The Contribution of Rural Development Programmes in Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Italy

The Health Check reform, reinforcing the Common Agricultural Policy, emphasizes the role of agriculture in climate change, facing issues related to climate change, renewable energies, protection of biodiversity, water management, innovation, and dairy production. The CAP Health Check targets were included in the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs); a preliminary qualitative assessment identified that 14 RDPs include climate change targets and eight RDPs include the six Health Check targets (MIPAAF (2009): Analisi dei PSR sulle nuove sfide del Health Check—17/09/2009. Rete Rurale Nazionale 2007–2013). This paper aims to make an initial quantitative assessment of the impact of agriculture greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction measures in Italy, taking into account the 21 Italian RDPs. The conceptual framework of this work was based on a multiple criteria approach, which considers the analysis of diverse GHG emission reduction measures for the agriculture sector, and multiple rural development axis–measures–actions from RPDs. Main activities were found under measure 121 (farm modernization) and 214 (agri-environment). A more rational use of nitrogen fertilizers can result in an effective mitigation action (reduction of N2O emissions). Concerning emissions of CH4 from manure management, the adoption of biogas recovery could be relevant; while other specific incentives for electric power production are also supporting methane emission reduction ( 1 MW green certificates).