TY - JOUR AU1 - Pozzo, Barbara AU2 - Fanetti, Stefano AB - Due to the impact in 2020 of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic on the 2019 report, this report for 2020 also includes developments during 2019. (1) Introduction: Green Approaches to Tackle COVID-19 Crisis Italy has been (and still is) one of the countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has had some drastic effects on people’s daily lives and has led to a multi-faced shock to the economy. This unprecedented crisis requires unprecedented responses: the recovery could be turned into a real opportunity to make the right choices for the future, starting from the mutual reinforcement of objectives of social and environmental sustainability. In this light, the Cabinet of the second government of Premier Giuseppe Conte (recently resigned) approved the draft of the Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan in January 2021, with great emphasis placed on the green transition in line with the European Union (EU) rules and recommendations. Obviously, something could change with the advent of the new government and with the passage of the plan in parliament, but certainly the plan, to be sent to the Commission in its final version by the end of April 2021, will confirm a decidedly green approach. Beyond future developments, it must be said that, as well as confirming and/or strengthening existing measures, tax incentives have already been passed with the aim of promoting green recovery, including: an 110 percent ecobonus (or 110 percent renovation bonus)—that is, a tax deduction of 110 percent of the costs incurred in improving a home’s energy efficiency and earthquake proofing (art. 119 of Law Decree no. 34/2020, the so-called Decreto Rilancio or Relaunch Decree. The Law Decree was converted into Law no. 77/2020 with modifications) and a mobility bonus that establishes a voucher (equal to 60 percent of the costs incurred, up to a maximum of €500) for the purchase of bicycles, pedal-assisted bicycles, and electric micro mobility—scooters, segways, hoverboards, and monowheels (art. 229 of Law Decree no. 34/2020). The beneficiary must be of age and resident in regional capitals, in ‘metropolitan cities,’ in provincial capitals, or in any municipality with a population greater than 50,000 inhabitants (note: the ‘metropolitan cities’ are administrative divisions of Italy, in place since 2015, which represent a sort of special type of province. The metropolitan city is composed of a central city and smaller surrounding towns that have a strong relation with the central city on economic activities, essential public services, and so on). In addition, administrative simplifications were introduced to encourage the green transition. In particular, Article 56 of the so-called Decreto Semplificazioni (Simplification Decree (Law Decree no. 76/2020; the Law Decree was converted into Law no. 120/2020 with modifications)) contains provisions aimed at simplifying and rationalizing the administrative procedures for the construction of renewable energy plants and provides for mechanisms aimed at encouraging the upgrading and the reconstruction of obsolete plants for generating electricity from renewable sources. Moreover, Article 57 of the same Decree concerns the simplification of the rules for the construction of electric vehicle charging points and stations. Furthermore, it must be underlined that the same Law Decree introduced provisions aimed at simplifying and accelerating the environmental impact assessment procedures (see, in particular, art. 50 of Law Decree no. 76/2020 as converted into Law no. 120/2020). Referring in a more general way to the evaluation of the so-called eco-efficiency, the green indicators reveal Italy’s relatively good overall performance. As far as renewable energies are concerned, there are, and already have been, positive developments. According to the data provided by Eurostat, 18.2 percent of national energy consumption was generated by renewables and the share of renewable energy in in gross electricity consumption reached 34.8 percent (). Still on the subject of renewables, photovoltaic energy has returned to growth in Italy despite the crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic: in the first half of the year, new installations increased by 12 percent compared to the same period of 2019, with a forecast for new installed capacity throughout 2020 equal to approximately 0.8 gigawatts. Furthermore, in the two-year period of 2021–22, photovoltaics will drive the growth of the entire renewable energy sector thanks also to tax incentives, including the aforementioned 110 percent tax rebate (see International Energy Agency, Renewables 2020: Analysis and Forecast to 2025, 60 ; ENEA, Energia: Report ENEA – IEA, tornano a crescere gli impianti fotovoltaici in Italia (+12%) (3 December 2020) ). In regard to the field of energy efficiency, in 2018—the latest year for which consolidated data are available—Italy showed a good performance, having an energy intensity (the amount of energy needed to produce €1 of gross domestic product second only to that of the United Kingdom among the main European countries (definition provided by Sustainable Development