News

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Air Pollutants in Italy

In 2024, emissions down 30% from 1990; fewer air pollutants thanks to energy efficiency and renewables

In 2024, national greenhouse gas emissions show a 30% reduction compared to 1990 levels and a 3.6% decrease compared to 2023, amounting to just over 360 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. This result is linked to the growing spread of renewable energy sources—particularly hydropower and wind energy—improvements in energy efficiency, and the gradual replacement of more carbon-intensive fuels with lower-carbon alternatives.

For 2025, however, a slight increase in emissions (0.3%) is expected, mainly due to greater reliance on natural gas for electricity generation, also in connection with a reduction in hydropower production. Emissions associated with coal use continue to decline, in line with decarbonization targets.

These are some of the data processed by ISPRA as part of the National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and the Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory, submitted to European and international bodies, in particular the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

All information and related documents are available on the Emissions website.

Not all sectors show a reduction: emissions from transport—responsible for 31% of the national total and more than 90% linked to road transport—continue to rise and are more than 10% higher than in 1990. Together with transport, the sectors of energy production (18%), residential (18%), and manufacturing industry (13%) collectively account for around 80% of national emissions.

Since the early 2000s, a gradual decoupling between economic growth and CO₂ emissions has been observed: after a brief post-pandemic rebound, emissions have returned to declining while GDP continues to grow, reinforcing this trend.

ECOSofia – ISPRA Summer School on Environmental Ethics and Communication

Poets, philosophers, theologians, artists: they will be the lecturers of the EcoSofia summer school dedicated to environmental humanities, organized by the School of Specialization in Environmental Disciplines (SSDA) of ISPRA and also supported by the MIMIT as part of the “Facciamo Circolare/2” campaign.

EcoSofia was created with a clear goal: to unite scientific and humanistic disciplines, which must necessarily engage in dialogue and work together for the “ecological and spiritual” evolution of human beings—without which genuine respect for the environment cannot exist.

Italian Conference of Physics Students 2026 (CISF26)

From April 13-17, 2026, Roma TRE University will host the tenth edition of the Italian Conference of Physics Students (CISF). The event will bring together 160 participants from 19 Italian universities for five days of seminars, workshops, laboratory visits, and discussions. The event will focus on two crucial issues of our time: Science Communication and Climate Change.

FLORACULT 2026

The theme of Floracult 2026, "Green Hope" aims to inspire and encourage us to seek a new, sustainable future, deeply rooted in nature. Hope, understood not as expectation but as aspiration. Green is the color of nature, of plants, of leaves, the organs that produce oxygen through photosynthesis, limiting the effects of pollution and the greenhouse effect.

IdroGeo: The Italian Platform on Hydrogeological Risk

ISPRA, in collaboration with the Regions and Autonomous Provinces, continuously monitors major landslide events and damage to buildings, cultural heritage, primary transport infrastructure, and the economic and production sectors, publishing this information on the national IdroGEO platform.

IdroGEO is an easy-to-use tool, also accessible via smartphone, developed by the Institute with the aim of encouraging community involvement and increasing awareness of risks affecting local areas. With the “Hazard Check” feature, users can search for an address or use geolocation on the map to identify the level of landslide and flood risk within a 500-meter radius of a point of interest (such as a home or business).

Arpa Piemonte: 30 Years Supporting the Environment

In 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Arpa Piemonte.

The story begins with the 1993 referendum, when Italian citizens decided that environmental controls should be entrusted to a specific system of prevention and protection, separate from the healthcare sector. This was followed by the founding law in 1995 and the establishment of Arpa Piemonte on August 1, 1996.

Subsequently, in 2002, the Agency was assigned responsibilities for the forecasting and prevention of natural risks, and more recently, the creation of the National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA) in 2016.

VII Summer School of Marine and Coastal Geology, Ecology, and Biology in Island Environments

The Summer School of Marine and Coastal Geology, Ecology, and Biology in Island Environments was created to provide advanced training and scientific development to master's and doctoral students, researchers, and technicians working in the environmental sector. The multidisciplinary curriculum is developed through lectures and practical exercises in various geological, biological, and natural sciences applied to the coastal marine environment. Special attention will be paid to new technologies used in the study of these ecosystems, which are highly vulnerable and strongly affected by the effects of climate change, given their location on the boundary between the marine and continental domains.

