News

Public Consultation Launched on the National Nature Restoration Plan

From April 23 to June 9, 2026, it will be possible to participate in the public consultation on the National Nature Restoration Plan.

The initiative, promoted by the Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica (MASE), in collaboration with the Ministero dell'Agricoltura, della Sovranità Alimentare e delle Foreste (MASAF), aims to actively involve citizens, trade associations, and stakeholders in defining strategies to restore Italian ecosystems.

The Plan represents the tool through which Italy will implement the Nature Restoration Regulation: restoring terrestrial, freshwater, marine, urban, river, agricultural, and forest ecosystems, as well as pollinator populations, means protecting ourselves from hydrogeological instability and climate change, improving the quality of the air we breathe, ensuring food security, and safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity.

This is not only about environmental protection, but also a long-term strategy that, up to 2050, will set the course for a more resilient country.

All comments received will be reviewed by MASE, ensuring that the final Plan is participatory and widely shared.

LIFE Strong Sea Project. A challenge won from the sea: over 22 tons of fishing gear recovered in 5 years

As told in the documentary “The Phantom Catch”

More than 180 reports of lost fishing gear, 24 recovery operations, 156 pieces of gear removed, and over 22 tons of fishing equipment recovered.

The interventions involved different types of fishing gear, including gillnets, trawl nets, traps, and longlines, identified at depths ranging from 8 to 40 meters.

Scientific analyses of the recovered gear made it possible to identify 89 species belonging to 50 groups of living organisms classified according to shared characteristics (taxa), with a predominance of crustaceans (30%), followed by algae and encrusting organisms.

This data demonstrates the process of progressive biological colonization affecting fishing gear lost at sea over time.

These are unprecedented achievements in the recovery of lost fishing gear from the sea and in the protection of marine habitats of high ecological value.

Received by the President of the Republic the Presidents of the Research Institutions

The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, received at the Quirinale a delegation of the Presidents of the Research Institutions, led by the Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, and by the President of the Council of Presidents of the Research Institutions, Antonio Zoccoli.

President Mattarella emphasized the role of research for the future of our country and as a means of collaboration and peace.

Also attending the meeting was the President of ISPRA and SNPA, Alessandra Gallone.

The social value of cities. Vital suburbs: the new frontier of urban living

3rd One Health Report of the Campus Bio-medico

“There is enormous work to be done in suburban areas, because these are particularly delicate contexts. The social value of the city is crucial: when you move away from the city center and toward the outskirts, the entire vision of the urban system changes.

It is precisely there that the new spaces for social development are located, because the most authentic life is often found at the margins of the urban fabric. There is no sustainability without territorial justice, which can only be achieved by working together with a shared perspective. It is precisely from the economic system that momentum for change can come, leading to the regeneration of territories". This was stated by Maria Alessandra Gallone, President of ISPRA, speaking at the Chamber of Deputies during the presentation of the 3rd One Health Report, “The Social Value of Cities. Vibrant Suburbs: The New Frontier of Urban Living”, produced by Campus Bio-Medico di Roma in collaboration with the Istituto Piepoli, with the support of ISPRA, and alongside the Facciamo Circolare campaign carried out by ISPRA in collaboration with and funded by the Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy (MIMIT).

The research analyzes development prospects for Italian urban areas, focusing on the comparison between suburbs and city centers, the need for urban regeneration, and the protection of the social fabric.

These themes are addressed through the One Health model, an integrated approach that considers human, animal, and ecosystem health within a comprehensive vision aimed at rethinking cities and places in a sustainable and interdisciplinary way.

World Earth Day 2026

Dedicated events, outreach initiatives, educational campaigns: ISPRA is at the forefront of World Earth Day. President M. Alessandra Gallone said: ​​"The Earth is not just the space we inhabit; it is the living system that supports us, protects us, and demands responsibility. On this World Earth Day, we must remember that every choice—public and private—has an impact on our future."

ISPRA and the National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA) are providing data, monitoring, and knowledge to support the work of institutions and local communities.

"We need a new awareness to transform sustainability into concrete action, taking care of ourselves and future generations."

ISPRA meets with a Chinese delegation from the Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Center

On April 20, at the headquarters of ECCO—an independent Italian think tank on climate and energy transition—ISPRA met with a Chinese delegation from the Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Center (LCRC), an institute of the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources that focuses on land reclamation, redevelopment, and soil management.

Former wild animals in the city

We are increasingly hearing about the presence—often described as “invasions”—of wild animals in urban areas, both non-native and native species. Even animals that once lived undisturbed in their natural ecosystems have begun to move deeper into and settle within cities, driven by the reduction of available natural habitats and changes in behavior related to food searching. We have invited experts in the field who will offer insights and points for reflection on this phenomenon.

Final conference “LIFE STREAMS Project: Safeguarding the Mediterranean trout and its habitat”

The Mediterranean trout, a native species at critical risk of extinction, is a symbol of freshwater conservation in the Apennines and Sardinia. Its protection is essential for biodiversity, which is threatened by climate change and hybridization with non-native trout.

The LIFE STREAMS project has worked on the recovery and conservation of native populations through monitoring and management, strengthening their numbers and genetic integrity. It also represents a key component of the APE – Appennino Parco d’Europa strategy, launched in the 1990s to support the then-emerging network of protected areas.

Ecological beach for a balanced coexistence between natural elements and those introduced by humans

The videos document a four-year collaboration between ISPRA and the Posidonia Beach Club: a project dedicated to the sustainable management of coastlines. The research focused on how to combine tourism use with environmental protection (the “ecological beach” model), addressing crucial issues such as coastal erosion—driven by climate change and human activities—and the development of new forms of environmental communication aimed at schools and professionals.

