Vatican partners with Italy to create world's first carbon-neutral state
- Italy and the Vatican have finalized an agreement to develop a large solar farm on a former controversial site.
- The solar farm is intended to meet the energy needs of Vatican City, promoting its status as a carbon-neutral state.
- The initiative reflects a commitment to ecological sustainability and has garnered support from both Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV.
In Italy, a significant development occurred when the Vatican finalized plans to transform a 430-hectare parcel of land into a large solar farm. This agreement, signed on a Thursday, involved the Vatican foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, and Italy's ambassador to the Holy See, Francesco Di Nitto. The solar farm aims to provide sufficient electricity to meet the needs of Vatican City, thereby enabling it to be the world's first carbon-neutral state. The site in question, located approximately 35 kilometers north of Rome, had been a point of contention due to long-standing health complaints from locals regarding electromagnetic waves emitted by Vatican Radio towers. These towers, which have been operational since the 1950s, were also the subject of lawsuits in the 1990s that alleged health risks associated with their emissions. Although the Vatican denied any links to health problems, it reduced transmission hours in 2012, citing advancements in internet broadcasting as the reason, rather than health concerns. Pope Francis has been advocating for a transition away from fossil fuels, underscoring the urgency of adopting clean and sustainable energy sources. His vision aligns with the Catholic Church's broader ecological objectives, which have been championed by his successor, Pope Leo XIV. The agreement to develop the solar farm incorporates commitments to preserve agricultural use of the land and minimize environmental impact, reflecting a modern approach to energy production while being sensitive to the land's historical and cultural significance. The initiative requires approval from the Italian parliament since Vatican City possesses extraterritorial status over the land. With estimates indicating that the project will cost less than 100 million euros, once parliamentary approval is obtained, contracts for construction will be opened for bidding. This significant investment not only aims to fulfill the energy needs of Vatican City but also echoes a larger commitment to sustainability, setting a precedent that could inspire similar initiatives globally.