The central government is in charge of:

• Most environmental responsibilities, concerning the areas of air, water, waste, and soil (Ministry of Environment);
• The implementation of international conventions and EU law and definition of objectives in accordance with them;
• The conservation and promotion of natural areas recognised as being of international or national interest;
• The protection, security and observation of the maritime quality;
• The regulation of standards;
• Technical support:
• The purchase, rental and use of ships and aircrafts for special environment operations of national importance;
• The listing of huntable species;
• The listing of endangered fauna and flora;
• Grant permits relating to fauna import/export;
• The listing of dangerous animals;
• Adopting a charter on nature;
• Regional planning regarding water resources;
• Natural parks and national reserves;
• Water pollution, including the definition of the national plan of sea protection and pollution of marine coasts, as well as the definition of standards;
• Noise and air pollution, including the monitoring of air quality and regulation of standards, and
• Soil protection. 

Shared competences with the Regions are: 

• Information and education;
• The promotion of clean energy and sustainable development policies;
• Emergency decisions aiming at preventing environmental harm;
• Coastal environment protection, and
• Environmental impact assessments.

Monitoring and control over the National Institute of Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) and the Central Institute for maritime scientific and technologic research (ICRAM).

Responsible ministries/bodies

​Cabinet Department of European Policy

Ministry of Education, University and Research

Ministry of Labour and Social Policies

Regional level

Regional authorities are responsible for all the administrative functions not expressly conferred to the State, in particular:

• The definition of environmental action priorities;
• Coordination;
• The distribution of funds;
• Zonings of high risk of environmental crisis areas;
• Regional parks;
• Water pollution (all the administrative functions not expressly conferred to the State);
• Noise and air pollution (all the administrative functions not expressly conferred to the State);
• Soil protection (with the State), and
• The supply of electricity.

Competences shared with local authorities are:

• The protection and observation of coastal areas;
• The control over wild fauna commerce and detention;
• Forestry, and
• Water management.
   
  

Provinces

Provincial authorities are responsible for:

• The licensing, monitoring and provision of services in environment, and
• Natural parks.
  
   
  
  Competences shared with the central government and regional authorities are:
• Noise and air pollution;
• Soil protection;
• Water pollution, and
• Water management.
  
   

Municipalities

Municipal authorities are responsible for:

• Environmental controls;
• Sewerage;
• Refusing collection and disposal;
• Participating in the zoning of high risk of environmental crisis areas;
• Local parks and gardens, and
• The supply of water and gas.

Competences shared with the central government, and regional and provincial authorities are:

• Noise and air pollution;
• Soil protection;
• Water pollution, and
• Water management.

Sources

Constitution, Article 117.

Decreto Legislativo 31 marzo 1998, n. 112 "Conferimento di funzioni e compiti amministrativi dello Stato alle regioni ed agli enti locali, in attuazione del capo I della legge 15 marzo 1997, n. 59" (G.U.  n. 92 del 21 aprile 1998 - Supplemento Ordinario n. 77
(Rettifica G.U. n. 116 del 21 maggio1997) [Legislative Decree 112/1998].