Car-Addicted Italians Lag Europe on Environment

Italians’ love of cars and their reluctance to switch from carbon fuels for energy needs means their country is one of the worst environmental performers in Europe, one of Italy’s main green groups said on Thursday.

The home of Ferrari and Fiat is more car-mad than any other in Europe, the Legambiente group said, quoting figures showing Italians drive an average 15,000 kilometres (9,300 miles) each year — 31 percent more than the European average and 60 percent more than the average German.
“The diagnosis on Italy’s health is not encouraging, in particular when it comes to two infrastructure areas: energy and transport,” said the green group as it issued an annual report of the state of the nation’s environment.

On energy, Italy, which has little oil or gas of its own, still gets 88 percent of its energy by burning fossil fuels.

Renewables account for less than 6 percent, and most of that it hydro-electric power, with wind and solar power making up just 0.3 percent, way behind countries like Germany and Spain.

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