Descrizione 1
Antonio Caputo, Riccardo De Lauretis, Francesca Palomba
The indicator refers to atmospheric emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO₂), a major contributor to acidification processes. Sulphur dioxide emissions primarily originate from energy-related processes. In 2022, these processes accounted for 92.1% of total sulphur dioxide emissions.
Sulphur dioxide emissions mainly result from the use of fossil fuels (power generation plants, domestic heating, and transport); they can be reduced by improving fuel quality and/or treating the gaseous effluents from the process.
The reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions from energy processes (−95.3% in 2022 compared to 1990 and −97.6% compared to 1980), achieved through the use of lower-sulphur fuels and the implementation of emission abatement systems, has so far ensured compliance with international protocols on acidification.
Total sulphur dioxide emissions in 2022 were 78.6% lower than in 2005.
The indicator refers to atmospheric emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO₂), which are a primary cause of acidification processes. Sulphur dioxide emissions originate essentially from the use of fossil fuels (power generation plants, residential heating, and transport); they can be reduced by improving fuel quality and/or through the treatment of process gas effluents.
To assess the role of energy processes in relation to sulphur dioxide emissions, with the aim of reducing the contribution of energy use to air pollution.
Directive 2001/81/EC, transposed into Italian law by Legislative Decree No. 171 of 2004, set the national SO₂ emission ceiling to be achieved by 2010 and maintained in subsequent years at 475 kt. The Directive represents the EU transposition of the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol aimed at combating acidification, eutrophication, and ground-level ozone.
Directive 2001/81/EC was repealed by Directive (EU) 2016/2284, transposed in Italy through Legislative Decree No. 81 of 2018, which established new national SO₂ emission reduction commitments. Unlike the previous legislation, the target is no longer expressed in absolute value, but as a percentage reduction: a 35% reduction from 2005 levels for any year from 2020 to 2029, and a 71% reduction from 2005 levels starting in 2030.
Descrizione 2
ISPRA, Quality Assurance/Quality Control Plan for the Italian Emission Inventory, Several years, https://emissioni.sina.isprambiente.it/inventario-nazionale/
ISPRA, Informative Inventory Report, Several years, https://emissioni.sina.isprambiente.it/inventario-nazionale/
The relevance of the indicator decreases when moving from the national to the local level, due to the uneven distribution of energy production and consumption across the national territory.
Qualificazione dati
ISPRA, Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, https://emissioni.sina.isprambiente.it/inventario-nazionale/
Nazionale
1980-2022
Qualificazione indicatore
Estimate carried out within the framework of the preparation of the national emissions inventory. To calculate data at regional and provincial levels, certain information must be estimated in the absence of specific statistical surveys.
The NEC Directive (2016/2284) established reduction targets for national sulphur dioxide emissions for any year from 2020 to 2029 and for any year from 2030 onwards. Specifically, for Italy, the target for 2022 is 267.16 kt of national sulphur dioxide emissions (calculated as a 35% reduction compared to 2005 levels). The target for 2030 is 119.20 kt (calculated as a 71% reduction compared to 2005).
In 2022, the energy sector was responsible for 81.2 kt of SO₂ emissions into the atmosphere, accounting for 92.1% of the national total (Table 1). This represents a 79.5% reduction compared to 2005, thereby making a significant contribution to achieving the national sulphur dioxide emission target set for 2022.
The reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions from energy processes (−95.3% in 2022 compared to 1990 and −97.6% compared to 1980), due to the use of cleaner fuels and combustibles, has so far ensured compliance with international protocols on acidification.
Dati
Table 1: Total sulphur dioxide emissions and emissions from energy processes (a)
ISPRA (Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research)
(a) Excluding natural emissions (volcanoes)
Figure 1: Total sulphur dioxide emissions and emissions from energy processes (a)
ISPRA (Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research)
(a) Excluding natural emissions (volcanoes)
Figure 1: Total sulphur dioxide emissions and emissions from energy processes (a)
ISPRA (Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research)
(a) Excluding natural emissions (volcanoes)
Sulphur dioxide emissions originate primarily from energy processes. In 2022, these processes accounted for 92.1% of total national sulphur dioxide emissions. The reduction in the sulphur content of fuels used in energy processes and the adoption of more effective emission abatement systems is reflected in the declining relative contribution of these processes to total SO₂ emissions, from 98.6% in 1997 to 92.1% in 2022 (Table 1 and Figure 1). It should be noted that, in order to ensure consistency and comparability of the inventory, the annual update of emissions involves a revision of the entire historical time series based on the available information and the latest methodological developments.