Editing Italy (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Italy}}
{{Further|Geology of Italy|Volcanism of Italy|List of rivers of Italy|List of lakes of Italy|List of islands of Italy|Italy (geographical region)}}
[[File:Italy relief location map.jpg|thumb|Topographic map of Italy]]

Italy, whose territory largely coincides with the [[Italy (geographical region)|eponymous geographical region]],<ref name="Treccani">{{Citation |title=Italia |volume=VI |page=413 |year=1970 |publisher=[[Treccani]] |language=it |encyclopedia=Dizionario enciclopedico italiano}}</ref> is located in Southern Europe<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701235642/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy |archive-date=1 July 2021 |access-date=17 August 2021 |website=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}}</ref> (and is also considered part of Western Europe{{efn|name=WE}}) between latitudes [[35th parallel north|35°]] and [[47th parallel north|47° N]], and longitudes [[6th meridian east|6°]] and [[19th meridian east|19° E]]. To the north, from west to east, Italy borders France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia, and is roughly delimited by the [[Alps|Alpine watershed]], enclosing the [[Po Valley]] and the [[Venetian Plain]]. It consists of the entirety of the [[Italian Peninsula]], Sicily and Sardinia (the [[Mediterranean islands#By area|biggest islands of the Mediterranean]]), and [[List of islands of Italy|many smaller islands]].<ref name="Treccani" /> Some of Italy's territory extends beyond the Alpine basin, and some islands are located outside the [[Eurasia]]n continental shelf.

The country's area is {{Convert|301230|km2|0|abbr=out}}, of which {{Convert|294020|km2|0|abbr=on}} is land and {{Convert|7210|km2|0|abbr=on}} is water.<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|date=30 October 2014|title=Principali dimensioni geostatistiche e grado di urbanizzazione del Paese|url=https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/137001|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117054950/https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/137001|archive-date=17 November 2014|access-date=22 March 2019|website=istat.it}}</ref> Including the islands, Italy has a coastline of {{Convert|7600|km|0|abbr=off}} on the [[Mediterranean Sea]], the [[Ligurian Sea|Ligurian]] and [[Tyrrhenian Sea|Tyrrhenian]] seas,<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Tyrrhenian Sea|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|publisher=Cambridge University Press|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Tyrrhenian-Sea|access-date=18 July 2017|editor-last=Chisholm|editor-first=Hugh|editor-link=Hugh Chisholm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711020502/https://www.britannica.com/place/Tyrrhenian-Sea|archive-date=11 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Ionian Sea]],<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://iho.int/uploads/user/pubs/standards/s-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf|title=Limits of Oceans and Seas|publisher=[[Organisation hydrographique internationale]]|year=1953|edition=3rd|access-date=28 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008191433/http://www.iho.int/iho_pubs/standard/S-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf|archive-date=8 October 2011|issue=28}}</ref> and the [[Adriatic Sea]].{{Sfn|Cushman-Roisin|Gačić|Poulain|2001|pp=1–2}} Its border with France runs for {{Convert|488|km|0|abbr=on}}; Switzerland, {{Convert|740|km|0|abbr=on}}; Austria, {{Convert|430|km|0|abbr=on}}; and Slovenia, {{Convert|232|km|0|abbr=on}}. The sovereign states of [[San Marino]] and [[Vatican City]] (the smallest country in the world and headquarters of the worldwide [[Catholic Church]] under the governance of the [[Holy See]]) are [[Enclave and exclave|enclaves]] within Italy,<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|year=2012|title=San Marino|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/521449/San-Marino|access-date=1 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511180105/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/521449/San-Marino|archive-date=11 May 2011|url-status=live}}; {{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17994868|title=Vatican country profile|year=2018|publisher=BBC News|access-date=24 August 2018|archive-date=25 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825011001/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17994868|url-status=live}}</ref> while [[Campione d'Italia]] is an Italian [[Enclave and exclave|exclave]] in Switzerland.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Democracy in Figures|url=http://demo.istat.it/index_e.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126215040/http://demo.istat.it/index_e.php|archive-date=26 January 2021|access-date=28 May 2021|website=[[Italian National Institute of Statistics]]}}</ref> The border with San Marino is {{Convert|39|km|0|abbr=on}} long, that with Vatican City, {{Convert|3.2|km|1|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Area/>

