Atmospheric Carbon and Oxygen Laboratory (ACO-Lab) is dedicated to monitoring CO₂ emissions from both anthropogenic and natural sources. This is achieved through the integrated measurements of concentration, as well as δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O, specifically in urban environments.

Global climate change poses a significant threat to key sectors such as infrastructure, the economy, electricity production, international relations, biodiversity, and freshwater and food resources. Its impact varies, with extreme weather events, melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels, and intensified precipitation affecting different regions. The Mediterranean region faces ecological challenges, including reduced water availability, crop yields, increased drought risks, biodiversity loss, wildfires, and heatwaves. Urban areas in Europe, experiencing population growth and land use changes, are increasingly vulnerable, as demonstrated by recent floods in Italy, France, Greece, and Spain.

Climate change is intricately linked to the carbon cycle, particularly the exchange processes between the atmosphere and the Earth's surface in response to increased CO₂ and CH₄ emissions. In 2020, atmospheric CO₂ concentration exceeded pre-industrial levels by 48%, primarily driven by industrialized regions like Europe, contributing at least 14% of CO₂ emissions from hydrocarbon combustion. In the next future, global population projecting to reach 10 billion by 2050 and urbanization expanding to 68%, therefore the urban areas are major CO₂ sources. Studying isotopic signals from various sources like soil respiration, biomass combustion, and hydrocarbon combustion helps differentiate CO₂ origins. Monitoring regional CO₂ emissions, especially in urban areas, is crucial for understanding anthropogenic contributions.

Research initiatives like the Atmospheric Carbon and Oxygen Laboratory (ACO-Lab) play a pivotal role in comprehending atmospheric processes, distinguishing natural from anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, and tracking their temporal variations. ACO-Lab comprises 13 monitoring stations strategically located across Italy, encompassing diverse ecosystems. These include urban areas such as Rome, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Bologna, Florence, Catania, and Aosta. Additionally, the monitoring extends to Mediterranean islands, specifically Ustica and Lampedusa, as well as volcanic edifices like Mount Etna, Campi Flegrei, and the Colli Albani.