EEA – Set of Indicators

The indicator represents the time series of national greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2023, broken down by sector of origin. Data analysis shows that in 2023 there was a significant reduction in emissions compared to 1990 (-26.4%), explained by the economic recession, which curbed consumption in recent years, but also by a greater use of renewable energy sources. This resulted in a reduction in CO₂ emissions from the energy sector (-26.9% compared to 1990).

The indicator consists of the share of greenhouse gas emissions generated by installations covered under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), established by Directive 2003/87/EC, as well as emissions from all sectors not included in the ETS—namely small- and medium-scale industry, transport, residential and commercial buildings, agriculture, and waste. These non-ETS emissions were regulated under the Effort Sharing Decision (Decision No. 406/2009/EC) up to 2020 and, from 2021 onward, under the Effort Sharing Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2018/842).In 2020, emissions from the non-ETS sectors were below the national annual target of 37 MtCO₂eq. However, from 2021 onwards, emissions have not aligned with the annual reduction targets set under the Effort Sharing Regulation.

The indicator represents the time series of national emissions of heavy metals from 1990 to 2023, by source sector. Since 1990, a reduction in emissions has been observed for all metals. In particular, emissions of cadmium, mercury and lead are in line with the objectives set at the international level by the Aarhus Protocol, having decreased compared to 1990 values by -62%, -65% and -95%, respectively.

The indicator represents the trend in national emissions of particulate matter (PM10) by sector of origin from 1990 to 2023, highlighting a marked reduction over the years on a total level (-42.9%). The road transport sector, which contributes to total emissions with an emission share of 9.8% in 2023, presents a reduction of 67.8% over the entire period. Emissions from non-industrial combustion, in the same period, grew by approximately 33.7%, representing the most important sector in 2023 with 45.9% of total emissions.

Natura 2000 Network, established under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives (collectively known as the Nature Directives), comprises 2,649 sites in Italy. These cover a total terrestrial area of 5,845,489 hectares, representing 19.4% of the national territory, and a marine area of 2,338,693 hectares, corresponding to 6.5% of national jurisdictional waters (territorial waters and EEZs) (data updated to December 2024).

The Network is essential for implementing the Nature Directives, but it is also a key instrument for achieving the targets set by the European and National Biodiversity Strategies for 2030 (EBS2030 and NBS2030), which call for at least 30% of terrestrial and marine areas to be protected. In addition to the Natura 2000 sites, other protected areas—such as national and regional parks and other designated conservation zones—also contribute to these targets.

This report analyses the regional distribution of the Network both in absolute terms (hectares covered by sites within each region) and as a percentage of total regional area. Across Italian regions and autonomous provinces, the Network shows a heterogeneous distribution, with protected terrestrial and marine areas ranging from 12% (Emilia-Romagna) to 36% (Abruzzo) on land, and from less than 1% (Marche) to 31% (Apulia) at sea.

The wildfire phenomenon, analyzed on the basis of data collected from 1970 to 2024 by CUFA of the Carabinieri Corps (formerly the State Forestry Corps), shows a fluctuating trend, with peak years (1993, 2007, 2017, 2021) alternating with periods of decline (2013, 2014, 2018, 2024).
Wildfires occurring within Protected Areas (recorded since 2003), although showing annual fluctuations, remain at high levels, with an average of 11,000 hectares burned over the last three years.
The incidence of deliberately caused fires is very high, representing about half of all recorded events and exceeding 60% in some years.

Land fragmentation is the process that leads to a progressive reduction in the surface area of natural and semi-natural environments and to an increase in their isolation. This process, which transforms large territorial patches into smaller and more isolated units, is mainly driven by urban expansion—implemented through more or less sustainable development patterns—and by the growth of infrastructure networks aimed at improving connectivity between urbanized areas through linear works. In 2024, 42.41% of the national territory was classified as having high or very high fragmentation. The regions with the largest share of very highly fragmented land are Veneto (39.73%), Lombardy (33.73%), Emilia-Romagna (25.22%), Puglia (25.22%), and Campania (25.76%). These figures confirm the close relationship between fragmentation and urbanization density.

