Italy

Italy rises one spot to 29th in this year’s CCPI. This places it among the medium performers. The country receives a medium in all four main CCPI categories: GHG Emissions, Renewable Energy, Energy Use, and Climate Policy.

The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), submitted in 2021, foresees a revision of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) with an economy-wide reduction target of 51% by 2030. The CCPI experts note after more than a year since adoption of the NRRP, the NECP revision has yet to begin.

Experts criticise lack of clear climate policy

The Italian Long-Term Strategy (LTS) is based on fossil gas as a bridge fuel until 2050. Renewables, per the LTS, will reach only 95% of final energy consumption by 2050. Italy now has only a relatively medium share of renewable energy, and the five-year trend does not show much improvement. Therefore, to reach climate neutrality by 2050, the LTS foresees use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) with 20–40 Mton CO₂eq mainly from process industry emissions to be captured and stored. The CCPI experts criticise Italy for lacking a clear climate policy to reduce GHG emissions and raise the renewable energy share, and for its reliance on CCS.

Climate targets should be revised

Like many other European countries, the recent energy crisis resulting from the aggressive Russian war against Ukraine has impacted Italy. Italy is aiming to phase out coal by 2025. Despite this, the recent energy crisis has resulted in the last two remaining coal power plants operating at full capacity. The CCPI experts are worried that the phase-out will be postponed.

The CCPI experts express that Italy should lead by example, reviewing both the NECP and LTS in line with the 1.5°C target. This means an increase of at least 65% for the 2030 target and reaching climate neutrality well before 2050 with 100% renewables.

Following the 2022 general election, the right-wing coalition will take over the government. The experts expect and fear lower climate ambitions as well as steps backwards that would lead to a drop off in the next CCPI ranking.

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)