Climate change

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 measures the amount of special waste treated in production plants, present on the national territory, in total or partial replacement of traditional fuels. In 2023, about 1.9 million tons of special waste were recovered in coinciding systems. Compared to 2022, the recovered quantities show a slight increase (852 tons, +0.05%). The regional system framework shows that most special waste, corresponding to 77.1% of the total, is recovered in the northern regions; The regions of the Center follow with 12.6% and those of the South with 10.3%.

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.

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.

In 2023, approximately 1.1 million tons of special waste were sent for incineration, of which nearly 690 thousand tons (64.7% of the total) were non-hazardous and almost 376 thousand tons (35.3% of the total) were hazardous.

The incineration plants in operation treating such waste amounted to 74, of which 44 were located in the North, 8 in the Center, and 22 in the South.

Consistent with the distribution of the plant infrastructure, the majority of special waste was treated in plants located in the North (82.6% of the total, nearly 880 thousand tons), followed by the southern regions (15.4%, 164 thousand tons) and the central regions (2%, about 22 thousand tons).

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.

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).

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.

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 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.

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.

The indicator represents, over the period 1990-2023, the trend of greenhouse gas emissions in Italy per capita and relative to GDP. A decrease is observed for both, accentuated by the growth of the population and GDP, which highlights a decoupling between drivers and pressures.

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 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 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 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%

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

Ostreopsis cf. ovate it is a potentially toxic Bentonic microalga, now present in most of the Italian coastal regions with blooms that can give rise to human intoxication phenomena and toxic effects on benting marine organisms (states of suffering or mortality). The continuous expansion along the Italian coasts of Ostreopsis cf. ovate , of its blooms and the health, environmental and economic problems associated with it, has led to establish a microalga surveillance monitoring program since 2007. This activity has been carried out annually in the summer season by the regional environment agencies (ARPA). The data provided so far by the ARPA, collected and processed by Ispra have clarified the distribution and performance of the blooms at national and regional level. To date, the microalga has been found at least once in the monitoring campaigns carried out so far in 12 coastal regions out of 15. In 2024, the Ostreopsis CF. Ovata is present in 11 coastal regions or in 147/196 stations (75%), while it is absent in all samples taken along the Coste of Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Molise and Veneto.

The indicator measures the increase in the average sea level in Venice, being of fundamental importance for the studies and conservation interventions of the city of Venice, as well as the lagoons and high Adriatic coastal areas at risk of flooding. In Venice, the average sea level has increased since the beginning of the recordings: in the period 1872-2024 the level increases by an average of 2.6 mm / year, with a trend not always constant and uniform over time. In this regard, it is considered appropriate to highlight the rate for the last thirty years (1993-2024), where the average sea level rise is almost doubled (4.8 mm/year).

The indicator provides the evaluation, expressed in mm, of the height of water, summarised to the surface of the national territory, which precipitates to the ground (both in liquid and solid form) for each month and for the entire year.

The indicator for 2024 shall be compared, for each month of the year, with the corresponding average values for the period 1951–2024 obtained by the same methodology. In 2024 the value of total annual rainfall in Italy was 1,055.5 mm (318.8 billion cubic meters), greater than 10% of the corresponding long-term average value (LTAA-Long-Term Annual Average) and about 8% compared to the annual average over the last thirty years of the climate 1991-2020.

Going down to the regional and district level, the situation is very diversified, with Northern Italy being affected in 2024 by quantities of precipitation higher than the long-term averages. On the other hand, the precipitation anomaly compared to the LTAA was negative in the Center and the South and the larger islands.

The indicator assesses greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector in order to verify the achievement of national and international targets. In 2023, transport accounted for 28.3% of total greenhouse gas emissions in Italy.

Between 1990 and 2019, emissions from the transport sector (excluding international transport/bunkers) increased by 4.0%. In 2020, a significant decrease was observed (-18.6% compared to 2019), primarily due to mobility restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, between 2020 and 2021, emissions rose by 18.9%. In 2023, a return to pre-pandemic levels was confirmed.