This indicator represents the national trend of emissions of tropospheric ozone precursors: nitrogen oxides (NOx) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), disaggregated by source sector. A marked decrease is observed between 1990 and 2023 (-74% for NOx and -57% for NMVOCs), mainly driven by the strong reduction of emissions from the transport sector.

The indicator describes the trend in national emissions of the acidifying substances SOx, NOx, and NH₃, both in total and by sector, highlighting the decreasing trend from 1990 to 2023 (-72.3%). With reference to Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants—which defines national emission reduction commitments compared to 2005, applicable from 2020 to 2029 and from 2030 onwards—sulphur oxides and ammonia achieved the required 2020 reduction target as early as 2009, while nitrogen oxides reached it in 2014.

High noise levels can affect your well-being. The effects of noise on health include stress, reduction of psychological well-being and sleep disturbances, but also cardiovascular problems.

In the field of noise pollution management, with the issuing of Directive 2002/49/EC, the European Union has defined a common approach to avoid, prevent or reduce the harmful effects of the population's exposure to environmental noise. The approach is based on the determination of exposure to environmental noise, on public information and on the implementation of Action Plans at local level. The population exposed to noise is determined through acoustic mapping, developed on the basis of common and shared methods. 

From the acoustic mapping, the population exposed to noise levels higher than the levels recommended by the WHO is high. Road traffic represents the main source of noise.

The indicator quantifies soil consumed as a result of a change from a non-artificial soil cover to an artificial soil cover, according to the principle of net land take, i.e. net of transformations from consumed soil back to non-consumed soil (generally the restoration of construction sites and other areas that in the previous year fell under reversible soil consumption).
Gross soil consumption recorded in 2024 affected 8,370 hectares of territory, causing the often irreversible loss of natural, semi-natural, and agricultural areas and their related ecosystem services.

The indicator describes the status of the 42 Contaminated Sites of National Interest (SIN), which together cover 148,594 hectares of land surface (0.49% of the Italian territory) and 77,136 hectares of marine areas. This issue affects all Italian regions, except Molise. As of 30 June 2024, for 65% of the total area of the 36 SINs under consideration, information is available on the progress of the procedures: characterization has been completed for 59% of the soils and 55% of the groundwater, while remediation/safety measures have been approved by ministerial decree for 13% of the soil area and 17% of the groundwater. Procedures have been completed for 17% of the soils and 6% of the groundwater. The information provided by the indicator outlines a representative picture of environmental conditions and societal responses in relation to regulatory and sustainability objectives.

Over the period considered (2007–2023), the status of assessed fish stocks has shown an overall improvement: the proportion of nationally managed stocks subject to overfishing has declined, reaching its lowest level (44.4%) in 2023. Although fishing mortality remains critical in several cases, it has exhibited a downward trend in recent years, progressively approaching levels compatible with the long-term sustainable exploitation of resources under average environmental conditions.

The indicator, based on analytically assessed stocks validated at the international level, reflects the overall dynamics of the exploitation status of commercially fished stocks, highlighting the gradual improvement of exploited marine resources. It is also associated with the percentage coverage of landings for which stock assessment data are available, with analyses conducted at both the national and subregional levels according to the geographic subdivision established by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

The indicator shows the amount of Waste from Economic Activities disposed of in landfills by category and by type of waste and the number of landfills. In 2023, the quantities of Waste from Economic Activities overall disposed of in landfills amount to 7.9 million tons, equal to 4.4% of the total quantity of Waste from Economic Activities managed at national level (about 179 million tons). Compared to 2022, there is a decrease of about 997 thousand tons (-11.2%), while, compared to 2021, there is a reduction of 2.3 million tons (-22.4%). The total number of operating landfills is equal to 249: 105 landfills for inert waste (42.2% of the total operating systems), 133 landfills for non -hazardous waste (53.4% ​​of the total), and 11 landfills for hazardous waste (4.4% of the total). Analyzing the three-year period 2021 - 2023, there is a progressive decrease in the total number of operational landfills ranging from 270 of 2021, to 261 in 2022 and 249 in 2023.