Foundation, Green Economy Perspectives: Italy Outlook 2017, 17 ). In particular, the Italian energy intensity values (91.4 tonnes of oil equivalent (toe) needed to produce 1 million euro (M€) of wealth) have been lower than both the average of the European Union countries (104.9 toe/M€) and the average of the countries belonging to the eurozone (104.5 toe/M€) (Ministry of Economic Development: Directorate-General for Energy Supply, Efficiency and Competitiveness, Annual Report on Energy Efficiency: Results Achieved and Targets for 2020 (April 2020) (report drawn up by the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) and approved by the Ministry of Economic Development in accordance with art. 17.2 of Legislative Decree no. 102/2014 transposing EU Directive 2012/27 on Energy Efficiency, 5 ()). Instead, with regard to urban waste, Italy is at an average European level, some far behind the most virtuous countries, such as Germany: in 2018, the rate of urban waste recycled or recovered was equal to 75 percent (EU27— the twenty-eight European Union (EU) countries less the United Kingdom, which was leaving the European Union–75 percent); EU28—all the EU countries including the United Kingdom–76 percent), of which 32 percent is recycling (EU27: 31 percent; EU28: 31 percent), 23 percent is composting and aerobic/anaerobic digestion (EU27: 17 percent; EU28: 17 percent), and 20 percent is energy recovery (EU27: 27 percent; EU28: 28 percent). The remaining urban waste is incinerated (Italy: 1 percent; EU27: 1 percent; EU28: 1 percent) or stored in landfill or other kinds of storage (Italy: 24 percent; EU27: 24 percent; EU28: 23 percent) (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Rapporto Rifiuti Urbani Edizione 2020, Rapporti 331/2020 at 8 ). (2) Climate Decree In October 2019, the Italian government issued Law Decree no. 111/2019, Misure urgenti per il rispetto degli obblighi previsti dalla Direttiva 2008/50/CE sulla qualità dell’aria e proroga del termine di cui all’articolo 48, commi 11 e 13, del decreto-legge 17 ottobre 2016, n. 189 (Urgent Measures to Comply with the Obligations Laid Down in EC Directive 2008/50 on Air Quality and Extension of the Term Set in Article 48(11) and (13) of Law Decree no. 189 (17 October 2016)), the so-called ‘Climate Decree’ (the Law Decree was converted into Law no. 141/2019 with modifications). This was one of the first decrees of the second Conte government (which had then just taken office) () and a step towards climate protection, representing an innovative framework for applying international and EU policies aimed at preventing and mitigating the impacts of climate change (see F. Lombardi, R. Tognetti, and M. Marchetti, ‘Il Decreto CLIMA: nuove opportunità per le aree forestali ad elevato valore naturalistico,’ Forest@ 2019, vol. 16, at 83–5 ). In this light, the Climate Decree (as converted into Law no. 141/2019) has provided for a set of actions, including: a fund called Programma#iosonoAmbiente (#IAmEvironment Program), with a total budget of €6 million for the three-year period of 2020–22, aimed at launching information, training, and awareness campaigns on environmental issues in schools of all levels (art. 1-ter); a fund called Programma sperimentale buono mobilità (Mobility bonus experimental program), devoted to cities and areas subject to European infringement proceedings for air quality, that established a voucher of up to €1,500 for the scrapping of cars up to class EURO 3 and up to €500 for two-stroke motorcycles (classes EURO 2-3), to be used for the purchase of passes for public transport or (normal/electric) bicycles (art. 2); see, however, the updated version of this provision on ; €20 million (10 million for each of the years 2020 and 2021) for funding experimental projects, presented by municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants affected by the EU infringement proceedings on air quality, for the realization or implementation of the school transport service with hybrid or electric means of transport (art. 3); the funding of an experimental program for the reforestation of ‘metropolitan cities’, for a total amount of €30 million for the two-year period of 2020–1 (15 million for each of the years 2020 and 2021; thanks to art. 1 (570) of Law 178/2020, the sum has been increased by €3 million for 2021) (art. 4); a fund to incentivize safety measures, soil maintenance, and reforestation carried out by agricultural and forestry companies, with a budget of €3 million (€1 million for 2020 and €2 million for 2021) (art. 4-bis); and the experimental program Caschi verdi per l’ambiente (Green Helmets for the Environment) to implement international collaboration initiatives aimed at the environmental protection of national protected areas and other areas internationally recognized for their particular naturalistic value, with an overall budget of €6 million for the three-year period of 2020–22 (art. 5-ter). (3) National Plan for the Mitigation of Hydrogeological Risk, Restoration and Protection of the Environmental Resource (ProteggItalia) In February 2019, the Italian government approved the National Plan for the mitigation of hydrogeological risk and the restoration and protection of the environmental resource: