The Italian Journey: Carbon dioxide emissions, the role of tourism and other economic and climate drivers

Tourism is an engine of socio-economic progress and cultural development but could detrimentally affect the environment. The present study uses an extended Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology (STIRPAT) framework to examine, for the first time, the main determinants of carbon dioxide emissions in Italy's regions. Across the period 1995–2019, we analyse five possible driving channels of CO2 releases, comprising tourism, climate, demographic, economic, and techno-infrastructural variables. The panel data results highlight that waste and electricity consumption generated by tourism activities increase carbon dioxide emissions. Similarly, the tourism development index, derived from a principal component analysis, is a significant determinant of CO2 emissions. In addition, CO2 releases are larger for northern regions and lower for southern and central regions. Finally, airport density, GDP growth and investments harm the environment, while precipitations reduce carbon emissions. •We investigate the main determinants of CO2 emissions for Italy at a regional level.•An extended STIRPAT framework is adopted.•The tourism development index is a significant determinant of carbon dioxide emissions.•Waste and electricity consumption generated by tourism raises CO2 emissions.•Northern regions contribute more to carbon dioxide releases than southern and central regions.