[[File:Monte Bianco DSF1243-m.jpg|thumb|[[Mont Blanc]] (''Monte Bianco'') in [[Aosta Valley]], the highest point in the European Union]]
Over 35% of Italian territory is mountainous.<ref name="eug92">{{Cite book|last=Riganti|first=dir. da Alberto|title=Enciclopedia universale Garzanti.|publisher=Garzanti|year=1991|isbn=8-8115-0459-7|edition=Nuova ed. aggiornata e ampliata.|location=Milano}}</ref> The [[Apennine Mountains]] form the peninsula's backbone, and the Alps form most of its northern boundary, where Italy's highest point is located on the summit of [[Mont Blanc]] (''Monte Bianco'') at {{Cvt|4810|m|ft}}. Other well-known mountains include the [[Matterhorn]] (''Monte Cervino'') in the western Alps, and the [[Dolomites]] in the eastern Alps. Many parts of [[Volcanism of Italy|Italy are of volcanic origin]]. Most small islands and archipelagos in the south are [[volcanic island]]s. There are active volcanoes: [[Mount Etna]] in Sicily (the largest in Europe), [[Vulcano]], [[Stromboli]], and [[Vesuvius]].

Most [[rivers of Italy]] drain into the Adriatic or Tyrrhenian Sea.<ref>{{Cite web|title=List of Italian rivers|url=http://www.comuni-italiani.it/fiumi|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916010640/http://www.comuni-italiani.it/fiumi|archive-date=16 September 2017|access-date=30 July 2018|publisher=comuni-italiani.it}}</ref> The longest is the [[Po (river)|Po]], which flows from the Alps on the western border, and crosses the [[Padan plain]] to the Adriatic.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Zwingle|first=Erla|date=May 2002|title=Italy's Po River Punished for centuries by destructive floods, northern Italians stubbornly embrace their nation's longest river, which nurtures rice fields, vineyards, fisheries—and legends|url=http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0205/feature6|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223133709/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0205/feature6|archive-date=23 December 2007|access-date=6 April 2009|magazine=National Geographic}}</ref> The Po Valley is the largest plain, with {{Convert|46000|km2|abbr=on}}, and contains over 70% of the country's [[upland and lowland|lowlands]].<ref name=eug92/> The largest lakes are, in descending size: [[Lake Garda|Garda]] ({{Convert|367.94|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}), [[Lake Maggiore|Maggiore]] ({{Convert|212.51|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}), and [[Lake Como|Como]] ({{Convert|145.9|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Morphometric and hydrological characteristics of some important Italian lakes|url=http://www.iii.to.cnr.it/limnol/cicloac/lagit.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205043503/http://www.iii.to.cnr.it/limnol/cicloac/lagit.htm|archive-date=5 February 2010|access-date=3 March 2010|publisher=Istituto per lo Studio degli Ecosistemi|location=Verbania Pallanza}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Italy}}
[[File:Italy Köppen.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen-Geiger climate classification]] map of Italy<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Beck|first1=Hylke E.|last2=Zimmermann|first2=Niklaus E.|last3=McVicar|first3=Tim R.|last4=Vergopolan|first4=Noemi|last5=Berg|first5=Alexis|last6=Wood|first6=Eric F.|author-link6=Eric Franklin Wood|date=30 October 2018|title=Present and future Köppen-Geiger climate classification maps at 1-km resolution|journal=Scientific Data|volume=5|page=180214|bibcode=2018NatSD...580214B|doi=10.1038/sdata.2018.214|pmc=6207062|pmid=30375988}}</ref>]]

Italy's climate is influenced by the seas that surround the country on every side except the north, which constitute a reservoir of heat and humidity. Within the southern temperate zone, they determine a Mediterranean climate with local differences.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Che cosa significa clima temperato e cosa significa clima continentale|url=https://www.ideegreen.it/cosa-significa-clima-temperato-cosa-significa-clima-continentale-141457.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308180036/https://www.ideegreen.it/cosa-significa-clima-temperato-cosa-significa-clima-continentale-141457.html|archive-date=8 March 2022|access-date=8 March 2022|language=it}}</ref> Because of the length of the peninsula and the mostly mountainous hinterland, the climate is highly diverse. In most inland northern and central regions, the climate ranges from [[humid subtropical]] to [[humid continental]] and [[oceanic climate|oceanic]]. The Po Valley is mostly humid subtropical, with cool winters and hot summers.<ref>Adriana Rigutti, ''Meteorologia'', Giunti, p. 95, 2009.; Thomas A. Blair, ''Climatology: General and Regional'', Prentice Hall pp. 131–132</ref> The coastal areas of [[Liguria]], Tuscany, and most of the south generally fit the Mediterranean climate stereotype, as in the [[Köppen climate classification]].