Overall, transport sector emissions increased by 6.7% from 1990 to 2023. The national transport system continues to face various critical issues and remains far from meeting the ambitious 2030 and 2050 European targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions.

The internal flow indicator provides the annual estimate, expressed in mm, of the amount of renewable water resource that is naturally produced in a given territory due to the effect of precipitation falling in the same territory. The indicator is calculated for each year from 1951 to 2024.

In 2024 the value of the indicator at national level was 522.8 mm, corresponding to 157.9 billion cubic meters. The average value of the indicator in the national territory of the last thirty years of climate 1991–2020 is 440.9 mm, corresponding to a volume of 133.5 billion cubic meters, while the long-term average 1951–2024 (so-called LTAA-Long-Term Annual Average) is 457.5 mm, corresponding to 138.2 billion cubic meters.

2024 was characterized by a positive anomaly compared to the long-term estimate (+14.3%), as well as compared to the last thirty years of the climatological period (+18.3%). This positive anomaly is attributable to the high rainfall in the North, while in the territories of Central and Southern Italy and the major islands a persistent drought has been observed. However, at the national level, the availability of renewable water resources continues to show, from 1951 to the present, a statistically significant negative trend.

The indicator provides on an annual basis the assessment, expressed as a percentage, of the ratio between the annual volume of the runoff (surface preselling) and the annual volume of precipitation. This indicator aims to provide an assessment of the amount of water that is directly transformed into a surface runflow compared to total precipitation and to assess the trend over the long term, also in relation to the possible impact due to climate change. The annual values of the indicator shall also be compared with the corresponding average value calculated over the entire period 1951–2024.

In 2024, the value of the indicator was 26.1%, higher than the average value of 25.1% in the long term. This shows a trend reversal compared to 2023, in which there was a value of 23.7%, below the average. The comparison is even more marked with 2022, the year in which the indicator reached an all-time low of 18.5%.

The indicator provides an overview of the health status of common migratory passerine bird populations in Europe through an assessment of their resilience to climate change. The increase in spring temperatures due to global warming causes an earlier seasonal onset of vegetation and, consequently, of the insect peak. As a result, if migratory birds do not advance their arrival at breeding sites to the same extent, they fail to encounter an abundance of prey at the critical time for feeding chicks. A failure to advance migration timing therefore translates into low resilience of migratory populations to climate change, with negative consequences for their survival.

The analysis focuses on the temporal variation in the arrival dates of migratory passerines at stopover sites used after crossing the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea during their spring journey from Africa to European breeding grounds. Based on an analysis of the migration dates of 10 bird species recorded at 26 ringing stations participating in the ISPRA Small Islands Project from 1988 to 2024 (37 years), it is observed that 60% of the studied species show a migration advance that is too slow (about 1 day every 7+ years) to be considered sufficient to offset the effects of climate change.

The indicator provides an assessment of the humidity conditions (surplus of precipitation compared to climatology) and drought (deficit of precipitation with respect to climatology) to which the national territory is subject, in terms of state and trend. For each month from 1952 to 2024, the percentage of Italian territory subject to a deficit and/or precipitation surplus is expressed through the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) relating to aggregate precipitation on the time scale of 3 and 12 months.

The 2024 was characterized, overall on a national scale, by a surplus of precipitation, to which the high volume of precipitation that poured into northern Italy contributed. Central Italy, South and the major islands have, on the other hand, continued to be characterized by a precipitation deficit.

This resulted in the highest percentage values of the national territory characterized by "extreme drought" (SPI -2.0) equal to 0.5% and 16.1%, respectively for cumulative precipitation over 3 months and the cumulative one over 12 months. The maximum percentage of national territory characterized by "severe or moderate drought" (?2.0 ? SPI ?1.0) was, instead, 24.1% on a time scale of 3 months and 28.5% on a 12-month time scale. On the other hand, on the 3-month time scale, the maximum values in the year of the percentage of the national territory characterized by "extreme humidity" (SPI ? 2.0) were 14.1%, while the maximum value relative to "severe or moderate humidity" (1.0 ? SPI ? 2.0) was equal to 42.1%. On a 12-month time scale, the percentage of the country affected by "extreme humidity" reached a maximum value of 20.8%, while the percentage with "severe or moderate humidity" reached a maximum of 28.4%.

