Background information

The "Labour and Energy for a Sustainable Transition" manifesto was introduced in November 2021 as Italy worked to meet the EU Green Deal's climate targets. The document addresses the significant challenge of increasing the country's annual CO2 reduction from 3 Mt to over 16 Mt, while ensuring job protection and maintaining industrial competitiveness. The initiative works within Italy's existing National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) and National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), following the framework established by EU Regulation 2021/1119 (European Climate Law) and its 55% emissions reduction target for 2030. The manifesto brings together industry stakeholders, unions and institutions to develop a practical approach to managing the social and economic aspects of energy transition through the current decade.

Content of measure

The manifesto outlines a comprehensive approach to Italy's energy transition, requiring an estimated investment of 1,100 billion euros through 2030 and aiming to create 250,000 new jobs in the energy sector. The initiative targets both existing workforce protection and future employment development. The measure establishes a coordinated framework involving universities, research institutions, industry, unions, and public authorities. It focuses on multiple decarbonisation solutions, including renewable energy sources, low-carbon technologies, and circular economy practices. An integrated and synergic approach with the contribution of all the energy sectors makes it possible to maintain and strengthen the current employment structure of the energy sector (around 515,000 direct and indirect jobs and a potential allied industry of around 300,000) and also to guarantee the important employment levels of other sectors, such as Hard to Abate and Automotive (with around 1,000,000 jobs), in which the energy component becomes decisive in providing competitive levers and solutions for decarbonisation. Key support mechanisms include a special public transition fund, financial support for vulnerable consumers through social tariffs and efficiency incentives, alongside industrial support through regulatory simplification and tax adjustments for low-carbon technologies.

Use of measure

Since these are recommendations of the social partners, there is no data on the implementation.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social partners jointly Other social actors (e.g. NGOs)	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Social partners contributed to the manifesto through structured working groups. These included an industry group (Confindustria Energia), trade unions (CGIL, CISL, UIL), and research institutions. The partners shared technical knowledge and represented different sector interests, while a steering committee ("Cabina di Regia") was created to monitor implementation, ensuring participation from all stakeholders in managing the energy transition.

Views and reactions

Broad support for the measure from all social partners involved. The manifesto represents a consensus document signed by industry associations (Confindustria Energia), major trade unions (CGIL, CISL, UIL), and consumer organisations.

Sources

• 30 November 2021: Lavoro ed Energia per una Transizione sostenibile (www.camera.it)