OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Italy 2013
The OECD Environmental Performance Review Programme provides independent assessments of countries’ progress in achieving their domestic and international environmental policy commitments, together with policy relevant recommendations. They are conducted to promote peer learning, to enhance countries’ accountability to each other and to the public, and to improve governments’ environmental performance, individually and collectively. The Reviews are supported by a broad range of economic and environmental data. Each cycle of the Environmental Performance Reviews covers all OECD member countries and selected partner countries. The most recent reviews include: Mexico (2013), Germany (2012) and Slovenia (2012).
This report is the third OECD review of Italy’s environmental performance. It evaluates progress towards sustainable development and green growth, with a focus on policies that promote more effective and efficient water management and provide better incentives to tackle climate change.
Towards green growth
This chapter presents efforts to mainstream environment into Italy’s economic policy. It examines the use of tax policy to pursue environmental objectives and progress in removing fiscal incentives that can encourage environmentally harmful activities. Opportunities for green tax reform are also assessed. The chapter includes a discussion of public and private investment in environmental protection and resource use, as well as environment-related infrastructure. Investment in clean energy and sustainable transport modes are also discussed. In addition, the chapter examines promotion of environmental technologies and eco-innovation along with the growth of an internationally competitive environmental goods and services sector as a source of economic growth and jobs. Finally, the international dimensions of Italy’s environmental policy are reviewed, with a focus on mainstreaming the environment into development co-operation programmes, greening export credit systems, and promoting the corporate social responsibility of Italian multinational enterprises.