Conditions on the coast are different from those in the interior, particularly during winter when the higher altitudes tend to be cold, wet, and often snowy. The coastal regions have mild winters, and hot and generally dry summers; lowland valleys are hot in summer. Winter temperatures vary from {{Convert|0|C}} in the Alps to {{Convert|12|C}} in Sicily; so, average summer temperatures range from {{Convert|20|C}} to over {{Convert|25|C}}. Winters can vary widely with lingering cold, foggy, and snowy periods in the north, and milder, sunnier conditions in the south. Summers are hot across the country, except at high altitude, particularly in the south. Northern and central areas can experience strong thunderstorms from spring to autumn.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Climate Atlas of Italy|url=http://clima.meteoam.it/atlanteClimatico.php?ling=eng|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114223307/http://clima.meteoam.it/atlanteClimatico.php?ling=eng|archive-date=14 November 2012|access-date=30 September 2012|publisher=Network of the Air Force Meteorological Service}}</ref>

=== Biodiversity ===
{{Main|Fauna of Italy|Flora of Italy}}
{{Further|Italian garden}}
Italy's varied geography, including the [[Alps]], [[Apennines]], central Italian woodlands, and southern Italian [[Garigue]] and [[Maquis shrubland]], contribute to habitat diversity. As the peninsula is in the centre of the Mediterranean, forming a corridor between Central Europe and North Africa, and having {{Cvt|8,000|km}} of coastline, Italy has received species from the [[Balkans]], Eurasia, and the Middle East. Italy has probably the highest level of [[fauna]]l [[biodiversity]] in Europe, with over 57,000 species recorded, representing more than a third of all European fauna,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Italy's Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity|url=http://www.minambiente.it/sites/default/files/archivio/allegati/biodiversita/italian_fifth_report_cbd.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518094031/http://www.minambiente.it/sites/default/files/archivio/allegati/biodiversita/italian_fifth_report_cbd.pdf|archive-date=18 May 2015|access-date=17 May 2015|publisher=Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea|page=7}}</ref> and the highest level of biodiversity of animal and plant species within the EU.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Italy – Main Details|url=https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/?country=it|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512013114/http://www.cbd.int/countries/profile.shtml?country=it|archive-date=12 May 2012|access-date=10 September 2023|publisher=Convention on Biological Diversity}}</ref>

[[File:C. l. italicus in MNP.jpg|thumb|upright=.7|The [[Italian wolf]], the national animal of Italy]]
The fauna of Italy includes 4,777 [[Endemism|endemic]] animal species,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Checklist E Distribuzione Della Fauna Italiana|url=https://faunaitalia.it/documents/CKmap_ITA.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109172951/https://faunaitalia.it/documents/CKmap_ITA.pdf|archive-date=9 January 2023|access-date=10 March 2022|page=29|language=it}}</ref> which include the [[Sardinian long-eared bat]], [[Corsican red deer|Sardinian red deer]], [[spectacled salamander]], [[brown cave salamander]], [[Italian newt]], [[Italian stream frog|Italian frog]], [[Apennine yellow-bellied toad]], [[Italian wall lizard]], and [[Sicilian pond turtle]]. There are 119 [[List of mammals of Italy|mammals species]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mammiferi d'Italia – Ministero della Transizione Ecologica|url=https://www.mite.gov.it/sites/default/files/archivio/biblioteca/qcn_14.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529064555/https://www.mite.gov.it/sites/default/files/archivio/biblioteca/qcn_14.pdf|archive-date=29 May 2022|access-date=11 March 2022|page=7|language=it}}</ref> 550 [[List of birds of Italy|bird species]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Uccelli|url=https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/uccelli|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311153732/https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/uccelli|archive-date=11 March 2022|access-date=11 March 2022|language=it}}</ref> 69 [[List of reptiles of Italy|reptile species]],<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Peter Uetz|last2=Jakob Hallermann|last3=Jiri Hosek|title=Distribution: italy|url=https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/advanced_search?location=italy&submit=Search|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109172951/https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/advanced_search?location=italy&submit=Search|archive-date=9 January 2023|access-date=22 June 2021|website=The Reptile Database}}</ref> 39 [[List of amphibians of Italy|amphibian species]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Quali sono gli anfibi autoctoni?|url=http://www.legambienteanimalhelp.it/anfibi-autoctoni|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319075835/http://www.legambienteanimalhelp.it/anfibi-autoctoni|archive-date=19 March 2022|access-date=11 March 2022|language=it}}</ref> 623 fish species,<ref>{{Cite web|title=All fishes reported from Italy|url=http://www.fishbase.us/country/CountryChecklist.php?what=list&trpp=50&c_code=380&csub_code=&cpresence=present&sortby=alpha2&vhabitat=all2|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116110724/http://www.fishbase.us/country/CountryChecklist.php?what=list&trpp=50&c_code=380&csub_code=&cpresence=present&sortby=alpha2&vhabitat=all2|archive-date=16 January 2024|access-date=10 March 2022}}</ref> and 56,213 invertebrate species, of which 37,303 are insect species.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dove operiamo|url=https://www.cittametropolitana.mi.it/gev/dove_operiamo/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109172951/https://www.cittametropolitana.mi.it/gev/dove_operiamo/index.html|archive-date=9 January 2023|access-date=11 March 2022|language=it}}</ref>