the so-called ProteggItalia (ProtectItaly) (Prime Minister’s Decree 20 February 2019). The plan (contained in Annex A to the Decree) is based on four pillars: (i) emergency; (ii) prevention; (iii) maintenance; and (iv) simplification and governance strengthening. It is divided into a plurality of objective programs belonging to different administrations. The decree also contains the analytical overview of the overall financial resources on this matter, including the framework of the allocated and available resources (in Annex B) and the guidelines on the simplification of processes and organizational and governance strengthening (in Annex C). (4) Multilateral Environmental Agreements (A) Ratification of International Agreements (i) Minamata Convention on Mercury With Law no. 134 of 8 October 2020, Italy has ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury (signed on 10 October 2013 in Kumamoto, Japan). In order to implement this international treaty—designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds—the law assigns a key role to the Ministry of the Environment, identified as the competent national authority for the implementation of the provisions of the Convention and as national contact point for the exchange of information between the parties (art. 3(1)). Furthermore, within 180 days of the entry into force of the law, the mechanisms for ensuring the coordination of monitoring data collection activities will be established with a decree of the minister of the environment (art. 3(2)). (ii) Kiev Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers With Law no. 91 of 17 July 2020, Italy has ratified the Kiev Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (adopted in May 2003 by an extraordinary meeting of the parties to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) and entered into force in October 2009). The Protocol represents the first legally binding international instrument that obliges the parties to establish national pollution inventories or registers, based on a structured, computerized, and publicly accessible database. Thanks to this law, Italy has joined the list of parties to the Aarhus Convention that have ratified the protocol (approximately forty, including the EU). In any case, it should also be underlined that the Protocol is already applied in the EU, following the adoption of the E-PRTR regulation (EC Regulation 166/2006 Concerning the Establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register), implemented in Italy with the Decree of the President of the Republic no. 157/2011. (iii) Ratification of other international environmental agreements In the two-year period of 2019–20, the following international agreements concerning environmental issues were ratified by Italy: Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (Faro, 27 October 2005), ratified with Law 1 October 2020, no. 133; Protocol to amend the Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy of 29 July 1960, as amended by the Additional Protocol of 28 January 1964 and by the Protocol of 16 November 1982 (Paris, 12 February 2004), ratified with Law 23 July 2020, no. 97; Protocol to amend the Convention of 31 January 1963 supplementary to the Paris Convention of 29 July 1960 on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy, as amended by the Additional Protocol of 28 January 1964 and by the Protocol of 16 November 1982 (Paris, 12 February 2004), ratified with Law 23 July 2020, no. 97; and Nagoya–Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (Nagoya, 15 October 2010), ratified with Law 16 January 2019, no. 7. (B) Implementation of / Developments in Connection with Multilateral Environmental (i) Adaptation to climate change For the implementation of the Italian National Adaptation Strategy (adopted in 2015), in May 2016, the Directorate General for Climate and Energy of the Ministry of the Environment began the process towards a National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change (NAP), with the support of the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change. The NAP was drafted in December 2016. The process towards a NAP is still ongoing and the following steps have been taken: The Ministry of the Environment promoted a public consultation, closed in October 2017, on the draft document of the NAP. A second consultation was held in 2018 and led to a sharing of the NAP by the regions. Accepting the suggestions that emerged during the consultation with the regions, a strategic environmental assessment screening was carried out to determine whether the NAP should or should not be subject to the Strategic Environmental Assessment procedure. The screening took place from June to October 2020 and ended with the decision to submit the NAP to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (). In January 2021, the strategic environmental assessment on the NAP was opened and is currently underway (). (ii) Climate change mitigation In regard to other commitments undertaken by Italy in the field of climate change (and, in particular, in the context of the Paris Agreement), see the discussion later in this report. (5) Relations with the European Community (A) Infringement Procedures on Environmental Issues (i) Urban water waste treatment For failure to comply with the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (EEC Directive 91/271 Concerning Urban Waste-water Treatment; the Directive has been transposed in Italy by Legislative Decree no. 152/2006), which provides that all agglomerations with more than two thousand equivalent inhabitants must be provided with adequate sewerage networks and waste water treatment, Italy has twice been convicted by the Court of Justice of the European Union—in 2012 (Case C-565/10, infringement procedure no. 2004/2034) and in 2014 (Case C-85/13, infringement procedure no. 2009/2034)—and another infringement procedure was opened (no. 2014/2059). With the subsequent judgment of 31 May 2018 (case C-251/17), the court condemned Italy for failure to adopt all the measures necessary for the execution of the judgment of 19 July 2012 (Case C-565/10), to the payment of a lump sum of €25 million, as well as a penalty of €30.1 million for each semester of delay in the implementation of the measures necessary to comply with the aforementioned judgment. After this ruling, the European Commission launched a new infringement procedure (no. 2017/2181) for violation of the same directive (EEC Directive 91/271 Concerning Urban Waste-Water Treatment), in particular for absence or incorrect functioning of the waste water collection and/or treatment systems. In order to prevent any worsening of the current infringement proceedings, Italy decided on the creation of a single commissioner responsible for the coordination and implementation of practical measures to ensure the rapid adaptation to the EU legislation and thus to overcome all infringement procedures relating to the same issues. This commissioner is now assisted by two sub-commissioners (). (ii) Other infringements procedures in place at the end of 2020 (B) Legislation and Policy Adopted (i) Waste management / Circular economy Italy enacted the following laws to implement EU directives in the field of waste management: Legislative Decree 3 September, no. 121: Implementation of EU Directive 2018/850 amending Directive 1999/31/EC on the Landfill of Waste; Legislative Decree 3 September, no. 119: Implementation of Article 1 of EU Directive 2018/849 amending EC Directive 2000/53 on End-of life Vehicles; Legislative Decree 3 September, no. 118: Implementation of Articles 2 and 3 of EU Directive 2018/849 amending EC Directive 2006/66 on Batteries and Accumulators and Waste batteries and Accumulators and EU Directive 2012/19 on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment; Legislative Decree 3 September, no. 116: Implementation of EU Directive 2018/851 amending EC Directive 2008/98 on Waste and Implementation of EU Directive 2018/852 amending EC Directive 1994/62 on Packaging and Packaging Waste. (ii) Restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment With Legislative Decree 12 May 2020, no. 42, Italy recently implemented EU Directive 2017/2102 amending EU Directive 2011/65 on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment. (iii) Forestry In accordance with the provisions of LULUCF Regulation (EU Regulation 2018/841 on the Inclusion of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals from Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry in the 2030 Climate and Energy Framework), the Ministry of the Environment submitted to the EU Commission (31 December 2019) the Italian National Forestry Accounting Plan (). The plan takes into account the technical recommendations provided by the Commission (SWD (2019) 213 final). The plan contains the Italian Forest Reference Level for the period of 2021–25, in accordance with Article 8(3) of the aforementioned LULUCF Regulation. In this field, the process for the adoption of the ‘National Forest Strategy for the forest sector and the forest chains’ is currently ongoing (). This document, submitted for public consultation in 2020, promotes, with a long-term vision, the protection, enhancement, and sustainable management of the national forest heritage, as well as the development of the sector and its production, environmental, and socio-cultural chains, implementing the commitments undertaken at the international and European levels, with particular reference to the EU Forest Strategy (COM (2013) 659 final) and the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–30 (). (iv) Climate change, energy, and air quality In the period of 2019–20, Italy adopted several laws to implement EU directives in the field of climate change, energy, and air quality: Legislative Decree 30 July 2020, no. 102: Supplementary and corrective provisions to Legislative Decree 15 November 2017, no. 183, implementing EU Directive 2015/2193 on the Limitation of Emissions of Certain Pollutants into the Air from Medium Combustion Plants, as well as for the reorganization of the regulatory framework of establishments that produce emissions into the atmosphere, pursuant to Article 17 of Law 12 August 2016, no. 170; Legislative Decree 14 July 2020, no. 73: Implementation of EU Directive 2018/2002 amending EU Directive 2012/27 on Energy Efficiency; Legislative Decree 10 June 2020, no. 48: Implementation of EU Directive 2018/844 amending EU Directive 2010/31 