The phenomenon of forest fires analyzed based on data collected from 1970 to 2023 by the State Forestry Corps, now CUFA (Carabinieri Forestry, Environmental and Agri-food Unit Command), shows a fluctuating trend, with peak years (1993, 2007, 2017, 2021) alternating with years of decline (2013, 2014, 2018). The presence of fires within Protected Areas is high, with exceptionally large burned areas recorded in certain years, such as 2021 and 2022, when 26,507 hectares and 11,101 hectares were affected by fire, respectively.

The incidence of intentional fires is very high, accounting for approximately half of all recorded events and exceeding 60% in some years (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020).

The indicator illustrates electricity consumption in the tourism sector, identified by the ATECO category "Accommodation and Food Service Activities". In 2023, this sector accounted for 4.2% of total electricity consumption in Italy. When considering only accommodation activities—such as hotels, campsites, and other short-term lodging facilities—this share drops to 1.5%. In 2023, within the "accommodation" subcategory, 83.8% of electricity consumption was attributable to "hotels and similar establishments".

The indicator provides information about the major landslide events caused fatalities, injuries, evacuations, damage to buildings, cultural heritage, and primary linear communication infrastructure or service networks in the national territory in the past year. The major landslide events occurred in 2023 were 192, with 11 deaths, 24 injuries, and damage mainly to the road network and buildings.

In 2023, Italy experienced one of the hottest years in the last 150 years, second only to 2022. The average and maximum temperatures reached new records with October recording temperatures more than 3°C higher than the 1991-2021 average, marking the highest value since 1961. During the summer, intense heatwaves affected the country, with record temperatures of 48.2°C recorded on July 24 in Jerzu and Lotzorai in Sardinia, and 41.2°C in Rome in early August. Drought continued to be a significant problem, with Northern and Central Italy experiencing severe drought conditions in the first four months of the year, which later eased. However, in the last three months of the year, Sicily and parts of Ionian Calabria suffered from extreme drought with a significant precipitation deficit.
Extreme weather events affected several regions, causing severe damage. In May, Emilia-Romagna was devastated by two exceptional rainfall events, leading to flooding, landslides, and 17 fatalities. On November 2, heavy thunderstorms in Tuscany caused flooding and 8 deaths, with exceptional rainfall recorded in the provinces of Pisa, Livorno, Pistoia, and Prato.
In summary, 2023 was characterized by record temperatures, persistent drought, and extreme weather events that had a significant impact on various italian regions.

White Certificates, also known as “Energy Efficiency Titles” (EET) were introduced by Ministerial Decree of 24 April 2001 to promote the implementation of energy efficiency measures in end-use sectors to meet national energy savings targets for obligated parties. TEE are tradable securities that certify energy savings achieved in energy end-use through the implementation of specific interventions to increase energy efficiency. Each certificate represents a saving equivalent to one tonne of oil equivalent (toe). The White Certificates (WC) mechanism has been gradually modified over the years, in line with legislative developments. In the 2006-2023 period, additional primary energy savings equal to approximately 29.3 Mtoe were certified and 58.5 million energy efficiency certificates were recognised.

The ratio of final energy consumption to total energy consumption measures the overall efficiency of converting energy from primary sources. The difference between these two values corresponds to losses in conversion processes (such as electricity generation and oil refining), internal consumption of power plants, and distribution losses. From 1990 to 2022, the average ratio in our country (70.6%) has been higher than the European average (62.6%). In recent years, a significant increase in the ratio has been observed.

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 62% in 2023).

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 81% in 2023), remains dominant compared to other transport modes.