In 2023, the total amount of municipal waste disposed of in landfills amounted to approximately 4.6 million tonnes, with 112 landfill facilities in operation nationwide. Compared to 2022, this represents a 10.8% reduction in the total quantity of municipal waste landfilled (equivalent to -559,000 tonnes) and a 4.3% decrease in the number of operational sites (-5 facilities).

After the 2.1% drop observed in the previous two-year period 2021-2022, in 2023 the overall production of Waste from Economic Activities generated by the national production system (industrial, commercial, artisanal, services, but also of waste treatment and environmental remediation) returns to increase attesting to almost 164.5 million tons (+1.9% compared to 2022, corresponding to more than 3 million tons).

Non -hazardous waste, which represent 93.8%of the total waste produced, have an increase of 2.8 million tons (+1.9%), the dangerous ones of 193 thousand tons (+1.9%).

With regard to the construction sector, the incentives arranged by the government for the renovation of the properties aimed at the energy redevelopment of buildings have continued. These construction/renovation works together with the activities of construction sites intended for the construction of infrastructure and public works and housing and commercial construction have generated more quantities of building and demolition waste.

National municipal waste (MW) generation in 2023 amounts to approximately 29.3 million tonnes, marking a 0.7% increase (approximately +218,000 tonnes) compared to 2022.

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).

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.

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.

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%).

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%).

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).

Estimates of the average annual exposure weighted for the population were developed ( Population Weighted Exposure , PWE) to nitrogen dioxide (NO ₂) aggregated at municipal level, through the integrated use of statistical measures and models. The data obtained, relating to the period 2016-2024, allow the comparison of PWE between all municipalities and to have a complete picture of the average exposure at a national level. 
In 2024, 77% of the population was exposed to levels above the WHO guideline value (10 µg/m ³). 
The national average of PWE was 11 µg/m³ ( range minimum-maximum: 3 – 36 µg/m ³). 
In the period 2016-2024, a trend towards a reduction in exposure levels equal to 29% on average is observed, mainly linked to the reduction of emissions from vehicular traffic.

Estimates of the average annual exposure weighted for the population were developed ( Population Weighted Exposure , PWE) to PM10 aggregated at municipal level, through the integrated use of statistical measures and models. The data obtained, relating to the period 2016-2024, allow the comparison of PWE between all municipalities and to have a complete picture of the average exposure at a national level. 
In 2024, 95% of the population was exposed to levels above the WHO guideline value (15 µg/m ³). 
In the period observed there is no trend towards reduction in exposure levels with the national average which in 2024 is equal to 20 µg/m ³ ( range minimum-maximum: 6 – 35 µg/m ³). 

Estimates of the average annual exposure weighted for the population were developed ( Population Weighted Exposure , PWE) to the PM _2.5 aggregated at municipal level, through the integrated use of statistical measures and models. The data obtained, relating to the period 2016-2024, allow the comparison of PWE between all municipalities and to have a complete picture of the average exposure at a national level. 
In 2024, 100% of the population was exposed to levels above the WHO guideline value (5 µg/m ³). The national average of PWE was 12 µg/m ³ (minimum-maximum range: 4 – 24 µg/m ³). 
In the period 2016-2024, the national average goes from 15 µg/m ³ of 2016 at 12 µg/m ³ of 2024, recording a reduction of 20%.

n 2023, organic farming in Italy covered 2,456,020 hectares, involving approximately 94,400 organic operators. Organic agriculture accounted for 7.4% of all farms and 19.8% of the utilised agricultural area (UAA), according to the 2021 ISTAT Census, falling 5.2 percentage points short of the 25% UAA target for organic farming. 

Over the past 33 years, the trend has been upward in both the number of operators and cultivated area, countering the long-standing decline in utilised agricultural area in Italy.

 At the European level, Italy ranks among the most virtuous Member States.

The indicator describes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (CH₄, N₂O, CO₂) released into the atmosphere from the agricultural sector, mainly due to livestock management and the use of fertilizers. It allows assessing the contribution of the sector to total national emissions and progress towards reduction targets. Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture have shown a decreasing trend since 1990; however, further reduction measures will be required to meet the commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol and relevant EU Directives. 

