Italy
Introduction
Italy is a founding member of the Global Methane Initiative (GMI), launched in 2004, and participates on the Biogas Subcommittee.
Italy is actively working to reduce methane emissions by promoting renewable energy sources and increasing the use of biogas. Italy’s latest National Plan Integrated for Energy and Climate outlines ambitious mitigation goals, targeting a 55% reduction in methane emissions below 1990 levels by 2030. These efforts, along with participation in international initiatives, demonstrate Italy’s commitment to addressing methane emissions and aligning its strategies with global climate goals.
Italy is currently active on the Biogas Subcommittee.
- Introduction
- Methane Emissions Summary
- Methane Commitments and Plans
- Methane Actions
- Ministries and Agencies Supporting Methane Actions
- GMI Delegates
Last Updated: October 2024
Methane Emissions Summary
Biennially, Italy develops an official national greenhouse gas (GHG) report that is submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). From 1990-2020, methane emissions from human activities in Italy decreased by approximately 13.4% from 49.5 MtCO2e to 42.8 MtCO2e. The rate of methane emission reductions lags behind the decrease in emissions from other greenhouse gases in Italy, which dropped approximately 28.1% over the same time period. Italy is committed to achieving additional methane emission reductions from the primary sources, including agriculture, waste, and fugitive emissions from fuels.
Trend in Methane Emission by Source, 1990-2020
Trend in Methane Emissions from Enteric Fermentation by Animal Type, 1990-2020
Trend in Methane Emissions from Manure Management by Animal Type, 1990-2020
Trend in Methane Emissions from Landfill Waste, 1990-2020
Trend in Methane Emissions from Wastewater, 1990-2020
Trend in Fugitive Methane Emissions from Energy Sources in the Oil & Gas Sector, with Projections, 1990-2030 
Source: Methane in the National Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Italy and the Global Methane Pledge. https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/files2022/pubblicazioni/rapporti/r374-2022-1.pdf
Methane Commitments and Plans
Methane mitigation efforts in Italy are guided by national and international commitments and plans. Italy also engages in partnerships dedicated to addressing methane.
National
- Italy’s National Plan Integrated for Energy and Climate, revised in June 2023, encourages a growth of renewable electricity sources and production of renewable gases such as biomethane. The country expects to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030.
- Italy’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), published in December 2019, established a goal to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030 and continuing reduction efforts thereafter.
- Italy released a report in 2022, Methane in the Italian greenhouse gas Inventory Italy and the Global Methane Pledge, that provides an assessment of national methane emissions and potential emission reductions.
International
- Italy joined the European Union to launch the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) in 2021 at the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP26), committing to reducing global methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
- Italy contributes expertise and resources to the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), including support for the UNECE Group of Experts on Gas, whose activities are focused on methane abatement, among other sustainable development goals.
- Since 2012, Italy has been a partner of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition supporting activities to reduce methane and other short-lived climate pollutants.
Methane Actions
The following highlights a sampling of actions taken by Italy to address methane, organized by GMI sector.
Biogas Sector
- A biomethane production agreement was reached between Italgas and Coldiretti, a farmers’ association in Italy, to construct new biomethane plants, convert existing biogas plants to biomethane, and connect plants to transmission networks. (2024)
Oil & Gas Sector
- Under Italy’s Methane Regulation, oil and gas companies are required to conduct Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) surveys to identify and fix methane leaks.
Cross-Sector
- Italy’s G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers adopted a Joint Declaration that encourages the importance of reducing methane emissions in all emitting sectors and recognizes the need to improve measurement and reporting of methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. (2024)
- Italy’s comprehensive Methane Regulation, enacted in 2021, implements measures to control methane emissions from various sectors, including oil and gas, agriculture and livestock, waste management and landfills, and wastewater treatment plans.
- Two regions in Italy, Lombardy and Puglia, became members of the BreatheLife Network, committing to increase renewable power, reducing methane emissions from landfills and wastewater treatment plants, and establishing air quality and emissions monitoring systems.
Ministries and Agencies Supporting Methane Actions
Explore the following websites to learn more about the government ministries addressing methane emissions.
- Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy & Sustainable Economic Development
GMI Delegates
| Committee/Subcommittee | Delegate Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Biogas Subcommittee | Roberto Farina | Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy & Sustainable Economic Dev. |