Aree
EMISSIONS OF ACIDIFYING SUBSTANCES (SOx, NOx, NH3): TREND AND SECTOR BREAKDOWN
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The indicator describes the trend of national emissions of acidifying substances SOx, NOx and NH 3, both at a total and sectoral level, highlighting the decreasing trend from 1990 to 2024 (-73%). With reference to Directive 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council, concerning the reduction of national emissions of certain air pollutants, which defines the national emissions reduction commitments compared to 2005, applicable from 2020 to 2029 and starting from 2030, sulfur oxides have reached the reduction percentage set for 2020 as early as 2009; ammonia since 2008, while nitrogen oxides reach it in 2016.
EMISSIONS OF PERSISTENT ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (PAHs, DIOXINS AND FURANS): TREND AND SECTOR DISAGGREGATION
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The indicator represents the trend of national emissions of persistent organic compounds by sector of origin, from 1990 to 2024. The objective of achieving emission values lower than those of 1990 was achieved both for PAHs (-45%) and for dioxins and furans (-49%), albeit with different trends.
EMISSIONS OF TROPOSPHERE OZONE PRECURSORS (NOx AND NMVOC): TREND AND SECTORAL DISAGGREGATION
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The indicator represents the national trend in the emission values of tropospheric ozone precursors: nitrogen oxides and non-methane volatile organic compounds, distinguished by sector of origin. The marked decrease from 1990 to 2024 is highlighted (-75% for NOx, and -57% for NMVOC), determined by the strong decrease in emissions deriving from transport.
FINE PARTICULATE EMISSIONS (PM2.5): TREND AND SECTOR BREAKDOWN
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The indicator represents the trend of national emissions of particulate matter (PM2.5) by sector of origin from 1990 to 2024, highlighting a marked reduction over the years on a total level (-48.5%). The road transport sector, which contributes to total emissions with an emission share of 9.9% in 2024, presents a reduction of 77.5% over the entire period. Emissions from non-industrial combustion, in the same period, grew by 5.1%, representing the most important sector in 2024 with 57.3% of total emissions.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS (CO 2, CH 4, N 2 O, HFCS, PFCS, SF 6 ): PER CAPITA AND GDP
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The indicator represents, over the period 1990 - 2024, the trend in greenhouse gas emissions in Italy per inhabitant and compared to GDP. There is a decrease for both, accentuated by the growth of population and GDP, which therefore highlights a decoupling between determinants and pressures.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS (CO 2, CH 4, N 2 O, HFCS, PFCS, SF 6 ): TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS
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The indicator represents the projections of national greenhouse gas emissions up to 2055, considering the scenario based on current policies as of 12/31/2022, therefore including those of the PNRR and the scenario with the additional policies and measures defined by the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC). The scenario was calculated starting from the latest consolidated historical data relating to 2024, as well as from the expected evolution of the main macroeconomic drivers according to the indications provided to the European Commission. The information available for 2025, as well as the data relating to the first months of 2026, were also taken into consideration. The expected reductions in total greenhouse gas emissions (including LULUCF) estimated for 2030, compared to 1990, in the scenario with current policies and in the scenario with additional policies are equal to -44% and -55% respectively.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS (CO 2, CH 4, N 2 O, HFCS, PFCS, SF 6): SECTORAL DISAGGREGATION
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The indicator represents the historical series of national greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2024, by sector of origin. The analysis of the data shows, in 2024, a significant reduction in emissions compared to 1990 (-30.2%), explained by the economic recession which has slowed down consumption in recent years but also by a greater use of renewable energy, with a consequent reduction in CO emissions 2 of the energy sector (-30.2% compared to 1990).
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THE ETS and ESR SECTORS
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The indicator consists of the emission quotas generated by plants subject to the quota trading system (EU emissions trading, EU ETS), established with Directive 2003/87/EC, and the emissions of all sectors not covered by the ETS system, i. e. Small-medium industry, transport, civil, agriculture and waste, according to Decision 406/2009/EC (Effort Sharing Decision, ESD) until 2020 and according to the Effort Regulation Sharing (ESR 2018/842) from 2021. Emissions from non-ETS sectors in 2020 were below the required target of 37 MtCO2eq. In 2021 and 2022 ESR emissions are in line with what is required by the annual target, while from 2023 they are above the target, by 0.6 MtCO 2 eq in 2023 and 9.6 MtCO 2 eq in 2024.