National Conference on Wildlife Recovery

The event stems from the increasingly urgent need to initiate a structured national discussion on the role and management of wildlife rescue centers (CRFS/CRAS). In recent years, the sector has been affected by significant regulatory changes introduced by Legislative Decrees 134/2022, 135/2022, and 136/2022, which are redefining the responsibilities, operating procedures, and organizational models related to wild animal rescue and recovery activities.

The conference will provide an opportunity for industry professionals, central, regional, and local institutions, and other stakeholders to meet and engage in dialogue, with the aim of analyzing the current state of the system and identifying shared perspectives for the future.

ISPRA and Coast Guard: Coordination Committee Established for the Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment

On March 30, the Coordination Committee established under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) and the General Command of the Corps of Port Authorities – Coast Guard was formally set up at the headquarters of the Coast Guard’s General Command. The agreement was recently signed with the aim of promoting and monitoring institutional cooperation activities between the parties.

MOBISCO Observatory – School Mobility

On April 14, 2026, the presentation event for the work of the MOBISCO Observatory will take place in Milan. This initiative is part of the activities of the National Center for Sustainable Mobility (MOST). The event will provide an opportunity to understand how structured knowledge of daily mobility flows can become a concrete tool for governance and urban transformation.

The Observatory’s activities on school and systematic mobility are coordinated with the National Observatory for Sustainable Local Mobility (Decree 68/2022) in order to connect regulations and urban policies.

Adapting to the Future: The New Regional Climate Strategy

The meeting represents the first public event aimed at presenting the operational tools developed under the “Climate Law” of 2025, created with the scientific support of Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente.

At the conference, Francesca Giordano from ISPRA will take part with a presentation on the impacts of climate change in Italy.

Race for the cure 2026

From Thursday, May 7 to Sunday, May 10, 2026, Rome will once again host the largest event dedicated to the prevention and fight against breast cancer: the Race for the Cure, organized by Susan G. Komen Italia.

The event, which will take place at the Circus Maximus, will feature four full days of activities and initiatives aimed at raising awareness and promoting health and well-being.

During the same days, the Health Village will be open, offering free preventive screenings and workshops to encourage healthy lifestyles.

Soil Health by 2050: Strategic and Practical Implications of the European Soil Monitoring Directive

The conference aims to explore the strategic and operational implications of the European Soil Monitoring Directive, with a view to achieving the “healthy soils” objective by 2050. Particular attention will be given to measurement systems and soil health indicators, as well as their integration with the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the European CRCF Regulation on carbon credits.

The event will also examine the role of public research and environmental agencies, presenting regional experiences and case studies aimed at promoting innovation transfer and technical-professional advisory services.

Stories in Stone: A Geological Journey Through the Basilicas of Rome

As part of the Festival of Science di Rome, ISPRA is organizing, on April 18, the geological walk “Stories in Stone: A Geological Journey Through the Basilicas of Rome.”

Rebuilt after the devastating fire of 1823, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls represents an important example of the restoration of early Christian architecture, while preserving its connection to its ancient origins. One of the building’s distinctive features is the extensive use of ornamental stones sourced from various areas of the Mediterranean.

The guided tour will offer participants the opportunity to closely observe these lithological varieties, appreciating not only their quality and aesthetic value, but also their historical significance—providing a unique chance to discover how architectural beauty intertwines with history and geology.

ISIA Roma Design Academic Year Inauguration

ISIA Roma Design officially inaugurated the 2025-2026 academic year today with a morning of meetings and discussions between institutions, professionals, and the academic community, held in the Sala Dante of the Istituto Centrale per la Grafica in Rome.

At the heart of the initiative is a clear vision: design as a tool for interpreting the present and building the future.

"Today we face a great challenge: designing for sustainability. It's not enough to measure, monitor, and analyze—though fundamental—we also need to design solutions. Design becomes central: it guides behaviors, makes sustainable choices accessible, and translates complexity into concrete solutions," said ISPRA President Maria Alessandra Gallone, speaking at the inauguration.

49th Session of the Scientific Groups of the London Convention and 20th Session of the Scientific Groups of the London Protocol

The 49th joint session of the Scientific Groups of the London Convention and the 20th session of the Scientific Groups of the London Protocol took place at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization in London from March 2 to 6, 2026. The session was chaired by Cristian Mugnai in his role as Chair, and was attended by experts from ISPRA both in person and remotely.

ISPRA in the Villaggio per la Terra

ISPRA in the Festival Impatta Disrupt

The Innovability Festival

The event officially celebrates the United Nations World Innovation Day, as part of the broader framework of Italian Earth Day celebrations.

