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Environmental Policies course 2015-2016

ENVIRONMENTAL

POLICIES IN ITALY

Bonzani Agostino Bosisio Simone

Environmental Policies in Italy

Introduction

Environmental Policies and Italian constitution

Evolution of EP in Italy

Environmental Policies and Government Agencies

Regional vs National Framework

Italy in international context

Environmental Strategy for Sustainable development

Case Study

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Introduction

Characteristics

Unitary parliamentary republic

61 million inhabitants

Boot shaped peninsula 1.130 kilometres long

Alps (Monte Bianco 4.807m), Appenines

Padain Plain

Tyrrhenian Sea, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranian Sea,

Ionic Sea

Greatest number of World Heritage Sites (51)

Environmental Policies and

Italian Constitution

Bland references in the Italian Constitution regarding Environmental Policies:

"Landscape protection" in Article 9 of constitution

Art. 9: “The Republic […] safeguards natural beauty and the historical and

artistic heritage of the nation.”

”Protection of the environment and the ecosystem"

Art. 117: "[…] s) protection of the environment, the ecosystem

and cultural heritage. "

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Evolution of EP in Italy

First Phase: ‘60s to mid ‘70s

After Italian Economic Boom: first

environmental issues

“Smog” Law 615 for pollution containment

(but still limited to urban areas)

Creation in 1971 of a committee for

ecological problems

Second Phase: 1976 - 1985

Merli Law for water pollution

More power to Regions (Local Health Units)

Seveso industrial accident and protests

against nuclear

First environmentalist movements

Evolution of EP in Italy

Third Phase: 1986 - 1995

1986: Ministry of Environment

Environmental taxes, public expenditures, agreements with

companies

1986: Chernobyl

Referendum against production of nuclear energy

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Evolution of EP in Italy

Fourth Phase: 1996 - 2005

Decrease about the importance attributed to

environmental issues

Building amnesties and decriminalization of

crimes of water pollution

ARPA (Regional Agencies for Protection of

Environment)

Fifth Phase: 2006 - 2015

Relevance of external actors in environmental issues

Italian Judiciary, awareness of civil society

ILVA in Taranto

Environmental Policies and Government

Agencies

• Scientific and technologic support Increase of budgetary resources in environmental

related fields

• Better coverage of the territory

• Greater proximity to the problems Increase of competence of regional and local authories

• Continuous monitoring of environmental issues

• Quick process of punishment to who breaks the rules

Enforcement of customised Operational Unit for

environmental protection

• Possibility to evaluate environmental issues

• Provide help to Stakeholders in decision-making

Introduction of EIA for projects

MAIN

STREN

GTH

S

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Environmental Policies and Government

Agencies

• Abuse of resources provided

• Long time for implementation of projects Increase of budgetary

resources in environmental related fields

• Lack of national integrated approach

• Important disparities between authority and capacity of authorities

Increase of competence of regional and local authories

• High operative costs

• Partial inefficiency due to burocracy

Enforcement of customised Operational Unit for

environmental protection

• High risk of manipulation

• Lack of «Risk Management» culture Introduction of EIA for projects

MAIN

WEAKN

ESSES

Regional vs National Framework: an issue

P

Policies inefficiency

Illegal trafficking

Transfer of power from national to

regional authorities

Lack of a unified strategy

High disparities between regions

Situation in Naples

Ilva in Taranto

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Italy in International context

Climate change and Sustainability

Evoultion of MtCO2eq in Italy

Italy is a party to both the UNFCCC (United

Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change) and the Kyoto Protocol

• The 20-20-20 Targets:

Reduction of 20% of GHG emission in 2020

(Achieved target of 6,5% reduction in 2012)

Renewable Energies account for 20% of total

energy needs in Europe

Increase of 20% of energy efficiency (High

amount of potential market in this field –

burocracy and difficulty in accessing credit)

Italy in International context

Renewable Energies

Achieved target of 17% national production from

RE (mainly Hydro, Wind and PV)

Renewable Energy directive (2009)

Incentives provided by the government

Improvements in sustainable house building and

house renovations

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Environmental strategy for a sustainable

development

«7 Milestones plan» 2012

Natural

Resources

Coastal

Areas

Health

Eco-

Torurism

Hydrologi

cal Risk

Sub-Soil

use

Bio

diversity

System of traceability

of Waste (SISTRI)

Intensification of

controls and fight to

illegal trafficking

Preventive measures to

avoid contamination

Criminal liability charge

to who pollutes also soil

or natural habitats

Greater severity in

applying polluter pays

principle

Right to claim companies

for irresponsible behaviour

Case study

ILVA steel plant in Taranto

How the Italian industrial policy, development of employment in the South and

environmental policy have worked without a shared plan over the years

Dramatic consequences for the people, the environment and the whole territory

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Case study

History

1960: Italsider started the construction of the steel

plant in Taranto

1970: expansion of the plant, tripling its size, twice

the surface of Taranto

90s: Riva’s family acquired Ilva (private company)

Characteristics

1500 hectars extension, separated from Tamburi neighbourhood by an highway

Production: 9 millions tons of steel per year (Italy 28 tons per year)

0,15% of impact on Italian GDP by Ilva

Ilva Taranto: 13000 workers, 3000 from satellite activities

Remedetion Map: Ilva in Taranto

Case study

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Case study – Legal Issues

-

Uncontrolled release of harmful

substances (NOx,SO2, HCl, benzene,

dioxins)

1550 deaths and 26999 admissions for cardiovascular and

respiratory deseases

Trial against Riva’s family for culpable disaster, poisoning of food, wilful omission of

precautions against accidents at work, aggravated damage to public property, jet and

spillage of hazardous substances and air pollution

Nowadays, close ILVA or keep it working?

THANK YOU FOR

YOUR ATTENTION