In the last seven years, Italy has made significant progress in decarbonizing its economy, the International Energy Agency said Friday in its latest review of the country. “Over the period since the last in-depth review in 2009, Italy has made strong progress in the development and implementation of energy policy,” the review says.
The IEA noted that Italy has worked to meet the recommendations contained in the 2009 evaluation: “Key policy recommendations contained in the last review such as the need to develop a comprehensive long-term energy strategy and the necessity for Italy to step up its efforts to comply with its European Union (EU) goals for 2020 regarding climate change and renewables obligations have been implemented. A national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction plan was adopted in 2013 and subsequently updated.”
The most notable advancement over the last seven years was the adoption of a national energy strategy (NES), according to the review. The NES establishes national goals for emissions reductions, integration of renewable energy integration into the nation’s energy mix, and energy efficiency. “The government is to be commended not only for adopting the new Strategy but also for the open manner in which it engaged with stakeholders and institutions during the consultation process,” the IEA said. “Nonetheless, the adoption of the Strategy is only a first step towards achieving the government’s energy goals. Monitoring and maintaining momentum will present a challenge for the government.”