The aim of the initiative is to create an interdisciplinary think tank where scientists, policymakers, business leaders, and innovation stakeholders can engage in dialogue to achieve the “green renaissance” called for by the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

The Impatta Disrupt Festival is also designed as an accredited training module at major national and international academic institutions.

The entire program is recognized as a training module by the Environmental Specialization School of ISPRA, and each session is organized in collaboration with a university that acknowledges its scientific and educational value by including it among its official seminars.

Partnerships have been developed with Sapienza University of Rome, CREST - Centre for Research and Engineering in Space Technologies, LUMSA University, University of Catanzaro Magna Graecia, University of Tuscia, and IUL Telematic University.

Invisible to the eye, but not to science: the pygmy sperm whale leaves its mark in the Mediterranean

Revealed by traces of DNA suspended in water

A discovery from the European project LIFE-CONCEPTU MARIS, led by ISPRA

New technologies are revolutionizing marine biology; an unexpected discovery is reshaping our understanding of biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea. The pygmy sperm whale, or Blainville’s dwarf sperm whale (Kogia breviceps), previously believed to be absent from these waters, has been identified thanks to the analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA)—the collection of genetic traces that organisms leave behind in their environment.

No direct sightings, no underwater footage: the presence of this elusive cetacean has emerged through genetic traces released into the marine environment and collected in simple water samples. This innovative technique opens new perspectives for studying and monitoring hard-to-observe species and confirms the potential of “molecular investigation” as a key tool for exploring still poorly known ecosystems and updating species distribution in the Mediterranean.

The surprising discovery was made by researchers from the University of Milano-Bicocca, in collaboration with ISPRA, the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, and the University of Valencia. They worked within the European project LIFE-CONCEPTU MARIS, led by ISPRA and recently concluded, whose goal was to monitor cetaceans and sea turtles in the Mediterranean using commercial ferries as platforms for data and sample collection.

Profile of an elusive cetacean
The pygmy sperm whale reaches about 3–3.5 meters in length, inhabits tropical and warm temperate seas, and feeds mainly on squid, which it locates using sophisticated biosonar. Extremely rare to observe in the open sea, it is likely more widespread than it appears: it simply spends most of its life far from the coast and out of human sight.

To detect it, researchers collected seawater samples from commercial ferries in transit. In total, 12 liters of water were collected at each of the 393 sampling points across the central-western Mediterranean.

The water, immediately filtered on board, allowed scientists to capture all suspended biological material containing DNA fragments. In the laboratory, using advanced sequencing techniques, the surprising discovery was made: pygmy sperm whale DNA was found in 10 different samples, corresponding to at least 5 independent presence events. These traces were distributed across a vast area stretching from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Strait of Gibraltar.

On the wings of conservation: satellite monitoring of Isidoro for the future of the Golden Eagle

Within the framework of the LIFE Abilas project on the reintroduction of the Bonelli’s Eagle in Sardinia, ISPRA is conducting research on the ecological interaction between the Golden Eagle and the Bonelli’s Eagle in the Mediterranean. The aim is to identify possible differences in dispersal strategies, spatial distribution, and potential overlap areas between the two species, in order to develop the most effective conservation strategies.

In Sicily, where a thriving population of Bonelli’s Eagle is present, on July 15, 2025, the first Golden Eagle chick, Isidoro, was tagged (equipped with a GSM/GPS satellite transmitter) at a historic site within the Parco regionale dei Nebrodi. Continuously monitored thanks to a webcam providing real-time images, on August 18, 2025, at around 1:00 PM, it left the nest.

A delegation from Montenegro in ISPRA for a TAIEX Study Visit (24-26 March 2026)

A three-day study visit concluded on March 26 for a delegation from Montenegro composed of officials and environmental inspectors from the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, and Northern Region Development of Montenegro, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency.

The meeting was organized within the framework of the European Commission's TAIEX technical assistance financing instrument. The focus of Montenegro's study visit is on issues related to the Environmental Liability Directive (ELD) and the prevention and remediation of environmental damage, with particular emphasis on inspection activities and relevant Italian experiences.

The new Environmental Governance lessons are coming

The data ecosystem in rural tourism

Sources, methods, and tools for understanding the territory

ISPRA is taking part in the webinar series on rural tourism promoted by CREA Policies and Bioeconomy, within the framework of the CAP Network activities. The initiative, focused on the “data ecosystem in rural tourism,” aims to strengthen the use of statistical sources, big data, and indicators to improve knowledge of territories and to support sustainability-oriented policies.