HEAVY METAL EMISSIONS (CD, HG, PB): TREND AND SECTOR BREAKDOWN
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The indicator represents the historical series of national emissions of heavy metals from 1990 to 2024, by sector of origin. Since 1990 there has been a reduction in emissions for all metals. In particular, cadmium, mercury and lead emissions are in line with the objectives set at an international level by the Aarhus Protocol, having reduced compared to 1990 values by -64%, -65% and -96% respectively.
PARTICULATE EMISSIONS (PM10): TREND AND SECTOR BREAKDOWN
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The indicator represents the trend of national emissions of particulate matter (PM10) by sector of origin from 1990 to 2024, highlighting a marked reduction over the years on a total level (-48.3%). The road transport sector, which contributes to total emissions with an emission share of 10.7% in 2024, presents a reduction of 67.7% over the entire period. Emissions from non-industrial combustion, in the same period, grew by 5.2%, representing the most important sector in 2024 with 39.6% of total emissions.
AMBIENT AIR QUALITY: BENZO(A)PYRENE IN PM 10
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The indicator is based on the concentration data of benzo(a)pyrene in the atmosphere, measured during 2024 in monitoring stations distributed throughout the national territory, collected and archived in ISPRA in the InfoAria database, in accordance with the provisions of Directive 2008/50/EC (and the legislative decree transposing Legislative Decree 155/2010) and Decision 2011/850/EU. The monitoring stations that measured and communicated B(a)P data are 167, of which 162 have data series with sufficient time coverage to verify the reference values. Exceedances of the target value were recorded in 12 stations, equal to 7.4% of cases.
AMBIENT AIR QUALITY: NITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO 2)
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The indicator is based on nitrogen dioxide (NO) concentration data 2) in the atmosphere measured during 2024 in monitoring stations distributed across the national territory, collected and archived by ISPRA in databases InfoAria, in accordance with the provisions of Directive 2008/50/EC (and the legislative decree transposing Legislative Decree 155/2010) and Decision 2011/850/EU. The monitoring stations that measured and reported NO 2 there are 625, of which 605 have data series with sufficient time coverage to verify the reference values. The hourly limit value is respected everywhere: in no station has 200 µg/m³, as an hourly average, been exceeded more than 18 times. The WHO reference value, which does not foresee exceeding 200 µg/m³, is exceeded in 5 stations (equal to 0.83% of stations with sufficient temporal coverage). The annual limit value, equal to 40 µg/m³ as an annual average, is exceeded in 10 stations (1.7%). The WHO reference value for long-term effects on human health, equal to 10 µg/m³ as an annual average, is exceeded in 444 stations (73.4%).
AMBIENT AIR QUALITY: PARTICULATE (PM 10)
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The indicator is based on PM concentration data 10 in the atmosphere measured during 2024 in monitoring stations distributed throughout the national territory, collected and archived in ISPRA in the InfoAria database, in accordance with the provisions of Directive 2008/50/EC (and the legislative decree implementing Legislative Decree 155/2010) and Decision 2011/850/EU. The monitoring stations that measured and reported PM data 10 there are 576., of which those with sufficient time coverage for the verification of the reference values are 545. The annual limit value was exceeded in one station (equal to 0.2% of cases), while exceeding the daily limit value was recorded in 94 stations (equal to 17.2% of cases). Finally, both the annual WHO reference value (90.5% of cases) and the daily one (96.1% of cases) are exceeded in the majority of monitoring stations.
AMBIENT AIR QUALITY: PARTICULATE (PM2.5)
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The indicator is based on PM concentration data 2,5 in the atmosphere measured during 2024 in monitoring stations distributed across the national territory, collected and archived in ISPRA in the InfoAria database, in accordance with the provisions of Directive 2008/50/EC (and the legislative decree transposing Legislative Decree 155/2010 and subsequent amendments) and Decision 2011/850/EU. The monitoring stations that measured and reported PM data 2,5 are 341, of these, 207 have data series with sufficient time coverage for the verification of the reference values are 307. The annual limit value of the PM 2,5 (25 µg/m³) is respected in all cases. However, in the majority of monitoring stations, the WHO annual reference value of 5 µg/m³ is exceeded (97.7% of cases).
