Vatican launches sustainable mobility programme 'Ecological Conversion 2023'

The Governorate of Vatican City State announces the launch of a series of energy-saving initiatives and strategies to safeguard the environment in the framework of the Pope's Laudato si' and Laudate Deum, including introducing a state car fleet to reduce CO2 emissions through a partnership with the Volkswagen Group.

By Vatican News

The Vatican City State has been committed for many years to promoting sustainable development through ecological policies to safeguard the environment and provide energy-saving strategies.

Applying the principles of the Encyclical Letter Laudato si' and the Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum, it is among the first States in the world to pursue sustainability projects by seeking innovative solutions that will help change the way of working while taking care of the protection of the 'Common Home' by adopting projects that, also through the use of reliable and eco-friendly technologies, will concretely reduce the impact of human activity on the environment.

The ratification of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreements are the bridge between environmental policies and the Holy Father's indications and recommendations.

The Governorate is committed to achieving climate neutrality through the responsible use of natural resources, the implementation of energy efficiency projects, the upgrading of its technological assets, sustainable mobility, diversification and sourcing of cleaner or alternative energy products for transport, waste disposal and the development of concrete future reforestation projects.

Electric vehicles in the Vatican car fleet

Achieving neutrality will require investments in technological facilities using renewable energies, offsetting emissions produced in one area and reducing them in another, and above all, promoting electric and hybrid mobility. For this reason, the Governorate has launched a sustainable mobility development programme called 'Ecological Conversion 2030', also designed to reduce the CO2 impact of its vehicle fleet.

To this end, it intends to: gradually replace State-owned cars with electric vehicles; make its car fleet carbon-neutral by 2030; implement its recharging network in the State and extra-territorial areas and extend its use to its employees; and, ensure that its energy needs come exclusively from renewable energy sources.

A strategic partner for sustainable mobility

The Volkswagen Group, which aims to become a carbon-neutral company by 2050 and reduce the carbon footprint of its vehicles by 30% by 2030, is the first strategic partner for the project to renew the State's car fleet with Volkswagen and Škoda brand vehicles through the medium- and long-term rental formula.

Today, a partnership agreement is signed with the Volkswagen Group, as part of the sustainable mobility development programme, which is one of the steps the Governorate has taken to concretely reduce the impact of human activity on the environment.