In particular, for Italy, the 2030 target set by the Effort Sharing Regulation (2023/857/EC) corresponds to a 43.7% reduction in total GHG emissions from the agriculture, residential, transport, waste and non-ETS industrial sectors, compared with 2005 levels. 

In 2023, GHG emissions from agriculture accounted for 12.1% of total Effort Sharing sector emissions, while the reduction of agricultural GHG emissions compared with 2005 amounted to 8.6%

The indicator measures both the energy consumed by end users and the total energy consumption of the country. Since 1990, the available energy for final consumption has shown an upward trend, peaking in 2005. Thereafter, a reversal occurred, reaching a minimum in 2014. Between 2014 and 2018, final consumption increased again, followed by a decline in 2019 and a sharp reduction in 2020, due to the lockdown of economic activities aimed at containing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Consumption then rebounded in 2021, before decreasing over the following two years. In 2023, the energy available for final consumption, calculated according to the Eurostat methodology, amounted to 110.5 Mtoe, representing a 1.3% decrease compared to 2022.

In Italy, the share of energy from renewable sources reached 20.4% of gross final consumption in 2020, exceeding the national target of 17%. In 2023, this share declined to 19.6%, remaining well below the 2030 target of 38.7%.

The "chlorophyll" parameter is the only direct indicator of phytoplankton biomass available and has taken on the role of a metric for classifying ecological status according to the Biological Quality Element (BQE) – Phytoplankton in coastal waters (Ministerial Decree 260/2010). Chlorophyll is particularly sensitive to changes in trophic levels determined by nutrient (N and P) inputs from catchment basins flowing into the coastal area.
In 2020, high status was recorded in 71.4% of cases, good status in 12.3%, and sufficient status in 16.2%. A general improvement in status was observed in Campania and Marche, while Emilia-Romagna and Sardinia saw a worsening. Marche, Liguria, and Abruzzo maintained all stations at high status.

Progress towards achieving the good environmental status of marine waters depends on a series of key factors regulated in Directive 2008/56/EC (MSFD) and implemented in Italy through Legislative Decree 190/2010 (and subsequent amendments). One of the main factors is linked to contamination in waters and organisms and to the progressive elimination of pollution, ensuring that the presence of contaminants does not generate significant impacts or risks for the marine environment. Descriptor 8 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC specifically requires the assessment of the presence of chemical contaminants (D8-C1) and their effects (D8-C2). This is accompanied by Descriptor 9 which provides for the evaluation of the level of contaminants in the edible tissues of fishery products compared to the limits established by Regulation (EU) 2023/915. In 2024, monitoring of the Marine Reporting Unit (MRU) West Mediterranean Sea (MWE). The data collected comes from the specific monitoring carried out by ISPRA and from the institutional monitoring of the experimental zooprophylactic institutes. The definitive evaluation, in relation to the judgement Good Environmental Status (GES), will be processed as soon as all the data produced by the regional agencies are available. With the data available to date, bioaccumulation has a problem linked to exceeding the regulated value of mercury, however from a health point of view a positive opinion is confirmed. This result is in line with what has already been highlighted in past years. For the sediment matrix there is a criticality linked to the presence of TBT and some metals.

The ecological status of surface waters reflects the quality of the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Directive 2000/60/EC (transposed in Italy with Legislative Decree 152/2006) mandates the achievement of "good" quality status for water bodies, which is determined by the assessment of both ecological and chemical status. The indicator provides an evaluation of the ecological status of surface water bodies—specifically inland waters—based on classification data from the WISE 2022 Reporting related to the 3rd Water Management Plan. At the national level, comparing the ecological quality status data between the 2nd and 3rd Management Plans shows a reduction in water bodies with unknown status, from 18% to 10%, though they are still present. In general, the ecological status has not significantly changed from the previous management cycle, except for the percentage of lakes in good status, which has increased from 17% to 35%.

