Italy’s green economy has a very respectable position on the energy transition.
The energy intensity measures the energy input needed to generate a product unit.
In Europe it is calculated as the amount of tons of oil equivalent for each million of economic activity (GDP).
The indicator is generic, but it is very important to determine the environmental impact of the development model adopted for each individual country.
With 13.7 tons of oil equivalent for every million euros of GDP, Italy exceeds France (14.4), Spain (15) and Germany (17,1).
The carbon intensity, then, is among the lowest in the European Union.
The carbon intensity measures the amount of CO2 produced per unit of product and in Europe is calculated in tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per million of GDP.
Italy produces 101.1 tons while Spain 112.9 and the United Kingdom 126.3.
The reasons for these excellent placings are certainly to be seen also in light of the delocalization of the manufacturing industry and the Great Recession, but we can not forget the stimulus and incentive policies that have been promoted over the years by national and European institutions in the field of energy efficiency and exploitation of the New Renewable Energy Sources.
Italy’s green economy reached the targets for renewable energy production agreed in Europe six years earlier (in 2014).
According to the latest surveys, Germany produces 14.6% of energy from renewable sources with a target for 2020 of 18%, Spain 16.2% (20%), France 15.2% (up 23%).
Good results also on the policy of separate waste collection.
The data re-launched by the Kyoto Club calculate that the Belpaese allocates 76.9% of the waste produced to recycling, against 36.1% of Spain, 42.7% of Germany, 43.6% of the United Kingdom and 53 , 6% of France, while a recent joint study by Utilitalia-PricewaterhouseCoopers, which adopts a different methodology, places Italy (49%) in second place behind Germany (68%) but still ahead of the United Kingdom (45%), to France (40%) and Spain (35%).
In fact, the Green Economy is already worth 13% of GDP today and employs almost three million people, in many cases with advanced training behind it and above-average income.
Furthermore, companies that invest in energy efficiency or green technology are more competitive and have better prospects.
However, the excellent results achieved so far do not have to be a goal, but rather a springboard towards the future.
Italy’s green economy has therefore achieved excellent results. It must now improve in the field of E-Mobility.
