In a perspective of improvement and development, to address increasingly pressing environmental challenges and meet new knowledge needs, including future scenarios, it is essential to continue acquiring and processing detailed statistical information characterized by high scientific robustness, to be disseminated dynamically and promptly. The indicators present in the Environmental Indicators Database not only provide a snapshot of the state of the environment in Italy, which has been clearly provided up to now by the Environmental Data Yearbook, but also mark a further evolutionary step thanks to their peculiarity in supporting the effectiveness and quality of public action and in responding to both specific regulatory obligations and requests from national and international bodies.
The Environmental Indicators Database, organized into 39 Environmental Themes and containing over 300 indicators (ISPRA core set), is the most comprehensive collection of statistical data and information on the state of the environment in Italy. It is developed and managed by the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) in collaboration with regional and autonomous province agencies within the framework of the National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA).
The indicators, classified under the Environmental Themes, are structured into data sheets containing descriptive information (metadata), such as target objectives, state assessment, trends, and data represented through graphs, tables, and maps.
Indicators can be consulted using different aggregation methods (Aggregation Catalog), designed to meet information needs at national, European, and international levels—from priority frameworks to the main inter-thematic core sets currently in use for monitoring environmental policies.
To address the new objectives of the 8th Environmental Action Programme and the Green Deal, ISPRA has developed a Dashboard of Key Environmental Indicators. Through interactive charts, this tool allows users to track trends over time, assess the effectiveness of environmental performance, and monitor progress towards sustainable development.