The tide is a periodic phenomenon of rising and falling of the sea surface due to the gravitational attraction exerted by the Moon, the Sun and other celestial bodies on the masses of water present on Earth and secondarily also due to meteorological disturbances. Data from the National Mareographic Network (ISPRA) were used to characterize the amplitude of the astronomical component of the tide signal along the Italian coasts. As is well known, the astronomical tide presents profound differences in the different Italian seas, reaching its maximum excursion in the Northern Adriatic and in the Venice Lagoon, being also strongly influenced by the configuration of the basin.

The 12-month Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) maps provide a nationwide and large-scale assessment of hydrological drought conditions, obtained using precipitation data collected and published by regional hydro-meteorological services and autonomous provinces and those of the suppressed National Hydrograph and Tire Service (SIMN, now merged into ISPRA) of the Department for National Technical Services. The 12-month aggregation timepiece chosen for the SPI assessment is the one that best describes the effects of drought (precipitation deficit) on the flow rate of rivers, recharging reservoirs and water availability in the aquifers.

In 2024, the 12-month SPI maps (SPI12) showed extreme and moderate drought conditions for the territories of central Italy and for the South and the major islands. The months from June to August 2024 were the most characterized by extreme drought conditions on the 12-month time scale (SPI12 –2.0), as a result of the precipitation deficit found in the second half of 2023 and then in 2024, particularly on southern Italy. The maximum extent reached by this condition was observed in June (16.1% of the Italian territory). From May 2024 until the end of the year, there was also an increase in areas characterized by severe or moderate drought on the 12-month time scale (–2.0 SPI12 –1.0). In this period, with the exception of October and December, the percentage of Italian territory subject to these conditions was always more than 20%, with a maximum in May (28.5%) and a minimum in September (21.6%).

The intensity and persistence of these conditions in 2024 had effects on the availability of water resources in different areas of Italy, resulting, consequently, in environmental and socio-economic impacts related to the use of water.

The indicator evaluates the demand for freight transport (also in relation to economic growth) and the evolution over time of modal split. The transport demand is increasingly met by road freight transport, which continues to dominate other transport modes in terms of growth and modal share (approximately 59% in 2024).

The indicator measures passenger transport demand (according to different modes) and compares its trend with that of economic growth and population. Transport demand is increasingly met by individual road transport (passenger cars and motorcycles), which, due to its growth and modal share (approximately 79% in 2024), remains dominant compared to other transport modes.

The indicator allows for the assessment of emissions of the main air pollutants produced by the transport sector. In Italy, harmful emissions from road transport have significantly decreased in recent years, thanks to the introduction of catalytic converters, particulate filters, and other technologies installed in vehicles. From 1990 to 2023, road emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds decreased by 87.6%, nitrogen oxide emissions by 71.3%, and fine particulate emissions by 69.9%. Sulfur oxide emissions, now almost absent in road transport, remain significant in maritime transport. Air pollutant emissions are monitored at the national level to verify compliance with reduction commitments set by the European Union, with the goal of achieving air quality levels that do not cause significant negative impacts or pose serious risks to human health and the environment.

This indicator tracks the share of road vehicles complying with the most recent emission standards during the 2005-2023 period. In 2023, passenger cars still showed a non-negligible proportion (13.5%) of Euro 0 gasoline vehicles, while for diesel cars this share was significantly lower at approximately 2.9%. More concerning is the commercial vehicle fleet situation - predominantly diesel-powered - where 10.4% of light commercial vehicles (vans) and 25.9% of heavy goods vehicles remain at Euro 0 standard.

The EPRTR (European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) is the integrated register established by the EU based on Regulation (EC) No. 166/2006, aimed at making publicly available information on environmental impacts caused by industrial facilities falling under the criteria set out in the regulation.

This indicator represents total emissions into surface waters and pollutant transfers in wastewater from industrial facilities that reported such data to the national PRTR register. For the year 2020, 60 substances were reported as present in emissions into surface water bodies, while 49 substances were declared in pollutant transfers via wastewater conveyed through pipelines to external treatment facilities.

The PRTR activity groups that contribute the highest percentages of reported pollutant emissions into both wastewater and surface waters are generally those related to "Waste and Wastewater Management" and "Chemical Industry".