on the Energy Performance of Buildings and EU Directive 2012/27 on Energy Efficiency; Legislative Decree 9 June 2020, no. 47: EU Implementation of Directive 2018/410 amending EC Directive 2003/87 to enhance Cost-effective Emission Reductions and Low-carbon investments, as well as adaptation of national legislation to the provisions of EU Regulation 2017/2392 relating to Air Transport Activities and of EU Decision 2015/1814 concerning the Establishment and Operation of a Market Stability Reserve; Legislative Decree 25 July 2019, no. 83: Regulation of sanctions for the violation of the provisions of EU Regulation 2015/757 on the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Maritime Transport; and Legislative Decree 21 February 2019, no. 23: Implementation of delegation referred to in Article 7(1) and (3) of Law no. 163 of 25 October 2017 for adaptation of national legislation to the provisions of EU Regulation 2016/426 on Appliances burning Gaseous Fuels and repealing EC Directive 2009/142. Table 1 Number . Subject . State . 2020_2331 Failure to submit the national long-term renovation strategy required under Article 2a of EU Directive 2010/31 on the Energy Performance of Buildings) Formal notice art. 258 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) 2020_2299 Air quality: particulate matter 2.5 annual limit value exceedances; Bad application of EC Directive 2008/50 on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2266 Failure to adopt a national program compliant with the requirements of EURATOM Directive 2011/70 establishing a Community Framework for the Responsible and Safe Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2220 Bad application of EU Directive 2016/2284 on National Emission Ceilings Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2111 Restrictions of access to justice under EC Directive 2004/35 on Environmental Liability with Regard to the Prevention and Remedying of Environmental Damage Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2065 Bad application of EU Directive 2014/94 on the Deployment of Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_0210 Failure to transpose EU Delegated Directive 2020/363 amending Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC on End-of-life Vehicles as regards certain exemptions for lead and lead compounds in components Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_0209 Failure to transpose EU Delegated Directive 2020/362 amending Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC on End-of-life Vehicles as regards the exemption for hexavalent chromium as anti-corrosion agent of the carbon steel cooling system in absorption refrigerators in motor caravans Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2019_2308 Non-Conformity of the Italian legislation with EU Directive 2011/92 on the assessment of the Effects of certain Public and Private Projects on the Environment, as amended by EU Directive 2014/52 Formal notice of the art. 258 TFEU 2019_0329 Failure to transpose EU Directive 2018/410 amending EC Directive 2003/87 to Enhance Cost-effective Emission Reductions and Low-carbon Investments, and Decision (EU) 2015/1814 Formal notice of the art. 258 TFEU 2018_2258 Failure to comply with EU Directive 2012/27 on Energy Efficiency Formal notice of the art. 258 TFEU 2018_2249 Monitoring water quality, designation of Nitrates Vulnerables Zones and content of the Action Programmes Additional formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2018_2021 Failure to correctly transpose certain requirements of EURATOM Directive 2011/70 establishing a Community Framework for the Responsible and Safe Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2015_2163 Failure to fulfil obligations under EEC Directive 92/43 on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora. Failure to designate the EU-listed sites of Community importance as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Failure to establish the necessary conservation measures Additional formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2015_2043 Breach of EC Directive 2008/50 on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe As Regards the Respect of Nitrogen Oxide Limit Values in Italy Referral to Court art. 258 of the TFEU 2014_2147 Air quality: particulate matter 10 limit values exceedances Referral to Court art. 258 of the TFEU 2014_2125 Bad application of EC Directive 98/83 on the Quality of Water intended for Human Consumption: arsenic and fluoride in drinking water Reasoned opinion art. 258 of the TFEU 2013_2177 Ilva steel plant in Taranto: Breach of the IPPC and EC Directive 2008/1 Concerning Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control and EU Directive 2010/75 on Industrial Emissions Reasoned opinion art. 258 of the TFEU 2013_2022 Bad application of EC Directive 2002/49 on Environmental Noise (noise maps in Italy) Reasoned opinion art. 258 of the TFEU 2011_2215 Breach of art. 14 of EC Directive 1999/31 on the Landfill of Waste in Italy Referral to Court art. 258 of the TFEU 2007_2195 Waste management in Campania Referral to Court art. 260 of the TFEU 2003_2077 Waste: illegal landfills in Italy Referral to Court art. 260 of the TFEU Number . Subject . State . 