Ocean warming is causing a geographical and depth shift in marine species more sensitive to temperature changes. In temperate zones, such as the Mediterranean, this phenomenon results in a northward expansion of warm-affinity species. Consequently, the composition of marine communities changes, affecting commercial fishery landings.

The mean temperature of the catch (MTC), which is the average inferred temperature preference of the exploited species weighted by their annual landings, is an index that has been used for evaluating the effect of sea warming on fisheries catches and marine ecosystems (Cheung et al., 2013).

Adriatic Sea (FAO Division 37.2.1): The mean temperature of the catch increased from 19.2°C (1987–1996 average) to 20.1°C (2012–2022 average), with a significant annual increase of 0.03°C.

Ionian Sea – Central Mediterranean (FAO Division 37.2.2): The mean temperature of the catch increased from 20.3°C (1987–1996 average) to 22.3°C (2012–2022 average), with a significant annual increase of 0.07°C.

Sardinian Sea – Western Mediterranean (FAO Division 37.1.3): The mean temperature of the catch increased from 20.5°C (1987–1996 average) to 22.5°C (2012–2022 average), with a significant annual increase of 0.07°C.

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.

This indicator measures the health impact of heatwaves on the elderly population (aged 65 and over) across 27 Italian cities included in the National Heatwave Health Prevention and Warning Plan. The plan is implemented by the National Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CCM) of the Ministry of Health and coordinated by the Epidemiology Department of the Lazio Regional Health Service (DEP Lazio). The cities are equipped with Heat Health Watch Warning (HHWW) systems to provide forecasts and alerts.

The summer of 2023 (15 May – 15 September) was characterized by temperatures above the seasonal reference average. Despite these elevated temperatures, observed mortality in the elderly population remained generally within expected levels. Monthly impact assessments highlighted increases in mortality rates associated with heatwave episodes during July and August in several monitored urban areas.

This indicator provides critical information for monitoring climate-related health risks and supports adaptation strategies aimed at reducing adverse health effects of heatwaves on vulnerable population groups.

The indicator is based on the ratio between atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions and final energy consumption by sector. The average value of emission intensities shows a difference between sectors related to the varying adoption of renewable sources. Overall, the emission intensity for final uses has decreased by 25.1% from 1990 to 2022.

The efficiency indicator, calculated for the years from 1990 to 2020, represents carbon dioxide emissions per unit of value added in the manufacturing and construction sectors in Italy. The substantial reduction in emission intensity over the years (-48% between 1990 and 2020) indicates an improvement in the level of efficiency achieved by the Italian manufacturing and construction industry.

The indicator provides an estimate of the input and removal of nitrogen and phosphorus in coastal environments where aquaculture activities take place. Specifically, fish farming contributes to the release of these nutrients, while mussel farming facilitates their removal.

The balance between the nutrient input from farmed fish and the nutrient removal by bivalve shellfish allows for a regional-level assessment of the net quantitative contribution of aquaculture to trophic processes along the Italian coastline.

At the national level, in 2020, estimates of the nitrogen and phosphorus balance from intensive fish farming and mussel farming showed a reduction compared to 2019. This decrease was due to:

• A decline in nutrient input resulting from lower fish production

• A decrease in nutrient removal due to the reduction in mussel production

  At the regional level, in Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Abruzzo, Molise, and Marche, the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus by mussels exceeded the input from farmed fish.

The indicator measures the primary energy, expressed in MJ, required to produce one kWh of electricity, or more precisely, it reflects the efficiency of converting primary energy from fossil fuel sources into electricity for final consumption. Available data highlight a reduction in specific energy consumption related to electricity production of 18.4% for gross production and 20% for net production between 1996 and 2022. The long-term trend of the indicator therefore shows an improvement in the electricity generation efficiency of the thermoelectric power plants.

In 2022, the contribution of cogeneration plants to total electricity production amounted to 37.1%, while the share of cogeneration in gross thermoelectric generation reached 53.1%.

