The Convention on climate changes, signed in New York in 1992 and ratified by Italy with the law of the 15th January 1994, n. 65, has pinpointed the stabilising objective of keeping greenhouse gases concentration in the atmosphere at such a level as to prevent dangerous effects for the climate system. Considering the close link between emission level  and internal gross product, the Convention would commit countries with more advanced development to reduce their emissions. However, in contrast with the Convention's objectives, emissions in 1996 had grown by 4% and the need became apparent for more concrete tasks, with a proper protocol to put the Convention into practice. Negotiations were long and complex since greenhouse gas emission reduction requires a difficult compromise between prospects of financial growth, tied in especially with availability and use of fossil fuels and the priority condition to minimise the use of these energy sources.

In particular, it was very complex finding an initial point of balance between the reduction commitments made by more industrialised countries and the right to increase emissions granted to Developing countries. The introduction of the flexible mechanisms tool, that is, beginning a process of global cooperation  for emission reduction (mechanisms of join implementations, clean development mechanism, emission trading etc.) contextual to obligations for countries with more advanced development, has enabled the signing of the Kyoto Protocol on 10th December 1997. The agreement provides for industrialised countries, responsible for over 70% of current CO2, N2O, HFC, PFC, SF6, CH4 emissions, to reduce their emissions within 2012 in the measure of 5,25% compared with 1990 levels.

In a European context, in 1998, the Cabinet established the reduction objectives for emissions of Member States to reach the 8% objective set by the Protocol. Italy, before 2008-2012, will have to reduce its emissions of 6,5%. To reach this target, Italy has adopted the "Guidelines for the realisation of policies and National measures for greenhouse gases reduction emissions" (CIPE deliberation 19/11/1998), pinpointing six National actions: efficiency increase of the thermoelectric stock; reduction of energy consumption in the transport sector; production of energy from renewable sources (biomasses, wind, photovoltaic, geothermic, hydroelectric, solid urban waste, biogases, thermal sun); reduction of energy consumption in industrial/dwelling/tertiary sector; emission reduction in non-energy sectors; forest carbon emission absorption (reforestation).

The National program for climate research was also approved. The aim is that of coordinating and developing research initiatives, in cooperation with International organisations, first among them the World Meteorological Organization and the IPCC, with priority to the following subjects: climatic changes on century or decennial scales, (paleoclimatic studies and studies of deep oceanic circulation variability); annual and inter-annual global climate variability, with particular reference to simulation and forecast development on the Mediterranean climatic system; changes in the atmosphere's chemical composition, with particular reference to the monitoring and concentration measurements of greenhouse effect gases; study and monitoring of atmospheric aerosol; impacts of climatic change in the Mediterranean region and Italy's vulnerability in the context of IPCC's programs, to test effects on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, water sources etc.

October.2001