2020_2331 Failure to submit the national long-term renovation strategy required under Article 2a of EU Directive 2010/31 on the Energy Performance of Buildings) Formal notice art. 258 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) 2020_2299 Air quality: particulate matter 2.5 annual limit value exceedances; Bad application of EC Directive 2008/50 on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2266 Failure to adopt a national program compliant with the requirements of EURATOM Directive 2011/70 establishing a Community Framework for the Responsible and Safe Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2220 Bad application of EU Directive 2016/2284 on National Emission Ceilings Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2111 Restrictions of access to justice under EC Directive 2004/35 on Environmental Liability with Regard to the Prevention and Remedying of Environmental Damage Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2065 Bad application of EU Directive 2014/94 on the Deployment of Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_0210 Failure to transpose EU Delegated Directive 2020/363 amending Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC on End-of-life Vehicles as regards certain exemptions for lead and lead compounds in components Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_0209 Failure to transpose EU Delegated Directive 2020/362 amending Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC on End-of-life Vehicles as regards the exemption for hexavalent chromium as anti-corrosion agent of the carbon steel cooling system in absorption refrigerators in motor caravans Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2019_2308 Non-Conformity of the Italian legislation with EU Directive 2011/92 on the assessment of the Effects of certain Public and Private Projects on the Environment, as amended by EU Directive 2014/52 Formal notice of the art. 258 TFEU 2019_0329 Failure to transpose EU Directive 2018/410 amending EC Directive 2003/87 to Enhance Cost-effective Emission Reductions and Low-carbon Investments, and Decision (EU) 2015/1814 Formal notice of the art. 258 TFEU 2018_2258 Failure to comply with EU Directive 2012/27 on Energy Efficiency Formal notice of the art. 258 TFEU 2018_2249 Monitoring water quality, designation of Nitrates Vulnerables Zones and content of the Action Programmes Additional formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2018_2021 Failure to correctly transpose certain requirements of EURATOM Directive 2011/70 establishing a Community Framework for the Responsible and Safe Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2015_2163 Failure to fulfil obligations under EEC Directive 92/43 on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora. Failure to designate the EU-listed sites of Community importance as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Failure to establish the necessary conservation measures Additional formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2015_2043 Breach of EC Directive 2008/50 on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe As Regards the Respect of Nitrogen Oxide Limit Values in Italy Referral to Court art. 258 of the TFEU 2014_2147 Air quality: particulate matter 10 limit values exceedances Referral to Court art. 258 of the TFEU 2014_2125 Bad application of EC Directive 98/83 on the Quality of Water intended for Human Consumption: arsenic and fluoride in drinking water Reasoned opinion art. 258 of the TFEU 2013_2177 Ilva steel plant in Taranto: Breach of the IPPC and EC Directive 2008/1 Concerning Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control and EU Directive 2010/75 on Industrial Emissions Reasoned opinion art. 258 of the TFEU 2013_2022 Bad application of EC Directive 2002/49 on Environmental Noise (noise maps in Italy) Reasoned opinion art. 258 of the TFEU 2011_2215 Breach of art. 14 of EC Directive 1999/31 on the Landfill of Waste in Italy Referral to Court art. 258 of the TFEU 2007_2195 Waste management in Campania Referral to Court art. 260 of the TFEU 2003_2077 Waste: illegal landfills in Italy Referral to Court art. 260 of the TFEU Open in new tab Table 1 Number . Subject . State . 2020_2331 Failure to submit the national long-term renovation strategy required under Article 2a of EU Directive 2010/31 on the Energy Performance of Buildings) Formal notice art. 258 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) 2020_2299 Air quality: particulate matter 2.5 annual limit value exceedances; Bad application of EC Directive 2008/50 on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2266 Failure to adopt a national program compliant with the requirements of EURATOM Directive 2011/70 establishing a Community Framework for the Responsible and Safe Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2220 Bad application of EU Directive 2016/2284 on National Emission Ceilings Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2111 Restrictions of access to justice under EC Directive 2004/35 on Environmental Liability with Regard to the Prevention and Remedying of Environmental Damage Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2065 Bad application of EU Directive 2014/94 on the Deployment of Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_0210 Failure to transpose EU Delegated Directive 2020/363 amending Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC on End-of-life Vehicles as regards certain exemptions for lead and lead compounds in components Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_0209 Failure to transpose EU Delegated Directive 2020/362 amending Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC on End-of-life Vehicles as regards the exemption for hexavalent chromium as anti-corrosion agent of the carbon steel cooling system in absorption refrigerators in motor caravans Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2019_2308 Non-Conformity of the Italian legislation with EU Directive 2011/92 on the assessment of the Effects of certain Public and Private Projects on the Environment, as amended by EU Directive 2014/52 Formal notice of the art. 258 TFEU 2019_0329 Failure to transpose EU Directive 2018/410 amending EC Directive 2003/87 to Enhance Cost-effective Emission Reductions and Low-carbon Investments, and Decision (EU) 2015/1814 Formal notice of the art. 258 TFEU 2018_2258 Failure to comply with EU Directive 2012/27 on Energy Efficiency Formal notice of the art. 258 TFEU 2018_2249 Monitoring water quality, designation of Nitrates Vulnerables Zones and content of the Action Programmes Additional formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2018_2021 Failure to correctly transpose certain requirements of EURATOM Directive 2011/70 establishing a Community Framework for the Responsible and Safe Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2015_2163 Failure to fulfil obligations under EEC Directive 92/43 on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora. Failure to designate the EU-listed sites of Community importance as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Failure to establish the necessary conservation measures Additional formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2015_2043 Breach of EC Directive 2008/50 on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe As Regards the Respect of Nitrogen Oxide Limit Values in Italy Referral to Court art. 258 of the TFEU 2014_2147 Air quality: particulate matter 10 limit values exceedances Referral to Court art. 258 of the TFEU 2014_2125 Bad application of EC Directive 98/83 on the Quality of Water intended for Human Consumption: arsenic and fluoride in drinking water Reasoned opinion art. 258 of the TFEU 2013_2177 Ilva steel plant in Taranto: Breach of the IPPC and EC Directive 2008/1 Concerning Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control and EU Directive 2010/75 on Industrial Emissions Reasoned opinion art. 258 of the TFEU 2013_2022 Bad application of EC Directive 2002/49 on Environmental Noise (noise maps in Italy) Reasoned opinion art. 258 of the TFEU 2011_2215 Breach of art. 14 of EC Directive 1999/31 on the Landfill of Waste in Italy Referral to Court art. 258 of the TFEU 2007_2195 Waste management in Campania Referral to Court art. 260 of the TFEU 2003_2077 Waste: illegal landfills in Italy Referral to Court art. 260 of the TFEU Number . Subject . State . 2020_2331 Failure to submit the national long-term renovation strategy required under Article 2a of EU Directive 2010/31 on the Energy Performance of Buildings) Formal notice art. 258 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) 2020_2299 Air quality: particulate matter 2.5 annual limit value exceedances; Bad application of EC Directive 2008/50 on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2266 Failure to adopt a national program compliant with the requirements of EURATOM Directive 2011/70 establishing a Community Framework for the Responsible and Safe Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2220 Bad application of EU Directive 2016/2284 on National Emission Ceilings Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2111 Restrictions of access to justice under EC Directive 2004/35 on Environmental Liability with Regard to the Prevention and Remedying of Environmental Damage Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_2065 Bad application of EU Directive 2014/94 on the Deployment of Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_0210 Failure to transpose EU Delegated Directive 2020/363 amending Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC on End-of-life Vehicles as regards certain exemptions for lead and lead compounds in components Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2020_0209 Failure to transpose EU Delegated Directive 2020/362 amending Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC on End-of-life Vehicles as regards the exemption for hexavalent chromium as anti-corrosion agent of the carbon steel cooling system in absorption refrigerators in motor caravans Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2019_2308 Non-Conformity of the Italian legislation with EU Directive 2011/92 on the assessment of the Effects of certain Public and Private Projects on the Environment, as amended by EU Directive 2014/52 Formal notice of the art. 258 TFEU 2019_0329 Failure to transpose EU Directive 2018/410 amending EC Directive 2003/87 to Enhance Cost-effective Emission Reductions and