Carbon Gap and B3 Carbon have wrapped up their Italy Carbon Removal Readiness Assessment, publishing a report that states the country has significant potential to deploy a range of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods to address residual CO2 emissions.
The report also highlights that the main obstacles currently standing in the way of this scenario are policy uncertainty and a declining climate momentum that could delay progress at a critical moment.
Even with strong and consistent mitigation efforts, Italy is expected to still have meaningful amounts of residual carbon emissions in 2050, according to the country’s national Long-Term Strategy, which is why carbon removals will be a key tool for reaching long-term climate targets.
According to the Carbon Gap and B3 Carbon report, the country has the resources required to deploy enough CDR on top of the natural sink to reach net-zero.
A Reference scenario indicates that a diversified CDR portfolio could result in the removal of 57MtCO2/yr by 2050, while an Ambitous scenario shows this volume could grow to 91 MtCO2/yr. Both of these visions depend on swift policy action to accommodate non-negotiable lead times to scale.
Italy is home to a strong industrial base and has extensive experience in energy infrastructure, which make it a fertile growing ground for technological CDR, building on existing CCS projects (Ravenna) and emerging BECCS opportunities.
At the same time, its landscape diversity and developed agricultural sector also make it a suitable location for nature-based removals, such as improved soil carbon management and ecosystem restoration projects.
The report finds that carbon removal in Italy is not only a question of technology potential but also of geography, governance, and public support.
In terms of geography, the assessment finds that northern regions are better positioned for tech-based CDR deployments, such as BECCS and DACCS, while central and southern regions are suitable for nature-based removals.
As stated in the report, Italy’s institutional sector and levels of public trust are critical CDR constraints, and public support varies by pathway, with citizens more inclined to support nature-based removals, pointing to a lack of transparency around tech-based ones.
Looking ahead, the assessment stresses that scaling CDR in Italy will require coordinated action across regions, sectors, and stakeholders. Further insights from the Italy Carbon Removal Readiness Assessment can be found here.
Read more: Germany Can Unlock Net-Zero By 2045 If CDR Is Scaled Rapidly, Says New Carbon Gap & Sweco Report