The flora of Italy was traditionally estimated to comprise about 5,500 [[vascular plant]] species.<ref>Pignatti, S. (1982). ''Flora d'Italia''. Edagricole, Bologna, vol. 1–3, 1982</ref> However, {{As of|2005|lc=y}}, 6,759 species are recorded in the ''Data bank of Italian vascular flora''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Riccardo Guarino, Sabina Addamiano, Marco La Rosa, Sandro Pignatti ''Flora Italiana Digitale'':an interactive identification tool for the Flora of Italy|url=http://www.openstarts.units.it/dspace/bitstream/10077/3767/1/Guarino%20et%20al,%20bioidentify.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226162840/https://www.openstarts.units.it/dspace/bitstream/10077/3767/1/Guarino%20et%20al%2C%20bioidentify.pdf|archive-date=26 December 2016}}</ref> Italy has 1,371 endemic plant species and subspecies,<ref>{{Cite web|title=An inventory of vascular plants endemic to Italy|url=http://biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/article/view/phytotaxa.168.1.1|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624045915/https://www.biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/article/view/phytotaxa.168.1.1|archive-date=24 June 2020|access-date=12 March 2022}}</ref> which include [[Abies nebrodensis|Sicilian fir]], [[Barbaricina columbine]], [[Sea marigold]], [[Santolina pinnata|Lavender cotton]], and [[Viola ucriana|Ucriana violet]]. Italy is a signatory to the [[Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats]] and the [[Habitats Directive]].

Italy has many botanical and historic gardens.<ref>{{Cite web|title=I parchi fioriti e gli orti botanici più belli d'Italia|date=July 2016 |url=https://initalia.virgilio.it/i-parchi-fioriti-e-gli-orti-botanici-piu-belli-ditalia-3693|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109172952/https://initalia.virgilio.it/i-parchi-fioriti-e-gli-orti-botanici-piu-belli-ditalia-3693|archive-date=9 January 2023|access-date=14 March 2022|language=it}}; {{Cite web|url=https://www.casevacanza.it/idee/i-giardini-piu-belli-d-italia|title=Top10: i giardini più belli d'Italia|access-date=15 March 2022|language=it|archive-date=9 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109172951/https://www.casevacanza.it/idee/i-giardini-piu-belli-d-italia|url-status=live}}</ref> The Italian garden is stylistically based on symmetry, axial geometry, and the principle of imposing order on nature. It influenced the [[history of gardening]], especially [[French garden|French]] and [[English garden|English]] gardens.<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 March 2022|title=Alla scoperta delle meraviglie del giardino all'italiana|url=https://www.tuttogreen.it/giardino-all-italiana|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109172951/https://www.tuttogreen.it/giardino-all-italiana|archive-date=9 January 2023|access-date=28 March 2022|language=it}}</ref> The Italian garden was influenced by [[Roman garden|Roman]] and [[Italian Renaissance garden|Italian Renaissance]] gardens.

