Renewable energy, nuclear power, support for agriculture, fossil fuels, tax incentives for the ecological transition, waste management, biodiversity protection, circular economy, climate crisis. Environmental issues, inextricably intertwined with those of energy, are an increasingly prominent and pressing feature of political debate. And ahead of the general election taking place on 25 September to renew parliament, all parties have addressed them — albeit, inevitably, in very different ways and with proposals that are often diametrically opposed. Here instead you will find the analysis on rights.

• Unione popolare's programme on climate, energy and the environment
• Europa Verde – Sinistra italiana's programme on climate, energy and the environment
• Partito democratico's programme on climate, energy and the environment
• +Europa's programme on climate, energy and the environment
• Movimento 5 stelle's programme on climate, energy and the environment
• Azione – Italia viva's programme on climate, energy and the environment
• Forza Italia's programme on climate, energy and the environment
• Fratelli d'Italia's programme on climate, energy and the environment
• Lega's programme on climate, energy and the environment

Dominating the debate is the energy crisis, which will likely be the driving force behind the decisions the next Italian government will have to make. But how will it respond? Will it react to the difficulties consumers are facing by imposing a thoroughgoing reform of the market system that — above all through speculation — is causing runaway price increases, or will it opt solely for some form of financial relief for households? Will it grasp the need to accelerate investment in the renewables sector, or will it choose paths that are dangerous — both from a climate and an economic perspective — such as nuclear power? The answer lies in the parties' programmes. Or at least it should, since it will be necessary to verify what the next government actually decides in concrete terms, also in light of the electoral outcome and the numbers on which the next majority will be able to rely. Here, in any case, are the proposals put forward by the various parties, or coalitions, standing in the election.

Unione popolare's programme on climate, energy and the environment

The full programme is available here.

Energy

The furthest-left coalition among those standing in the election, Unione popolare (leader Luigi de Magistris), proposes a series of measures aimed at "transforming the energy and transport system in order to achieve a genuine ecological conversion." The first is the nationalisation of the sector, starting with Enel Green Power, which is currently controlled by its parent company Enel. The aim is to create "a public company that invests in renewable energy and guarantees energy autonomy for the country."

Unione Popolare @unione_popolare

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Unione popolare is opposed to the development of incinerators, to the use of fossil fuels and to nuclear power. It proposes 10 gigawatts (GW) of new wind and solar installations per year, a public fund to finance energy communities, the abolition of subsidies to fossil fuels, and a halt to all oil extraction projects in Italy.

Transport

The coalition proposes a single national public transport pass, the electrification of all urban and interurban transport, an expansion of cycle lanes, a halt to the TAV (high-speed rail) Turin–Lyon line and to the use of private jets, as well as to short-haul air routes served by adequate rail connections.

Climate and environment

Unione popolare's programme aims to "meet and exceed Italy's national emissions reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement." It also seeks to introduce a national law to halt land consumption, to combat single-use products, to incentivise composting and separate waste collection. The coalition then proposes a reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that cuts subsidies to intensive livestock farming and supports businesses that produce using ecological methods while protecting biodiversity. Further proposals include a plan to ban toxic pesticides, starting with glyphosate; the restoration of riverbank habitats; an urban planning law suited to the climate crisis; the planting of one billion trees per year; and the establishment of a national ombudsman for animal rights.

Europa Verde – Sinistra italiana's programme on climate, energy and the environment

The full programme is available here.

Energy

The programme of Europa Verde – Sinistra italiana (Si) opens by noting that "the Sun is the greatest 'nuclear fusion reactor' already available for renewable energy production, and supplies every year 15,000 times the energy humanity needs. Scientific research has developed the technologies needed to capture solar energy — such as photovoltaic and thermal solar and wind power — as well as those for storing energy very efficiently, for example lithium batteries and hydroelectric pumped storage."