The EPRTR (European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) is the integrated register developed by the EU under Regulation (EC) No 166/2006, with the aim of making publicly available information on environmental impacts from industrial facilities that meet the criteria established in the legislation. This indicator represents the total air emissions from industrial facilities that have reported such emissions to the national PRTR register. The air emissions declared for 2020 refer to 34 substances (non-zero values). Comparing 2020 data with 2007, it is observed that for 25 substances, total national atmospheric emissions have decreased (for 23 of these, reductions exceed 40%), while for 8 substances, overall emissions have increased (including: hydrogen cyanide +356% from 2007, hydrofluorocarbons +19%, and ammonia +109%).

The indicator allows for the assessment of surface and groundwater contamination by pesticide residues released into the environment. Monitoring pesticide presence in water is complex due to the number of substances involved and their diffuse use. Measured levels are compared with the concentration limits established by current regulations. The presented indicators provide an analysis of the evolution of contamination over the 2012–2021 decade, in terms of the frequency of pesticide detection in water, as well as the environmental risks arising from their use. Data from 2021 confirm a state of contamination already reported in previous years, with exceedances of legal limits particularly in surface waters (28.3% of monitoring points); in groundwater, 6.8% of points exceed regulatory limits.

In 2022, the sixth edition of the Catalogue of Environmentally Relevant Subsidies identified a total of 183 measures, resulting in €24.2 billion in Environmentally Harmful Subsidies (EHS) and €20.2 billion in Environmentally Beneficial Subsidies (EBS), representing a year-on-year increase of 15.1% and a decrease of 2.5%, respectively. Subsidies amounting to €13.8 billion were classified as having uncertain environmental impact, marking a 7.5% increase compared to 2021. Among the Environmentally Harmful Subsidies, those related to fossil fuels accounted for €17 billion in 2022 (compared to €13 billion in 2020 and €14.8 billion in 2021).

The indicator represents projections of national greenhouse gas emissions up to 2055, considering the scenario based on policies in place as of 31 December 2022 — thus including those under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) — and the scenario with additional policies and measures defined by the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC).
The scenario was developed starting from the latest consolidated historical data for 2023, as well as the expected evolution of key macroeconomic drivers according to the information provided to the European Commission.
Information available for 2024 and data relating to the first seven months of 2025 were also taken into account.
The projected reductions in total greenhouse gas emissions (including LULUCF) estimated for 2030 compared to 1990 are -42% in the current policies scenario and -53% in the additional policies scenario.

Italy has structurally reduced its material footprint, going from 17.9 to 10.3 tonnes per capita between 2008 and 2024, reaching values lower than the EU average. This result reflects significant progress in terms of efficiency and circularity, but it requires consolidating the decoupling between economic growth and resource consumption in order to make the competitive advantage durable.

The circular material use rate measures the share of material resources reused by an economy. In the period 2004–2023, Italy's circular material use rate increased from 5.8% to 20.8%.

Statistical information on environmental taxes can be broken down by tax category, the units paying the tax, the class of environmental activity, and the destination of the revenue. In Italy, environmental taxes amounted to €60.8 billion in 2024 (+11.6% compared to the previous year). In 2023, revenue from environmental taxes accounted for about 6.1% of total tax and social contribution revenue and about 3% of Gross Domestic Product in 2024.

In 2022, total expenditure by the Italian economy on environmental protection amounted to €51.4 billion, corresponding to 2.6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This latter value remained broadly stable over the period 2016–2022, indicating continuity in investments devoted to environmental protection. Resources are mainly allocated to waste management and wastewater management, which represent the two most significant expenditure items (46% and 25%, respectively).

Alongside these, with a smaller but still significant share, are expenditures for the protection and remediation of soil, groundwater and surface waters, the protection of biodiversity and landscapes, air and climate protection, as well as noise and vibration abatement activities (excluding workplaces). The picture is completed by expenditure on environmental research and development and other supporting activities, which contribute to the diffusion of innovative and sustainable solutions.

During the period considered (2007–2023), the average exploitation rate of fish stocks — expressed as the mean ratio between current fishing mortality and that corresponding to the Maximum Sustainable Yield (Fcurr/FMSY) — remained generally above the sustainability threshold.