The [[Italian wolf]] is the national animal of Italy,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sheri Foster|date=January 2021|title=What is Italy national animal?|url=https://it.yourtripagent.com/4052-what-is-italy-s-national-animal|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109172951/https://it.yourtripagent.com/4052-what-is-italy-s-national-animal|archive-date=9 January 2023|access-date=15 November 2021|website=Yourtrip.com}}; {{Cite web|url=https://www.affaritaliani.it/culturaspettacoli/il-lupo-grigio-degli-appennini-e-l-animale-dell-italia-544778.html|title=Il lupo grigio degli appennini e l animale dell Italia|author=James Hansen|date=June 2018|access-date=15 November 2021|archive-date=26 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126224852/https://www.affaritaliani.it/culturaspettacoli/il-lupo-grigio-degli-appennini-e-l-animale-dell-italia-544778.html|url-status=live}}</ref> while the national tree is the [[Arbutus unedo|strawberry tree]].<ref name="altovastese">{{Cite web|date=3 October 2011|title=Il corbezzolo simbolo dell'Unità d'Italia. Una specie che resiste agli incendi|url=http://www.altovastese.it/cultura/il-corbezzolo-simbolo-unita-italia-specie-che-resiste-agli-incendi|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205120852/http://www.altovastese.it/cultura/il-corbezzolo-simbolo-unita-italia-specie-che-resiste-agli-incendi|archive-date=5 February 2016|access-date=25 January 2016|language=it}}</ref> The reasons for this are that the Italian wolf, which inhabits the [[Apennine Mountains]] and the Western Alps, features prominently in Latin and Italian cultures, such as the legend of the [[founding of Rome]],<ref>{{Cite book|last=Livy|title=The history of Rome|publisher=Printed for A. Strahan|others=George Baker (trans.)|year=1797}}</ref> while the green leaves, white flowers, and red berries of the strawberry tree, native to the Mediterranean, recall the colours of the flag.<ref name="altovastese"/> The national bird is the [[Italian sparrow]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Passero Italiano: L'uccello nazionale d'Italia|date=18 December 2022|url=https://www.concaternanaoggi.it/passero-italiano-luccello-nazionale-ditalia/|publisher=Conca Ternana Oggi|access-date=22 August 2024|archive-date=22 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822123815/https://www.concaternanaoggi.it/passero-italiano-luccello-nazionale-ditalia/|url-status=live}}</ref> while the national flower is the flower of the strawberry tree.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/it-it/notizie/mondo/qual-%C3%A8-il-fiore-nazionale-dei-paesi-del-mondo/ss-AA1eWqXE#image=25|title=Il fiore nazionale dell'Italia (e quello degli altri Paesi del mondo)|website=[[MSN]]|access-date=26 August 2024|language=it|archive-date=2 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002211951/https://www.msn.com/it-it/notizie/mondo/qual-%C3%A8-il-fiore-nazionale-dei-paesi-del-mondo/ss-AA1eWqXE#image=25|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Environment ===
{{See also|List of national parks of Italy|List of regional parks of Italy|List of Marine Protected Areas of Italy}}
[[File:National and Regional Parks of Italy.svg|thumb|National and regional parks in Italy]]

After its quick industrial growth, Italy took time to address its environmental problems. After improvements, Italy now ranks 84th in the world for ecological sustainability.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Italy – Environment|url=http://dev.prenhall.com/divisions/hss/worldreference/IT/environment.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090701064224/http://dev.prenhall.com/divisions/hss/worldreference/IT/environment.html|archive-date=1 July 2009|access-date=2 August 2010|publisher=Dev.prenhall.com}}</ref> The total area protected by national parks, regional parks, and nature reserves covers about 11% of Italian territory,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Regione e aree protette|url=https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/regione-e-aree-protette_%28L%27Italia-e-le-sue-Regioni%29|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111173345/https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/regione-e-aree-protette_%28L%27Italia-e-le-sue-Regioni%29|archive-date=11 January 2022|access-date=11 January 2022|language=it}}</ref> and 12% of Italy's coastline is [[List of Marine Protected Areas of Italy|protected]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Le aree protette in Italia|url=http://www.uccellidaproteggere.it/La-conservazione/Cosa-fa-l-Italia-Le-azioni/Le-aree-protette-in-Italia|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302220957/http://www.uccellidaproteggere.it/La-conservazione/Cosa-fa-l-Italia-Le-azioni/Le-aree-protette-in-Italia|archive-date=2 March 2022|access-date=2 March 2022|language=it}}</ref>

