albrizio (Legambiente)
• Gianni Silvestrini (Kyoto Club)
• Italian Climate Network