The indicator illustrates the dependency of the national economy on imports of various energy sources to meet its domestic demand.  The decrease in the share of oil and the concurrent increase in the share of energy from renewable sources have led to a reduction in the nation's energy dependence. A decline in energy dependency has been observed since 2007, falling from a peak of 85.5% in 2006 to a low of 75.1% in 2020. In 2023, the dependency rate was recorded at 76.1%.

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.

Final electricity consumption exhibited a steady upward trend from 1990 to 2008, subsequently declining as a consequence of the economic crisis. In 2020, in the wake of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, consumption contracted by 5.7% relative to the previous year, followed by a rebound of 6.2% in 2021, and a subsequent downturn in the following years. By 2023, consumption had decreased by 4.6% compared to 2021, stabilizing at 24 Mtoe. The share of industrial consumption declined from 51.7% in 1990 to 38.3% in 2023, while the combined share of the tertiary and residential sectors increased from 43.2% to 56.3%. The contribution of agriculture and fishery remained nearly constant at approximately 2%, whereas the transport sector, despite fluctuations, accounted for around 3.4%.

The indicator assesses the trend of greenhouse gas emissions from energy-related processes across different sectors, with the aim of reducing the climate impact of energy use. Greenhouse gas emissions from energy processes decreased by 27.5% over the period 1990–2023, with sector-specific variations.

Emissions from the residential and commercial sector declined by 12.6% compared to 1990, while emissions from the transport sector increased by 5.8%. Over the same period, emissions from the energy industry fell by 47.3%, and those from the manufacturing industry decreased by 45.2%.

In 2023, greenhouse gas emissions from energy processes amounted to 308.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, representing a reduction of 8.4% compared to the previous year.

The analysis of the contribution of different primary energy sources to gross domestic energy consumption shows that the dominant role of petroleum products is decreasing in favor of an increase in natural gas and renewable energy sources, which accounted for 35.4% and 20.5%, respectively, in 2023. Greater diversification and the increasing role of renewable sources have positive effects on Italy’s energy self-sufficiency, which remains among the lowest in industrialized countries.

The indicator concerns nitrogen oxide (NOₓ) emissions into the atmosphere, which contribute to acidification and eutrophication processes. These emissions originate primarily from combustion processes (such as energy production plants, residential heating, and transport). They can be reduced through technological improvements and/or by treating the gaseous effluents of the processes.

In 2023, energy-related processes accounted for 89.8% of total nitrogen oxide emissions. Since 1990, NOₓ emissions from energy processes have shown a marked decline (–75.4% in 2023 compared to 1990), mainly due to the adoption of emission abatement technologies in both stationary and, above all, mobile sources.

In 2023, total NOₓ emissions were 57.2% lower than in 2005, in line with compliance with international protocols on acidification.

The comparative assessment within the European Union shows that both Italy’s primary and final energy intensity are lower than the EU average. This outcome can be attributed to the historical scarcity of domestic primary energy resources (which fostered the development of energy-efficient infrastructures and consumption patterns, as well as a production structure that is not excessively energy-intensive), to the high fiscal burden on energy (which has raised end-user energy prices above those of other countries), to the lower per capita income level, and to the relatively mild climate. Based on an ascending ranking of gross energy intensity values, Italy occupies the 7th position among European countries.

The indicator refers to atmospheric emissions of greenhouse gases that affect climate balance. In 2023, energy-related processes were responsible for 95.5% of carbon dioxide emissions, 12.9% of methane emissions, and 22.4% of nitrous oxide emissions, while they did not contribute to emissions of fluorinated gases. Overall, 80.3% of total greenhouse gas emissions originated from energy-related activities.

During the period 1995–2023, the trend in greenhouse gas emissions from energy processes closely mirrored that of energy consumption up to 2004. Thereafter, a decoupling emerged, becoming more pronounced in recent years due to a decline in GDP, the substitution of higher-carbon fuels with natural gas, and an increase in the share of renewable energy sources in electricity generation and industrial applications.
In 2023, greenhouse gas emissions from energy-related processes decreased by 8.4% compared to 2022.

The indicator concerns atmospheric emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO₂), a primary precursor of acidification processes. Sulfur dioxide emissions originate predominantly from energy-related activities. In 2023, such activities accounted for 92.1% of total SO₂ emissions. These emissions primarily result from the combustion of fossil fuels (including power generation plants, residential heating systems, and transport). Mitigation of SO₂ emissions can be achieved through improvements in fuel quality and/or via flue gas treatment technologies. The reduction in SO₂ emissions from energy-related processes (−96.1% in 2023 compared to 1990 and −98.1% compared to 1980), attributable to the use of low-sulfur fuels and the deployment of emission abatement systems, has thus far ensured compliance with international protocols addressing acidification. Overall SO₂ emissions in 2023 were 82.5% lower than those recorded in 2005.