Italy has been one of the world's leading producers of [[renewable energy in Italy|renewable energy]], in 2010 ranking as the fourth largest provider of installed [[solar energy]] capacity<ref>{{Cite web|date=15 July 2010|title=Renewables 2010 Global Status Report |url=http://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/REN21_GSR2011.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820095506/http://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/REN21_GSR2011.pdf|archive-date=20 August 2011|access-date=16 July 2010|publisher=[[REN21]]}}; {{Cite web|title=Photovoltaic energy barometer 2010 – EurObserv'ER |url=https://www.eurobserv-er.org/pdf/baro196.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011224419/http://www.eurobserv-er.org/pdf/baro196.pdf|archive-date=11 October 2010|access-date=30 October 2010}}</ref> and sixth largest of [[wind power]] capacity.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 2011|title=World Wind Energy Report 2010 |url=http://www.wwindea.org/home/images/stories/pdfs/worldwindenergyreport2010_s.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904232058/http://www.wwindea.org/home/images/stories/pdfs/worldwindenergyreport2010_s.pdf|archive-date=4 September 2011|access-date=8 August 2011|publisher=[[World Wind Energy Association]]}}</ref> Renewable energy provided approximately 37% Italy's energy consumption in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|date=25 May 2021|title=Renewables provided 37% of Italy's energy in 2020 – English |url=https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2021/05/25/renewables-provided-37-of-italys-energy-in-2020_1a075060-c823-4076-a338-79367427dfd2.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023040922/https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2021/05/25/renewables-provided-37-of-italys-energy-in-2020_1a075060-c823-4076-a338-79367427dfd2.html|archive-date=23 October 2021|access-date=28 May 2021|website=ANSA.it}}</ref>

The country operated nuclear reactors between 1963 and 1990 but, after the [[Chernobyl disaster]] and [[1987 Italian referendums|referendums]], the nuclear programme was terminated, a decision overturned by the government in 2008, with plans to build up to four nuclear power plants. This was in turn struck down by a referendum following the [[Fukushima nuclear accident]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Duncan Kennedy|date=14 June 2011|title=Italy nuclear: Berlusconi accepts referendum blow|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13741105|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612112154/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13741105|archive-date=12 June 2011|access-date=20 April 2013|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

Air pollution remains severe, especially in the industrialised north. Italy is the [[List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions|twelfth-largest carbon dioxide producer]].<ref>United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium Development Goals indicators: [http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/SeriesDetail.aspx?srid=749&crid= Carbon dioxide emissions ({{CO2}}), thousand metric tons of {{CO2}}] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225014715/http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/SeriesDetail.aspx?srid=749&crid=|date=25 December 2009}} (collected by CDIAC); Human-produced, direct emissions of carbon dioxide only. Excludes other greenhouse gases; land-use, land-use-change and forestry (LULUCF); and natural background flows of {{CO2}} (See also: [[Carbon cycle]])</ref> Extensive traffic and congestion in large cities continue to cause environmental and health issues, even if smog levels have decreased since the 1970s and 1980s, with smog becoming an increasingly rare phenomenon and levels of [[sulphur dioxide]] decreasing.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Environment and Health in Italy – Executive Summary|url=https://www.euro.who.int/en/home|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303051309/http://www.euro.who.int/document/hms/ehiexes_e.pdf|archive-date=3 March 2010|publisher=World Health Organization}}</ref>

Deforestation, illegal building, and poor land-management policies have led to significant erosion in Italy's mountainous regions, leading to ecological disasters such as the 1963 [[Vajont Dam]] flood, the 1998 [[Sarno]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nick Squires|date=2 October 2009|title=Sicily mudslide leaves scores dead|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/6255575/Sicily-mudslide-leaves-scores-dead.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006082824/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/6255575/Sicily-mudslide-leaves-scores-dead.html|archive-date=6 October 2009|access-date=2 October 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London}}</ref> and the 2009 [[2009 Messina floods and mudslides|Messina mudslide]]s.