Second-level Master’s degree in “Environmental Impact Assessment in marine, coastal, and terrestrial areas

In response to strong regional demand for the proper management of projects and infrastructure, the University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara (Department of Science), in exclusive collaboration with ISPRA, launches a program of excellence aimed at training professionals capable of designing and assessing environmental impact studies, with a strongly interdisciplinary and hands-on approach.

PNNR MER: Seamounts and deep species

In the depths of the Mediterranean Sea, at over 2,000 meters below the surface, seamounts reveal a world that until recently we were unable to see. Thanks to a Work Class ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle)—used as part of the PNRR MER project—a true “robotic vehicle,” research by ISPRA is able to enter these environments and closely observe the species that inhabit them: fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and cartilaginous fish.

In extreme conditions, life finds surprising solutions, such as large eyes, wide mouths, large body sizes, or long fins used like a tripod, creating shapes and behaviors that tell the story of the strength of these mysterious ecosystems.

Hydrogeological Map of Italy at the 1:500,000 Scale (CII500K)

On the occasion of World Water Day, ISPRA highlights the strategic role of hydrogeological knowledge in the protection and sustainable management of water resources.

In Italy, more than 80% of the water intended for human consumption comes from groundwater. This figure underscores the importance of having reliable knowledge tools to understand, manage, and protect a resource that is fundamental for the country.

The Hydrogeological Map of Italy at the 1:500,000 scale (CII500K) represents a national-scale synthesis product aimed at describing the main hydrogeological complexes and the dynamics of groundwater. The map provides an organic and homogeneous overview of the territory, useful for analyzing available resources at the national level.

In 2025, water resources declined compared to 2024. ISPRA monitors and updates their evolution

Precipitation and water availability data

In 2025, total precipitation in Italy amounted to 963.4 mm (approximately 291 billion m³), a decrease of about 9% compared to 2024, which was a particularly rainy year. However, 2025 shows a slight increase of 2% compared to the average annual precipitation for the 1991–2020 period, the most recent climatological 30-year period, which amounts to about 285 billion m³.

In 2025, renewable water resources—defined as precipitation minus losses due to evapotranspiration—were estimated at around 128 billion m³. This represents a decrease compared to historical averages: more than 7% lower than the long-term annual average (about 138 billion m³), 4% lower than the average of the most recent climatological 30-year period, and approximately 19% lower than in 2024.

The current update of the hydrological balance therefore continues to confirm the negative trend observed from 1951 to the present, particularly with regard to the availability of renewable water resources at the national level.

This, in summary, is the overall picture emerging from the assessments produced by ISPRA through the BIGBANG model, which provides estimates of the components of the national hydrological balance, the quantitative framework of water resources, and, more generally, the hydrological situation in 2025, by analyzing trends and deviations from the long-term average values for the period 1951–2025 and the climatological 30-year period 1991–2020.

The detailed assessment will be presented on March 24 during the workshop “Hydrological balance and water resource availability: 2025 update, seasonal forecasts and climate projections” organized by ISPRA on the occasion of World Water Day

Acting at the Local Level for Climate Change Adaptation

The meeting represents an opportunity for discussion among institutions, local authorities, and experts on actions and strategies for climate change adaptation at the local level.

Francesca Giordano, an ISPRA researcher, will take part in the conference with a presentation titled “Adaptation projects of cities participating in the pilot programme funded by MASE

Beyond drought crises: building proactive risk management in the northern Mediterranean

On March 23, the Global Water Partnership and the UNCCD Community of Learning and Practice (CLP) for Northern Mediterranean countries organized a webinar titled “Beyond drought crises: building proactive risk management in the northern Mediterranean.”

Changing precipitation patterns and rising temperatures are accelerating the transition from meteorological drought to agricultural and hydrological drought, placing significant pressure on water resources, agriculture, ecosystems, and energy systems. Because drought develops slowly and its impacts are often difficult to detect early, responses are frequently delayed and reactive in nature

The City Nature Challenge 2026 is back

ISPRA’s participation

From April 24 to 27, 2026, the City Nature Challenge (CNC) returns—an international event that invites citizens to observe and document plants and animals in urban areas, contributing to the collection of data useful for scientific research and the management of urban biodiversity.

The CNC combines the practicality of technology with the beauty of nature: thanks to the digital platform  iNaturalist,, which can be downloaded for free on computers or smartphones, users can record the GPS coordinates of their sightings and identify the observed animal or plant species by uploading a photograph.

Each year, participating cities compete to record the highest number of nature observations: citizens can contribute independently or by taking part in the various local initiatives organized in participating cities.