In Italy, geothermal energy, renewable and sustainable, is concentrated in 10 concessions in Tuscany with 34 plants that, in 2023, produced 5,692 GWh, covering 31% of the regional demand and 70% of Tuscany's renewable energy sources.

The direct uses of geothermal heat (climate control, spa use, district heating) and geothermal heat pumps, about 20,000, are growing but still underutilized compared to Northern European countries. The environmental impact is limited and mitigated by abatement systems (AMIS) and reinjection of fluids. Italian resources, concentrated in the Tuscan-Lazio area, also show potential for recovery of strategic elements such as lithium, crucial for the energy transition.

The indicator quantifies fossil fuel mineral resource extraction activities (oil and gas) in Italy, providing data on site locations, production, reserves, and potential environmental impacts. As of 30 November 2024, there are 154 production concessions (55 offshore), 23 exploration permits (6 offshore), and 15 gas storage concessions, mostly concentrated in the Po Valley. Oil production, concentrated in Basilicata (91% of the national total), remains stable, while gas production is declining, with 3 billion Sm³ extracted in 2023. The suspension of exploration activities since 2019 and the introduction of the PiTESAI plan have reduced the number of concessions, thereby mitigating environmental impact. Italy's proven reserves amount to 41.8 billion Sm³ of gas (65.2% onshore) and 84.6 million tonnes of oil, mainly in Basilicata and Sicily.

The indicator represents the number of geosites, geological sites of such significance that they warrant conservation and protection, that have been identified, described, and inventoried in ISPRA’s Geosites database. As of September 30, 2024, approximately 2,030 geosites have been recorded.

The Geological Mapping Project of Italy at a scale of 1:50,000 (CARG Project) aims to achieve complete coverage of the Italian territory through the creation of 636 sheets that make up the Geological Map of Italy at a scale of 1:50,000. As of now, the geological sheets currently in progress and those already completed cover approximately 62% of the national territory.

The indicator considers extraction sites for first-category minerals, as classified by current regulations, excluding fluid energy sources and mineral and/or thermal water springs, present in the national territory from 1870 to the present. It serves a dual purpose: identifying potential mineral deposits still exploitable with sustainable techniques and locating potential sources of pollution associated with past extraction methods.

Of the 3,016 sites that have been operational in the past 150 years, only 94 currently hold valid concessions, and 76 sites were active in 2020. 562 abandoned or decommissioned mining sites present a medium to high ecological and health risk. Several museum sites have been integrated into the National Network of Mining Museums and Parks (REMI), coordinated by ISPRA.