The indicator, derived from analytical stock assessments validated at the international level, describes the overall trend in fishing pressure exerted on commercially exploited stocks.

Within the time series, 2023 stands out as the only year in which the Fcurr/FMSY value fell below the threshold of 1 (0.99), confirming the progressive downward trend observed in recent years for this indicator.

The indicator represents the trend in national emissions of particulate matter (PM2.5) by sector of origin from 1990 to 2023, highlighting a marked reduction over the years at a total level (-41%). The road transport sector, which contributes to total emissions with an emission share of 8.9% in 2023, presents a reduction of 77% over the entire period. Emissions from non-industrial combustion, in the same period, grew by 34%, representing the most important sector in 2023 with 64.4% of total emissions.

The indicator illustrates the conservation status and trends of Italian species protected under Directive 92/43/EEC (Habitats Directive) and is based on the summary results of the 4th Italian report for the period 2013-2018, submitted to the European Commission in 2019. The report covers a total of 349 species (232 animal species and 117 plant species) of Community interest present in our territory and seas. In the 4th report, a total of 337 distribution maps and 619 reporting forms were produced (one for each species in every biogeographical region where it is present). The 2019 assessments show that over half of the terrestrial and inland water species, 54% of the flora, and 53% of the fauna, as well as 22% of the species evaluated in the marine context, have an unfavourable conservation status (inadequate or poor). A comparison between the two most recent reporting periods (2007-2012 and 2013-2018) reveals no improvements in the conservation status of the species. The only positive signal is the increase in knowledge, with a decrease in cases where the conservation status was unknown. The indicator highlights the urgent need for greater commitment to the conservation of species protected by the Habitats Directive, in relation to the target of the European Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, which sets out that at least 30% of species and habitats in unfavourable conservation status should improve their status by 2030 or show at least a trend of improvement.

The indicator provides the percentage of groundwater monitoring stations divided into quality classes according to the average concentration of nitrates detected over a four-year monitoring period 2020-2023.

The classes typically represent conditions ranging from a low concentration of nitrates (good quality water) to high levels of contamination (at risk or polluted water). At a national level, 69.1% of monitoring stations have average nitrate concentration values ​​lower than 25 mg/l (good quality water); while 11.7% of the monitored stations recorded an average nitrate concentration greater than or equal to 50 mg/l (polluted water). Comparing the values ​​of the four-year period 2020-2023 with the previous one (2016-2019), a decrease in the average concentration is highlighted in 38.8% of the stations, an increase in 26.9% and stability in 34.4%.

The indicator is useful for monitoring progress toward a circular economy, allowing for the identification of the quantities of materials reintroduced into the economy following waste treatment. Compared to the total amount of waste sent for recovery and disposal operations, more than three-quarters of the treated waste is recycled, placing Italy among the countries with the highest recycling rates.

The indicator measures the abundance and diversity of bird populations in Italy throughout the year, based on bird ringing data. This assessment helps define Italy’s role in the spatial-temporal distribution of European avifauna. Data from 2019-2020 confirm Italy’s crucial importance as a major migration corridor between Europe and Africa and contribute to identifying critical periods for bird species, which is essential for conservation and management purposes.

The Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) is one of the main pillars of the European Union's nature conservation policy. This indicator is based on data provided by Italy for the periodic reporting required of Member States under Article 17 of the Directive. The report provides a general summary of the Italy’s Fourth Report, referring to data from monitoring activities conducted by regions and autonomous provinces during the 2013–2018 period. Specifically, it highlights the overall conservation status observed for terrestrial and inland water habitats across the national territory, as well asthe distribution of conservation status across the Italian biogeographical regions. Additionally, the report outlines the number of assessments to be conducted by individual regions and autonomous provinces for habitat monitoring, providing an estimate of the expected workload.

The trend compared to the previous reporting cycle is negative, showing a decrease in favorable assessments. Currently, only 8% of cases are classified as having a favorable conservation status, while 49% are deemed inadequate and 40% poor. This indicates a generally critical situation, further distancing Italy from achieving the objectives set by the Directive.