Attention was also given to the problem of marine litter (plastics and microplastics) and the connection between human and environmental health, in line with the One Health perspective. Through the questions of a young protagonist, the narrative clearly conveys four years of information, education, and events aimed at promoting a more respectful relationship with the environment.

Video

ISPRA and the National Biodiversity Network take part in the City Nature Challenge in Turin

Third General Assembly of the Horizon AVENGERS Project

On April 13–14, 2026, the third General Assembly of the Horizon AVENGERS project took place at ISPRA. The project started on January 1, 2023, and is scheduled to conclude on December 31, 2026.

The project aims to reconcile annual greenhouse gas emissions estimated in national inventories, within the framework of the UNFCCC Convention and the Paris Agreement, with top-down estimates derived from modeling activities based on in situ and remote observations. The ultimate goal is to improve the attribution of greenhouse gas and aerosol sources and fluxes, as well as to reduce the uncertainties associated with the two approaches. A central element of the project is the dialogue and exchange between the inventory and atmospheric modeling communities: the meeting provided an opportunity for fruitful discussion between these two communities and helped guide the dissemination of the project’s results.

ISPRA has published: "Environment in Italy. An Overview, 2025 Environmental Data Yearbook"

The document uses more than 300 indicators included in the ISPRA Environmental Indicators Database to provide official information for policy makers, administrators, technical experts, and citizens.

Compared with the previous edition, the body of information has been expanded with an additional theme dedicated to technical and scientific infrastructures supporting environmental monitoring and with new indicators.

The report analyses environmental phenomena by highlighting their systemic relationships in order to provide an overall view of environmental conditions across the country.

Regenerating the City: Resilient and Inclusive Urban Ecosystems

As part of the 22nd edition of the Week of Bioarchitecture and Sustainability, the webinar “Regenerating the City: Resilient and Inclusive Urban Ecosystems” will take place on April 17.

At the webinar, Francesca Giordano of ISPRA will participate with a presentation titled “The role of nature-based solutions in the experimental programme of interventions for climate change adaptation".

Understanding Earth from Space: Data, AI and Communication for Climate Adaptation

The event will bring together journalists specialized in meteorology and climatology from around the world, along with scientists and experts from major international organizations, to discuss the contribution of new satellites and artificial intelligence to weather forecasting, science, and the media. The Media Workshop will take place at the Directorate of Earth Observation of the European Space Agency (ESA-ESRIN).

Presentation of the Second-Level Master’s Program “Ecological Transition and Environmental Regeneration for Sustainable Communities”

On April 14, the presentation of the Second-Level Master’s Program “Ecological Transition and Environmental Regeneration for Sustainable Communities” took place at the Multifunctional Hall of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in Rome.

The initiative, promoted by the Extraordinary Commissioner for remediation and developed through the synergy between the Center for Higher Defence Studies (CASD), the technical sector partner Remtech Expo, and the academic contribution of six leading Italian universities (Sapienza University of Rome, Polytechnic University of Turin, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, University of Naples “Parthenope”, University of Catania, and University of Ferrara), marks a fundamental step in the evolution of the educational offering of the Joint Logistics Training Center (CEFLI).

Air Quality in Italy: Stable Values in 2025

Data from the National System for Environmental Protection

Limit values for PM10 and PM2.5 have been met across almost the entire country, although exceedances persist in several areas. Nitrogen dioxide levels are decreasing. Extreme heat and lack of precipitation do not improve the ozone situation during summer. The new European Directive sets stricter limits to be achieved by January 1, 2030, requiring additional strategies.

The annual report by SNPA (National System for Environmental Protection) provides a national overview of air quality in the past year. It is a concise report prepared each year by experts from ISPRA and the environmental agencies of Regions and Autonomous Provinces, summarizing data collected from monitoring stations across the country.

Acting Locally for Climate Change Adaptation

On April 22, in Padua, as part of the Forum 2050, the closing event of the series “Acting Locally for Climate Change Adaptation” will take place—an initiative promoted by the Coordinamento Agende 21 in collaboration with the Veneto Region.

The initiative has involved the main cities of the Veneto region—Padua, Vicenza, Venice, and Treviso—through a series of meetings attended by representatives of local authorities and associations active in the area. During these events, projects, best practices, and concrete experiences focused on climate change adaptation were presented.

Each meeting also featured contributions from ARPA Veneto and the Region, including in-depth insights into the Regional Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation.

An Alliance with the Lions for the Environment

The meeting “An Alliance with the Lions for the Environment” will take place in Ferrara on April 20. Chiara Bolognini (ISPRA) will speak at the event to promote the campaign “Let’s Make It Circular.”

Giving Wings Back to Nature

The European Nature Restoration Regulation and the Conservation of Avifauna

On the eve of the launch of the public consultation announced by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, CISO, LIPU, and ASOER are dedicating Saturday, April 18 to a day of in-depth discussion and exchange on the National Restoration Plan—an essential document for the implementation of the European Nature Restoration Regulation, which Member States are required to submit to the EU by next September.

Nature Restoration Regulation: what prospects for the Italian landscape from the National Nature Restoration Plan?

Through contributions from experts directly involved in drafting the national plans, the meeting aims to explore in depth the content, objectives, and implications of the regulatory articles concerning urban, riverine, terrestrial, forest, and agricultural ecosystems, analyzing their methodologies, strategies, and possible implementation measures within the Italian context.

The discussion will provide an opportunity to examine the relationships between ecological restoration and landscape design, fostering a critical and interdisciplinary reflection on the role of research in shaping paradigms of care, coevolution, and resilience, while promoting dialogue among public policies, scientific knowledge, and design practices.

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.