ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, POLICIES AND REGULATIONS: EVIDENCES FROM ITALY

Research studies have demonstrated the importance of the environment to human health. However, the damage caused to the global environmental health demands the policy makers to find answer to the question: are we living in harmony with nature? Today, the facts remains is that environmental concerns, including threats resulting from global warming and climate emergency, are global phenomenon in the new millennium. In this context, the prime area of concern for the global community is that “environmental problems, especially in the 21st century planet which is marked by the phenomenon of rising average air temperatures, have become increasingly difficult to (a) understand, and (b) to evaluate. The author of this work argues that recently witnessed flood in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and China and heat waves (including wildfire) in parts of the United States of America (USA) are reflections of extreme weather events that have close association with global warming, which is an aspect of climate change (reflecting long-term rise of the planet's temperatures) [1]. Global warming, in turn, is an outcome of increased concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs), mainly from human activities (such as burning fossil fuels). In today’s world, the fact remains is that no country or region on the planet is untouched by impacts of environmental degradation and climate change [2]. Italy is no exception to this, some of the major environmental concerns of the country are comprised of (a) “air pollution” (resulting from energy and heating, transportation, etc.); and (b) “water pollution”. Acid rain is another area of concern in Italy. It is due to these reasons that the country has formulated environmental policies and legislations [3]. The author, in this research work, primarily attempts to outline laws and regulations pertaining to environment in Italy. Secondary data have been used in the research, and method of data analysis is descriptive. The paper concludes that environmental policy in Italy is based on three principles, namely, (a) sustainable development, (b) prevention, and (c) precaution. The country has made significant progress. Further efforts are, however, needed in order to dissociate municipal waste generation from economic growth. Importantly, although institutional integration has significantly improved in the country, there is need to further strengthen co-ordination among different administrations, particularly at the technical level. Also, there is need for implementing existing environmental laws and legislations in more meaningful ways in order to secure sustainable and green earth in the days to come.