Italy climate framework law South Tyrol delegation Senate, Digi Mart USA News (Italy): A discussion in the Italian Senate focused on the need for consistent and effective climate policy in Italy, key aspects of climate governance, and the national climate framework law that has yet to be enacted.
Senator Floridia is the first signatory of Bill No. 743, dated June 1, 2023, titled “Legge quadro sul clima,” which was co-signed by Senator Luigi Spagnolli and Senator Julia Unterberger. Floridia addressed major challenges in climate protection, with emphasis on building efficiency and the right to housing.
To ease housing shortages, particularly in urban areas, and at the same time advance building efficiency to reduce emissions, Italy must renovate far more buildings and switch to fossil-free heating. The state, she said, must create better framework conditions and provide more funding.
Prof. Enrico Giovannini, a former minister and spokesperson for the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASviS), spoke about climate-compatible financial and economic policy.
Dr. Thomas Benedikter of the South Tyrol Homeland Conservation Association criticized Italy’s lag in reducing CO2 emissions and in the climate-friendly transformation of its mobility system.
Italy is falling behind in electrifying its vehicle fleet and the related infrastructure, while far too little funding is allocated to modernizing and expanding public local transport. He said Italy must reduce its overall number of motor vehicles and give public and active mobility more space in cities.
David Hofmann of Climate Action South Tyrol outlined efforts to secure a regional climate law in South Tyrol. A broad coalition of 47 organizations, ranging from alpine clubs and trade unions to cultural and student groups and climate initiatives, has since 2025 called for legally binding anchoring of the goals of the South Tyrol Climate Plan 2040.
Currently, the regional government can change or delete these goals at any time. A regional climate law would also govern the phase-out of fossil energy sources and adaptation to climate impacts, and ensure socially fair implementation of measures, modeled on climate protection laws in many other European regions.
Dr. Luca Iacoboni addressed the central challenges of climate change adaptation.
Representatives of the association Unser Wald from Kaltern then explained their work to protect forests, calling for stricter protection rules to preserve the forest’s carbon sink function, biodiversity, and its value as a local recreation area.
Participants concluded by unanimously emphasizing the urgency of an ambitious national climate framework law and close cooperation among the state, regions, and municipalities to meet climate targets in line with international commitments.
