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Europe
Italy |
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Last reviewed: 22 May 2009 |
Country information
GEOGRAPHY
A peninsula in Southern Europe extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, including the islands of Sicily, Sardinia, Elba and about 70 other smaller islands. It is mostly mountainous, though between the Apennines (which form the spine of Italy) and the eastern coastline there are the fertile plains of Emilia-Romagna in the north and of Puglia in the south. The Alps in the north divide Italy from France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The climate is predominantly Mediterranean in the south and Alpine in the north.
Global issues (Climate Change, Environment and Energy)
Italy ratified the Kyoto Protocol in May 2002. Under the Protocol Italy has a target to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 6.5% against 1990 levels. Current emissions are between 12-13% above 1990 levels, though 2006 saw the first drop (1.5%) for nearly 15 years. The main sources of emissions are the energy sector and transport. Italy is highly dependent on imported energy, particularly oil and gas. Three-quarters of Italy's electricity comes from imported sources. Oil makes up 43% of Italy's energy use, natural gas 36%. Renewables account for around 6% of total energy, mainly from hydroelectric sources. Italy phased out nuclear power following a referendum in 1987.
Rome hosts the Secretariat to the Rotterdam Convention on Hazardous Chemicals (jointly with Geneva) and the Global BioEnergy Partnership which Italy launched in 2005. Rome is also the site of the headquarters of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Italy
UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Italy