Eutrophication is a process caused by the enrichment of nutrients, in particular nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, which determines an increase in primary production and algal biomass with consequent alteration of benthic communities and, in general, a decrease in water quality. The release of nitrogen and phosphorus into the marine and coastal environment can derive from diffuse sources (river loads, main collectors of agricultural activities and civil discharges) and from point sources (discharges deriving from wastewater treatment plants, industrial and deriving from aquaculture activities). 
The assessment of eutrophication of marine waters according to the Marine Strategy is carried out every six years using a combination of information on nutrient levels (concentrations in the marine environment), the primary effects of nutrient enrichment (chlorophyll 'a' concentration as an indicator of algal biomass) and the secondary effects of nutrient enrichment (impacts on organisms caused by hypoxia and/or anoxia phenomena in bottom waters) that are ecologically relevant.

The most recent assessment transmitted by Italy to the European Commission (October 2024) refers to the six-year period 2016-2021 and highlighted the achievement of Good Environmental Status. The analysis of 2022 monitoring data confirms this indication.

Both the number of protected areas and the extent of protected marine surface have steadily increased over time. At present, 30 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been established in Italy, across 10 Italian regions, along with a further 10 areas protecting coastal marine stretches.
Sicily and Sardinia host the largest share of marine protected areas, both in terms of number and area of protected surface. Between 2012 and 2023, at the national level, the surface of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) increased by 3.1%, following the establishment in 2018 of the two MPAs of Capo Testa–Punta Falcone in Sardinia and Capo Milazzo in Sicily, and in 2023 of the Capo Spartivento MPA in Sardinia.

In Italy, a total of 843 terrestrial protected areas (including those with a coastal component) have been established to date, covering more than 3 million hectares, equivalent to about 10.5% of the country’s land surface. An analysis of the historical series (1922–2024) shows consistently positive trends—particularly from the mid-1970s—in both the number and the extent of terrestrial protected areas, while growth trends have tended to stabilize since 2008–2009.

This indicator provides a national overview of the conservation status of 268 breeding bird species assessed in the reporting under Article 12 of the Birds Directive 2009/147/EC. The assessment includes species of community interest listed in Annexes I and II of the Directive, as well as those that justify the designation of Special Protection Areas (SPAs).

At the national level, the percentage of species with a favourable conservation status increased from 51% (reporting period 2007-2012) to 56% (reporting period 2013-2018). However, this increase was insufficient to meet the target set by the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 (76%).

The short-term population trends, which reflect processes occurring in the last decade, indicate that 46% of species are increasing or stable, while nearly 25% of species are in decline (the population trend of the other 33% remains unknown). Regarding short-term trends in distribution range, the proportion of declining species is lower, as only the most severe declines result in range contractions: 21% of species show a contraction, while the remaining 79% have stable or expanding ranges.

Estimates of the average annual exposure weighted for the population were developed ( Population Weighted Exposure , PWE) to ozone (O ₃) aggregated at municipal level, through the integrated use of statistical measures and models. The data obtained, relating to the period 2016-2024, allow the comparison of PWE between all municipalities and to have a complete picture of the average exposure at a national level. 
In 2024, 100% of the population was exposed to levels above the WHO guideline value (60 µg/m ³ as the average of the distribution of the daily maximums of the 8-hour moving averages in the period from April to September). 
The national average of PWE was 96 µg/m ³ ( range minimum-maximum: 50 – 119 µg/m ³). 
In the period observed, there was no trend towards a reduction in exposure levels.

The indicator provides the percentage of surface water monitoring stations divided into quality classes according to the average concentration of nitrates detected and in the four-year period 2020-2023, in order to provide an overview of the level of nitrate pollution. The classes typically represent conditions ranging from a low concentration of nitrates (good quality water) to high levels of contamination (at risk or polluted water). At a national level, 95.3% of monitoring stations have average nitrate concentration values ​​lower than 25 mg/l (good quality water); while 0.6% of the monitored stations recorded an average nitrate concentration greater than or equal to 50 mg/l (polluted water). Comparing the values ​​of the four-year period 2020-2023 with the previous one (2016-2019) shows a decrease in the average concentration in 22.4% of the stations, an increase in 20.6% and stability in 57% of the stations.