Low-carbon Investments, and Decision (EU) 2015/1814 Formal notice of the art. 258 TFEU 2018_2258 Failure to comply with EU Directive 2012/27 on Energy Efficiency Formal notice of the art. 258 TFEU 2018_2249 Monitoring water quality, designation of Nitrates Vulnerables Zones and content of the Action Programmes Additional formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2018_2021 Failure to correctly transpose certain requirements of EURATOM Directive 2011/70 establishing a Community Framework for the Responsible and Safe Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2015_2163 Failure to fulfil obligations under EEC Directive 92/43 on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora. Failure to designate the EU-listed sites of Community importance as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Failure to establish the necessary conservation measures Additional formal notice art. 258 of the TFEU 2015_2043 Breach of EC Directive 2008/50 on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe As Regards the Respect of Nitrogen Oxide Limit Values in Italy Referral to Court art. 258 of the TFEU 2014_2147 Air quality: particulate matter 10 limit values exceedances Referral to Court art. 258 of the TFEU 2014_2125 Bad application of EC Directive 98/83 on the Quality of Water intended for Human Consumption: arsenic and fluoride in drinking water Reasoned opinion art. 258 of the TFEU 2013_2177 Ilva steel plant in Taranto: Breach of the IPPC and EC Directive 2008/1 Concerning Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control and EU Directive 2010/75 on Industrial Emissions Reasoned opinion art. 258 of the TFEU 2013_2022 Bad application of EC Directive 2002/49 on Environmental Noise (noise maps in Italy) Reasoned opinion art. 258 of the TFEU 2011_2215 Breach of art. 14 of EC Directive 1999/31 on the Landfill of Waste in Italy Referral to Court art. 258 of the TFEU 2007_2195 Waste management in Campania Referral to Court art. 260 of the TFEU 2003_2077 Waste: illegal landfills in Italy Referral to Court art. 260 of the TFEU Open in new tab In January, the Ministry of Economic Development published the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), prepared with the Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Natural Resources and the Sea and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (). The PNIEC was sent to the European Commission in accordance with EU Regulation 2018/1999 (EU Regulation 2018/1999 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, Directives 94/22/EC, 98/70/EC, 2009/31/EC, 2009/73/EC, 2010/31/EU, 2012/27/EU, and 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives (EC) 2009/119 and (EU) 2015/652 and repealing EU Regulation no. 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council), thus completing the process started in December 2018 with the involvement of institutions, citizens, and stakeholders. The PNIEC sets forth the national objectives for 2030 on energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, as well as the objectives on energy security, interconnections, single energy market and competitiveness, development, and sustainable mobility, outlining for each of them the measures that will be implemented to ensure their achievement. In February 2021, the Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Natural Resources and the Sea sent the National Long-term Strategy on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction to the European Commission (). The Strategy was developed as part of the commitments of the Paris Agreement, which invites signatory countries to communicate, by 2020, their long-term, low greenhouse gas emission development strategies. In this light, EU Regulation 2018/1999 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action sets out a process for the member states to prepare these strategies and new strategies every ten years thereafter (). The national long-term strategy identifies the possible paths to follow with the aim of reaching in Italy, by 2050, a condition of ‘climate neutrality,’ in which the remaining greenhouse gas emissions are offset by the absorption of carbon dioxide. The strategy starts with the PNIEC, which indicates the path to 2030, carrying the virtuous energy-environmental trends up to 2050. The types of proposals that can be activated to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 are therefore identified: a dramatic reduction in energy demand, linked in particular to a drop in consumption for private mobility and consumption in the civil sector; a radical change in the energy mix in favour of renewables, combined with a significant electrification of end uses and the production of hydrogen; and an increase in absorption provided by forest areas (including forest soils), that should be obtained through sustainable management, restoration of degraded surfaces, and reforestation interventions. © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model) TI - H. Italy JF - The Yearbook of International Environmental Law Series DO - 10.1093/yiel/yvab034 DA - 2021-12-06 UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/oxford-university-press/h-italy-0e6MlGq3P0 SP - 182 EP - 191 VL - 31 IS - 1 DP - DeepDyve ER -