Carbon dioxide emissions in Italy 1970-2023

Italy produced 301 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO₂) from energy use in 2023, a decrease of 7.3 percent from the previous year. CO₂ emissions in Italy grew by more than 45 percent between 1970 and 2005, to reach a peak of 470.2 MtCO₂. Since then, however, Italy's emissions have declined by more than 35 percent.

How has Italy reduced emissions?

Italy's falling emissions over the past two decades are mainly due to changes in the country's energy sector. Between 2005 and 2023, power sector emissions in Italy fell by 42 percent, owing to the reduced use of coal-fired electricity generation and the transition to cleaner energy sources. This has seen Italy's power sector carbon intensity reduce by roughly 35 percent since 2005. Italy has committed to stopping electricity generation from coal by the end of 2025 nationwide.

EU member state emission comparisons

Italy was the second-biggest carbon polluter in the European Union in 2023, behind only Germany and ahead of Poland. That year, Italy accounted for approximately 11 percent of total EU CO₂ emissions from energy use.