Accordingly, the two parties place a strong emphasis on renewable energy, ruling out nuclear power entirely and envisaging a reduction in the use of methane that could lead, by 2035, to 100 per cent clean energy — also thanks to a "Special Plan for Storage and the Electricity Grid." According to Verdi and Si, the farewell to gas should be set for 2035. This is with a view to reducing CO2 emissions: a reduction that the two parties say could reach 70 per cent by 2030, relative to 1990 levels, and that would lead to carbon neutrality by 2045. To achieve this, the aim is to focus not only on renewables (with new installations of 15 GW per year), but also on an energy efficiency and energy saving plan. A further proposal is to abolish fossil fuel subsidies by 2025.

Transport

Starting from the premise that air pollution causes 56,000 deaths per year in Italy, the programme proposes "an industrial plan for electric mobility by 2030 targeting at least 10 million electric vehicles in circulation and the provision of 100,000 public charging points." Meanwhile, "high-speed rail has proved useful and could still be useful on certain routes connecting major urban centres, facilitating high-value-added journeys. It makes no sense in areas such as the Val Susa, where other forms of motorway and rail transport already exist that are underused due to a lack of genuine transport demand, and where the local population has clearly expressed its opposition. Continuing with the Turin–Lyon line project entails enormous expenditure, very long timescales and negligible benefits."

Europa Verde - Verdi ✓ @europaverde_it

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A further proposal is an "Extraordinary plan for local public transport", to "address organisational shortcomings, infrastructure deficiencies and inadequate vehicle fleets in order to deliver a higher quality of service; expand and make safe cycling and pedestrian routes; digitalise all mobility services; offer reduced fares and incentives to use alternatives to the car". In particular, for young people up to the age of 30, the idea is to introduce free local public transport and regional trains, "so as to promote new mobility models among younger generations".

Climate and environment

Europa Verde and Sinistra italiana are proposing a new "Climate Law" to be passed within the first hundred days of the new government's work, with binding targets at national and local level. The programme also aims to "make the National Plan for Adaptation to climate change, which has been stalled since 2017, fully operational within the first six months of the legislature; review the adequacy of the Pnrr in relation to adaptation needs; and develop a 'Save the forests plan' and a 'Save the seas plan' for the protection, restoration, conservation and enhancement of these ecosystems".

The creation of a Climate Bank is then proposed to support the transition. This is based on a projected expenditure of 30–40 billion euros per year. SI and the Greens also envisage the appointment of "a high-level special envoy for climate and an adequate diplomatic corps fit for the climate challenge". With regard to water, an investment plan is called for to address losses in water networks and aqueducts. On waste, the aim is to revive the approval of the plastic tax and to achieve 90 per cent recycling of plastic. All of this is to be built on a system of circular economy, with a focus on composting facilities for the treatment of organic waste, and treating energy recovery from waste "only as a last resort because the incineration of waste does not allow for the recovery of raw materials".

On the subject of biodiversity, the programme also calls for the abolition of hunting, action against desertification, recognition of domestic and wild animals as sentient beings, and "a reconsideration of the abolition of the Forestale, by establishing a new Environmental and Forestry Service, conceived as a modern State technical corps, under civil law, responsible for environmental protection, forest conservation, combating wildfires, wildlife protection, soil defence, control, management and monitoring of rural territory (agro-forestry, mountain, hill and coastal areas) and the prevention of natural risks, with police powers to combat environmental crimes, public rescue and civil protection". Finally, with regard to livestock farming, the programme of Sinistra italiana and the Greens includes "a moratorium on the opening of new intensive livestock farms and on the expansion of existing ones, also with the aim of tackling climate change and the spread of zoonoses".

The Partito democratico's programme on climate, energy and the environment

The full programme can be consulted here.

Energy

The Partito democratico (Pd) regards the ecological transition as "a tremendous opportunity to modernise Italy and redirect its development trajectory towards a scenario of sustainability". In this vein, the electoral programme specifies that "investing immediately, from today, in clean energy is strategically important on three fronts. First, because it counters climate change by cutting CO2 emissions. Second, because it structurally reduces the price of energy bills for households and businesses and creates new jobs. Third, because it strengthens our national security, reducing dependence on imp