Air Pollution in Italy

A continued rise in emission levels from the transport sector presents an ongoing air pollution challenge to Italian policy-makers, particularly in the face of increasing passenger and freight traffic (an increase of 132 percent between 1970 and 1991, which is among the highest found in the industrialized nations). Emissions in the transport sector increased between 12 and 32 percent for various pollutants over the 1980s and have continued to rise in the 1990s. Whatever limited gains have been achieved by existing emissions policies, it is clear that stricter and more comprehensive policies are needed, particularly because current target levels of NOx and VOCs are unlikely to be achieved at current rates of expansion in the transport sector. The other challenge facing Italy with respect to all environmental policies, including air pollution control, is that of coordination between central, regional and other levels of government. National-level institutions have lacked both the resources and organizational strength to manage this process effectively. In addition to their own weaknesses, central government agencies thus far have had great difficulty in guaranteeing uniform implementation of regulations across regions, reflecting a high degree of subnational government autonomy. To improve this coordination there is a pressing need for additional monetary resources, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and improved monitoring capabilities at both central and regional levels. This will only be possible to the degree that the regional and local administrative units are strengthened (institutionally and financially) so it is possible for them to fulfill effectively their responsibilities.

Environment and Pollution in Italy

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Italy is an Annex I country under the Kyoto Protocol.

Environmental awareness has grown in Italy in recent years, though air pollution remains a serious problem. Because of Italy's heavy reliance on imports to meet its energy needs, energy security and diversification of energy sources are a top priority in Italy's energy strategy. Italy is Well endowed with renewable energy resources, such as solar, biomass and geothermal, which could be captured and utilized for energy. The government's goal of doubling the country's

production of energy from renewable resources by 2012 will help enable Italy to meet its growing energy demand in a more sustainable manner.
As an Annex I country under the Kyoto Protocol, Italy has agreed to reduce its Carbon dioxide emissions by the 2008-2012 commitment period. However, the EU has decided to meet its requirements under the Protocol as a whole, rather than as individual signatories, with each member state given a different emissions target by the EU Commission. Under the EU plan, Italy must reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 6.5 percent below the 1990 level during 2008-2012; the country was 16 percent above this target in 2002. Italy emitted 448.7 million metric tons (Mmt) of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2002, slightly lower than 2001. The country consumed 7.6 quadrillion British Thermal Units (Btu) of total energy during 2002, also slightly lower than 2001. High energy prices have encouraged Italian energy consumers to become efficient, and both the energy intensity and carbon dioxide intensity of the Italian economy are some of the lowest rates amongst the 25 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Source: Energy Information Administration

Pollution Suddenly a Big Issue in Italy

By ROBERTO SURO, Special to the New York Times Published: November 18, 1988 In response to a series of environmental emergencies, angry and sometimes violent crowds have taken to the streets of several Italian cities recently to express what they call ''the rage of the poisoned.'' As Italy belatedly discovers that much of its air and water is severely polluted, the Government has quickly begun adopting clean-up plans in the face of demands for more ambitious action to prevent disasters. This little Adriatic port has been the scene of the most dramatic protests. The doors of Manfredonia's City Hall have been set afire, mobs have set up roadblocks sealing off the town for as long as three days and bombs have been set off near a petrochemical plant that has aroused anger. Elsewhere, strikes and other forms of protest have compelled the Government to change plans for handling toxic wastes, and Parliament is now considering a revamped energy policy because of an overwhelming vote against nuclear power plants in a national referendum last year. 'We Are Very, Very Late'

''We are very, very late in concerning ourselves with pollution because for decades we have been obsessed with achieving the maximum economic growth possible in the minimum amount of time,'' Environment Minister Giorgio Ruffolo said in an interview in his Rome office. ''Meanwhile,'' he added, ''environmental problems have built up along with popular dissatisfaction, and now both are exploding.'' Antonia Cederna, an independent leftist member of Parliament, said a dramatic cultural change is taking place in Italy, where ''the whole national territory is considered no man's land, something to be used and manipulated by whoever gets there first.'' ''The problem,'' Mr. Ruffolo said, ''is that everyone wants material wealth and a clean environment, but no one wants to pay the price because most Italians are happy so long as the pollution is somewhere else.'' Issue Suddenly Erupts Battles over the environment have been fought in the rest of Europe for years, but nowhere has the issue erupted so suddenly as in Italy. For instance, nearly five years behind some of its northern neighbors, Italy is now considering mandatory reductions in automobile emissions. Some environmentalists worry that the burst of interest is temporary. The Government has already been accused of lacking commitment to an ambitious, 10-year plan to clean up pollution in the Po River basin. After approving the plan, the Cabinet cut half the financing for the first year.

Smog Days: Italys Pollution Problem

When I was a kid in Pittsburgh and Connecticut, waking up to find snow on the ground was always exciting, because it meant the possibility of a snow day a day off from school due to dangerous road conditions. Id crouch over the radio, holding my breath for the longed-for announcement that my school district was closed, so Id be free to play all day in the wonderful snow. It snows very rarely here in Milan, never enough to close the schools. But in January we almost had an analogous phenomenon: smog days. Northern Italy normally gets enough rain in the winter to wash away the poisons belched into the air by oil-burning heating systems and far too many cars. But not this year: we went nearly sixty days with no rain at all. As we enjoyed the sunshine, the poisonous gases and particulates accumulated to dangerous levels. After the air quality had been officially terrible for nine days

in a row, environmental laws forced many communities to close their streets to traffic. In Milan, we had several Sundays of no cars at all, which was very pleasant; the streets were delightfully quiet. However, this was not likely to have much effect on the smog, because many Milanese go out of town on the weekends anyway and do their driving elsewhere. The next solution tried was four days of alternate license plates on even-numbered dates, only cars with even-numbered license plates could be on the road, and vice-versa for odd dates. This meant that many more people were forced to take public transport, so, to lighten the load on the buses, trams, and subways, the regional government also decreed that all middle- and highschool students would start school at 10:00 rather than 8:00. (The kids, of course, were heartbroken.) There was even the threat of a no-cars Friday, which would have meant closing all city and state government offices and schools, but then it rained just enough for a last-minute reprieve. Weve since had enough wind and rain to clear the air thoroughly, but the lesson gets clearer as the air gets murkier: Italy has a serious, long-term pollution problem that we cant depend on the weather to solve. Real, long-term solutions in sight? Few. For now, as for so many years, hopes of truly effective change appear to be lost in a sea of political wrangles, while more and more cars continue to squeeze into Italys smog-choked cities.

Pollution in Italy
Air Pollution Drinking Water Pollution and Unaccessibility Unsatisfaction with Garbage Disposal Dirty and Untidy Noise and Light Pollution Water Pollution Unsatisfaction to Spend Time in the City Unsatisfaction with Green and Parks in the City 71.15 % 33.93 % 51.79 % 58.93 % 64.29 % 46.43 % 63.46 % 51.92 %

Purity and Cleanliness in Italy

Air quality Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility Garbage Disposal Satisfaction Clean and Tidy Quiet and No Problem with Night Lights Water Quality Comfortable to Spend Time in the City Quality of Green and Parks 28.85 % 66.07 % 48.21 % 41.07 % 35.71 % 53.57 % 36.54 % 48.08 %

Reportees: 14 Last update : January, 2012