The indicator provides an assessment of the trend of water volumes measured in bedside sections of some of the main Italian watercourses compared to the year and the previous decade. For 2021 it was possible to represent the data of scope for 6 sections of closure of as many waterways of national importance (Po, Arno, Adige, Bacchiglione, Serchio and Tiber). In 2021, the annual volumes drained in the measurement sections showed significant increases compared to 2020, with increases of between 6% and 25%, with the exception of the sections on the Adige and the Po.

The indicator provides a representation of the trend of the average monthly temperatures recorded in the provincial capital city / region during 2021, compared with that of the average monthly temperatures calculated for the same locations over the thirty-year period 1961-1990. During 2021 there was a general increase in average monthly temperatures compared to the reference period, with exceedances of the reference values on average for 8 months and in particular in the summer and winter months. It is mainly the cities of the North where the temperature increases assume significant values in species in the months of February and December. It should be noted that in the months of April and October the temperature values, in most of the capitals, were on average lower than in the reference period.

This section presents the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission intensity related to energy use in the paper and printing industry in Italy, analyzed both in relation to value added and to production volume. In 2020, compared to the previous year, emission intensity per unit of production decreased by 2.2%, while intensity per unit of value added increased by 2.7%. In terms of long-term trends since 1990, the indicator—calculated both by value added and production—shows a general increase. This indicator, covering the period 1990–2020, is reported annually to the European Commission as part of the EU greenhouse gas emissions monitoring mechanism and the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

The carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission intensity related to energy use in the Italian chemical industry is analysed in relation to the sector's value added. In 2020, the indicator increased by 1.7% compared to 2019, although it decreased by 61.5% relative to 1990. The data, covering the period 1990–2020, are reported annually to the European Commission as part of the greenhouse gas emission monitoring mechanism and in implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

The carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission intensity related to energy use in the non-metallic mineral processing industry in Italy is presented here, analyzed with reference both to the sector’s value added and to cement production. CO₂ emissions from energy processes in this industry decreased in absolute terms by 50.8% from 1990 to 2020. Over the same period, emission intensity per million euros of value added fell by 27.5%. These indicators, developed for the 1990–2020 period, are reported annually to the European Commission as part of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions monitoring mechanism and for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol during commitment periods.

This section presents the carbon dioxide emission intensity in the steel industry in Italy, analyzed with respect to both the sector's value added and steel production. Over the period from 1990 to 2020, a decrease of 74.3% in value added and 60.4% in steel production is recorded. These indicators, developed for the period 1990-2020, are communicated annually to the European Commission as part of the Community's greenhouse gas monitoring mechanism and for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol during the commitment periods. CO2 emissions from the steel industry decreased by 68.3% from 1990 to 2020. In 2020, emissions decreased by 18.55% compared to the previous year.

An economic system operates through energy inputs. The total energy consumption of resident units indicates the amount of energy used by economic activities and households for production and consumption activities, distinguishing energy uses from non-energy uses.

In 2021, the total energy consumption in Italy amounted to 7.05 exajoules, a 17.1% reduction compared to 2008. The total consumption is almost entirely for energy uses. In 2021, over two-thirds of the total energy use is attributable to productive activities. Among these, the top six activities for energy use (slightly more than half of total use) contribute to nearly 7% of Italy's Gross Domestic Product. 31% of the total energy use is due to household consumption (mainly heating/cooling and transport).

ISPRA also estimates the internal energy footprint, which allows the analysis of energy uses from the perspective of final domestic demand, highlighting the direct and indirect energy amounts embedded in the goods and services offered on the domestic market by Italian production chains.

Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Plans are the primary tools available to regional authorities to address the impacts of climate change and implement actions aimed at reducing territorial vulnerabilities. In Italy, the number of adopted regional strategies and plans remains very limited. Despite the absence of a binding regulatory framework and a national programmatic reference context, there are ongoing initiatives, projects, and climate vulnerability studies that are expected to lead toward the formal adoption of first Adaptation Strategies and subsequently Climate Change Adaptation Plans. The challenge posed by climate change urgently requires the definition and implementation of concrete actions to enhance territorial resilience.