Dispatch from Italy | August '25
*** Get a bird's-eye view of Italy鈥檚 climate-friendly transition in the 麻豆无码版 Guide 鈥� Italy moves on green transition, but fossil fuel ties remain tight***
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Stories to watch in the weeks ahead
- Climate records 鈥� August, traditionally a holiday month in Italy, began with a powerful heatwave in many cities. It followed another spell of extreme heat in late June. July saw the country : the south saw temperatures reach 45掳C; while the north was battered by floods and landslides, particularly in the Alps, popular mountain destinations such as Cortina d鈥橝mpezzo in the Dolomites. Sardinia faced numerous wildfires along its coasts, , while a major blaze in the Vesuvius National Park near Naples by the civil protection service.
- CO2 emissions back on the rise 鈥� After two and a half years of decline, Italy鈥檚 CO鈧� emissions from energy use are back on the rise. In the first half of 2025, to have grown by about 1.5 percent compared to the same period in 2024, with most of the increase occurring in the first quarter that boosted heating demand. The power sector was also a primary driver: poor renewable energy output 鈥� hydropower down 20 percent and wind down 12 percent 鈥� combined with reduced electricity imports pushed gas-fired generation up by 10 percent. In the next five years, CO鈧� emissions per year 鈥� almost twice the reduction achieved .
- Electric car incentives, not for all 鈥� Italy 700 million euros in subsidies to boost electric vehicle (EV) adoption, offering up to 10,000 euros to private buyers scrapping older cars. The move comes as the country lags behind much of the EU in EV uptake: in 2024, only 4.2 percent of new registrations , placing Italy fifth from last in the Union. By contrast, in the first half of 2025, battery-electric vehicles EU-wide. The structural weakness of Italy鈥檚 car market is evident, with a total of just 1.5 million units in 2025, about 400,000 fewer than in 2019, and the average car on the road is 12.5 years old. Without incentives, , the transition will stall, especially after the government the planned ban on Euro 5 cars in the country鈥檚 most polluted areas. Environmental groups blasted the move as .鈥�
The latest from Italy 鈥� last month in recap
The latest from Italy 鈥� last month in recap
- Italy joins the Nuclear Alliance听 鈥� In June 2025, Italy , moving from observer status to an active member in working groups and strategic decision-making on the role of nuclear power in the future energy mix.听 A by ENEA, Italy鈥檚 national energy and environment agency, and Confindustria, the country鈥檚 main employers鈥� federation, estimates that new Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) technologies could generate around 117,000 jobs nationwide, with the first plant potentially coming . Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment and 麻豆无码版 Security 7.5 million euros in 2025鈥�2026 for public communication campaigns on nuclear energy and safety 鈥� by the renewables lobby FREE, which highlights the far smaller pot of funding available for promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy. [Read more in our Q&A: Italy considers controversial return to nuclear power]
- Italian court clears landmark climate case against Eni 鈥� Italy鈥檚 Supreme Court that a climate lawsuit brought by , and 12 citizens against oil and gas major Eni can proceed, in what campaigners called a 鈥渉istoric鈥� step for climate justice in the country. 鈥� along with state-controlled investors Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and the Ministry of Economy and Finance 鈥� of knowingly contributing to climate change for decades and failing to align its business with the Paris Agreement. The decision paves the way for the Rome tribunal to examine the merits of the case, which could eventually set a precedent for future climate litigation in Italy. it puts the country in line with other European states where fossil fuel companies have been held to account.
- A twenty鈥搚ear gas extraction deal 鈥� In July, the signing of a long-term agreement with US company Venture Global for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Under the contract, (MTPA) for two decades from the CP2 LNG project in Louisiana. For Eni, this marks its first long-term LNG agreement for supply from the United States and, , represents 鈥渁 key step in the expansion and diversification of its LNG portfolio,鈥� with part of the volumes destined to 鈥渞einforce Europe鈥檚 energy diversification.鈥� Analysts warn that : EU gas demand is falling and exposure to US politics and EU methane rules adds price and regulatory volatility, undercutting the agreement鈥檚 energy-security and climate rationale.
- Violent attacks on renewables 鈥� In July, armed with pickaxes and knives stormed a wind farm construction site in Tuscany鈥檚 Mugello region, vandalising equipment and threatening workers. The assault, claimed by the group (We are mountain), forced contractors to suspend operations and has been described by analysts as an act of 鈥渆co-terrorism.鈥� It follows a string of arson attacks against in 2024, underscoring growing tensions between clean energy expansion and local opposition in parts of Italy. strongly condemned the violence as 鈥渦nacceptable,鈥� stressing that the energy transition is a necessity and must proceed with the help of civil, inclusive dialogue. The project听 , and after years of legal challenges, the Tuscan administrative court (TAR) in January 2025 .
Rudi鈥檚 picks - Highlights from upcoming events and top reads
Rudi鈥檚 picks - Highlights from upcoming events and top reads
- New CMCC study on marine heatwaves in the Mediterranean 鈥� Marine heatwaves in the region have grown more frequent and intense in recent decades. 123 major events over four decades (1982鈥�2022), researchers found that weak wind conditions make such extremes 4鈥�5 times more likely, with temperature anomalies up to +3掳C. The findings shed light on the drivers of this trend and provide key insights for adaptation strategies.
- Reportage from Greece鈥檚 鈥減erfect firestorm鈥� 鈥� A powerful read from The Bulletin on .
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