The legal definition of “environment” was first set out in the Italian Environmental Protection Act (Legislative Decree No. 152/2006).
There has been a shift in the concept of “environmental protection” over time. Initially focused on combating pollution, the term has evolved to encompass broader aspects:
all forms of nature (plants, woods, forests, biodiversity, animal species, and fish);
human beings and their sustainable development needs (use of resources, including agriculture, hunting, fishing, construction, urban planning, services, infrastructure, energy use, etc.);
waste management and incentives for sustainable practices;
various types of pollution (soil, water, air, waste, noise, major accident hazards, hazardous substances, etc.);
cultural heritage and landscape;
global risks associated with ozone depletion, climate change, species loss, new techniques of genetic modification, etc.;
national, EU and international measures for preventing and remedying environmental damage;
alignment of management and governance with the new economy.
