The Vatican City State is strongly committed to the implementation of innovative and sustainable solutions that make it possible to reduce, in concrete terms, the impact of human activities on the environment in order to protect the planet. Mobility is at the heart of a specific program called "Ecol Contact online >>
The Vatican City State is strongly committed to the implementation of innovative and sustainable solutions that make it possible to reduce, in concrete terms, the impact of human activities on the environment in order to protect the planet. Mobility is at the heart of a specific program called "Ecological Conversion 2030", which aims to reduce the CO2 footprint of the state''s vehicle fleet. To achieve this, the existing vehicles are to be gradually replaced by electric ones to make the entire fleet CO2-neutral by 2030.
Volkswagen is the chosen partner for this project, and through Volkswagen Financial Services it will supply the Vatican State with a fleet starting from the beginning of 2024. At later stages, further zero-emission vehicles also from the Volkswagen Group brands will be progressively handed over up until the entire fleet has been completely replaced by 2030.
"The electrification of fleets is becoming increasingly important across the globe. The fact that Vatican employees will now also be among our ID. drivers in the future is a great target and honor for our brand and underscores the attractiveness of our all-electric ID. models," said Imelda Labbé during the vehicle handover in Vatican City.
Dr. Christian Dahlheim added: "We are delighted to support the Vatican in this important project. This is something very special for us and shows that we are absolutely competitive with our mobility solutions."
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The specified fuel consumption and emission data does not refer to a single vehicle and is not part of the offer but is only intended for comparison between different types of vehicles. Additional equipment and accessories (additional components, tyre formats, etc.) can alter relevant vehicle parameters such as weight, rolling resistance and aerodynamics, affecting the vehicle''s fuel consumption, power consumption, CO2 emissions and driving performance values in addition to weather and traffic conditions and individual driving behavior.
Further information on official fuel consumption data and official specific CO2 emissions for new passenger cars can be found in the "Guide to fuel economy, CO2 emissions and power consumption for new passenger car models", which is available free of charge from all sales dealerships and from DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, D-73760 Ostfildern, Germany and at
Pope Francis leaves at the end of the weekly general audience in St. Peter''s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis is presented with a gift by faithful during the weekly general audience in St. Peter''s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
FILE - Pope Francis leaves at the end of the weekly general audience in St. Peter''s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. Pope Francis cancelled his trip to Dubai for the U.N. climate conference on doctors'' orders. The announcement marked the second time the pope''s frail health had forced the cancellation of a foreign trip: He had to postpone a planned trip to Congo and South Sudan in 2022 because of knee inflammation, though he was able to make the trip earlier this year. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
Pope Francis blesses a child wearing a pontiff costume as he tours St. Peter''s Square on the popemobile during the weekly general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
ROME (AP) — The Vatican signed an agreement Wednesday with German carmaker Volkswagen AG to gradually replace its auto fleet with electric vehicles as part of the Vatican''s efforts to reduce its carbon emissions.
The announcement did not give any details on the value of the deal or set a timetable for completing the switch to electric vehicles.
The partnership falls under the Vatican''s "Ecological Conversion 2030" plan, which aims to pursue sustainable, carbon-neutral projects and technologies in the 44-hectare (109-acre) city state in the center of Rome.
Last month, in a prelude to what he will likely say in Dubai, the Argentine Jesuit issued an urgent update to his landmark 2015 encyclical on the environment. In it, he challenged world leaders to commit to binding targets to slow climate change, warning that God''s increasingly warming creation was fast reaching a "point of no return."
But even before Francis, Pope Benedict XVI was known as the "green pope," in part because of his sustainability initiatives in Vatican City, which included the installation of solar panels on the main Vatican audience hall.
A statement Wednesday from the Vatican City State administration said it was committed to pursuing net-zero emissions technologies and sustainable transport projects to reduce the carbon footprint of its auto fleet. Francis currently moves around the Vatican in a Fiat.
The Vatican said its partnership with Volkwagen and its Skoda brand involves medium- and long-term leases, calling the carmaker its top "strategic partner for the project to renovate the state''s car park."
The administration said it intends to gradually replace its fleet with electric vehicles by 2030, will increase the number of charging stations throughout the territory and ensure the city state''s energy needs are provided exclusively by renewable sources.
Volkswagen''s Italia group didn''t immediately reply to an email seeking details about the partnership.
In a significant move towards environmental sustainability, the Vatican has announced the launch of its "Ecological Conversion 2030" project, as communicated by the Governatorate of the Vatican City State.
Cardinal Vergez Alzaga, President of the Governatorate of the Vatican City State, emphasized the initiative''s alignment with the teachings of Pope Francis, particularly those outlined in the Encyclical "Laudato Si" and the Apostolic Exhortation "Laudate Deum". The project underscores the Vatican''s renewed commitment to promoting sustainable development and implementing ecological policies to protect the environment and introduce energy-saving strategies.
A key aspect of the Vatican''s ambitious ecological strategy includes achieving carbon neutrality. The Governatorate has set forth a comprehensive plan to revolutionize its transportation policies. Central to this plan is the "Ecological Conversion 2030," which targets a significant reduction in the CO2 footprint of the Vatican''s vehicle fleet.
To meet these objectives, the Vatican will gradually replace its state-owned vehicles with electric ones, aiming for a zero-impact fleet by 2030. Additionally, the expansion of the electric vehicle charging network within the state territory and in extraterritorial areas is planned, extending its accessibility to the state''s employees. Moreover, the Vatican is committed to ensuring that its energy needs are met solely through renewable energy sources.
The initiative is being undertaken in partnership with the Volkswagen Group, which shares a similar vision of becoming a carbon-zero company by 2050. Volkswagen aims to reduce the carbon footprint of its vehicles by 30% by 2030, aligning with the Vatican''s environmental objectives.
This article was originally published on ACI Stampa.
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