A Sud Ecologia e Cooperazione Odv ETS v Italy - Other

decision

A Sud Ecologia e Cooperazione Odv ETS v Italy - decision

Filing Year For Action

On August 4, 2023, environmental justice NGO A Sud Ecologia e Cooperazione (A Sud) filed a communication against Italy with the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee. A Sud alleges that Italy has not fulfilled its obligations under the Aarhus Convention when updating its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) – under Regulation (EU) December 11, No. 2018/1999 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, each EU Member State has to notify the European Commission an integrated NECP by December 31, 2019, and subsequently by January 1, 2029 and every ten years thereafter.  

A Sud argued that Italy violated Articles 7, taken in conjunction with Article 6 paras 2,3,4,8 of the Convention by failing to provide timely and adequate public information and participation at an early stage in the process of adopting the updated Italian NECP proposal, which was allegedly communicated to the European Commission without consideration of public opinion. According to A Sud, Italy would have also breached Articles 3 and 5 of the Convention, because it did not set up a website or electronic database dedicated to the NECP with all the relevant documents available in order to provide public information and participation. 

During the Compliance Committee's 18th meeting held between September 19 - 22, 2023, the Committee, having heard the views of both the communicant and the Party concerned, noted that “Italy’s updated national energy and climate plan is currently still in draft form and will yet undergo a strategic environmental assessment procedure, including public participation, prior to the submission of the final updated plan to the European Commission in June 2024”. Accordingly, the Committee determined the communication to be inadmissible (for being incompatible with decision I/7, since the preparation of the updated plan had not yet been completed). 

A Sud Ecologia e Cooperazione Odv ETS v Italy

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

Any compulsory, unrequited payment to the government levied on corporations or individuals. This can be for environmental reasons, such as introducing a Carbon tax to set a price that emitters must pay for the greenhouse gases they emit.

A target to reduce the prevalence of a greenhouse gas over a specific time frame

Tradable permits are market-based tools that grant permission for specific activities, frequently used to regulate emissions. These permits can be issued within a trading system to manage environmental impacts.

People with different national or cultural traditions from the dominant population

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

This sector includes firms and individuals offering specialised expertise in fields such as law, accounting, consulting, science and engineering.

The activities of industries involved in the production, distribution, and sale of energy, including electricity, gas, and renewables.

A commitment to balance GHG emissions with removal by a certain point in time, effectively reducing the net emissions to zero

Work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for all, better prospects for personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their concerns, organize and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity.

Social inclusion is the process of improving the terms on which individuals and groups take part in society—improving the ability, opportunity, and dignity of those disadvantaged on the basis of their identity.

A Sud Ecologia e Cooperazione Odv ETS v Italy - Other

Target

Policy instrument

Impacted group

Just transition

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Finance