AMBIENT AIR QUALITY: TROPOSPHERE OZONE (O 3)
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The indicator is based on the ozone concentration data in the atmosphere measured during 2024, in monitoring stations distributed across the national territory, collected and archived in ISPRA in the InfoAria database, in accordance with the provisions of Directive 2008/50/EC (and the legislative decree transposing Legislative Decree 155/2010) and Decision 2011/850/EU. The monitoring stations that measured and for which O. Data were transmitted 3 there are 348., of which those with sufficient time coverage for the verification of the threshold values and the long-term objective for the protection of human health are 331. The suburban, rural and rural background stations that respect the minimum percentage required for the calculation of the long-term objective for the protection of vegetation (AOT40v) are 158. The long-term objective for the protection of human health (OLT) was exceeded in almost all the stations: 83.4%. The percentage of stations where the OLT was exceeded for more than 25 days was 43.5%. The information threshold for health protection was exceeded in 17.5% of the stations while the alarm threshold was exceeded in only 1 station. The WHO reference value, equal to 100 µg/m³ as the 99th percentile, is exceeded in 310 stations (equal to 94% of the stations with sufficient temporal coverage). The long-term objective for vegetation protection (AOT40v) was exceeded in almost all stations (92.4%).
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
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The indicator describes the trend of mean temperature in Italy.
The increase in mean temperature recorded in Italy over the last thirty years has often exceeded the global average over land. In 2024, the mean temperature anomaly in Italy, relative to the 1991–2020 climatological baseline, was +1.33 °C—higher than the global land surface anomaly of +1.03 °C. In Italy, 2023 ranked as the warmest year in the entire annual time series starting from 1961. Since 2000, temperature anomalies relative to the 1991–2020 baseline have consistently been positive, except for four years (2004, 2005, 2010, and 2013).
CUMULATIVE PRECIPITATION
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The indicator describes the amount and spatial distribution of precipitation in Italy. In 2024, total annual precipitation in Italy was about 8% higher than the average value for the reference period 1991–2020. Northern and north-central areas were characterised by positive anomalies, while most of the remaining part of the country recorded widespread negative anomalies.
FROST DAYS
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This indicator describes trends in cold extremes across Italy, specifically quantifying the number of frost days, defined as days with daily minimum air temperature less than or equal to 0°C. In 2024, a reduction of approximately 13.7 frost days was observed compared to the 1991–2020 climatological baseline.
HEAT WAVES
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The indicator describes the trend of intense heat events in Italy. A heat wave is defined as an event lasting at least 6 consecutive days during which the maximum temperature exceeds the 90th percentile of the daily maximum temperature distribution for the same period of the year over the 30-year climatological reference period. The indicator counts the number of days characterized by such heat waves in a given year. In 2024, an increase of approximately 29.3 heat wave days was observed compared to the average value calculated over the reference 30-year period (1991–2020).
SUMMER DAYS
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The indicator describes the trend in extreme heat events in Italy, specifically representing the number of days with a maximum daily air temperature exceeding 25 °C. In 2024, an increase of approximately 6.9 summer days was observed compared to the climatological average for the 1991–2020 reference period.
TROPICAL NIGHTS
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The indicator describes the trend in extreme heat events in Italy, specifically representing the number of days with a minimum daily air temperature exceeding 20 °C. In 2025, an increase of approximately 25.2 tropical nights was observed compared to the climatological average for the 1991–2020 reference period.
VERY HOT DAYS
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The indicator describes the trend in extreme heat events in Italy, specifically representing the number of days with a daily maximum air temperature exceeding 35 °C. In 2024, an increase of approximately 11.4 extremely hot days was observed compared to the climatological average for the 1991–2020 reference period.
GLACIER MASS BALANCE
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The indicator is calculated for a limited sample of Alpine glaciers and represents the algebraic sum of ice mass gained through snowfall accumulation and mass lost through melting during the ablation period. Glacier mass balance data provide a fundamental measure for assessing the "health status" of glaciers.
Analysis of data from 1995 to 2023 shows that, for the glaciers considered collectively, the cumulative mass balance exhibits significant losses, ranging from nearly 25 meters water equivalent for the Basòdino glacier to over 50 meters water equivalent for the Caresèr glacier, corresponding to an average annual mass loss exceeding one meter water equivalent.