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