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Vatican Climate Forest

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The Vatican Climate Forest, to be located in the Bükk National Park, Hungary, was donated to the Vatican City by carbon offsetting company Planktos. The company sized the forest to offset the carbon emissions generated by the Vatican during 2007, committing to plant over 125,000 trees. No trees have been planted under the project and the carbon offsets have not materialized.

History

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In 2007, the Vatican announced plans to become the 'first carbon neutral sovereign state'[1] with an emphasis on solar power and the Vatican Climate Forest which would offset the Vatican's carbon emissions.[1] The Vatican announced that the roof of the Paul VI Audience Hall would be covered with photovoltaic panels in May 2007.[2] The installation was officially placed into service on November 26, 2008.[3]

The Vatican Climate Forest, sized to offset the Vatican's 2007 carbon emissions, was announced in July 2007.[1][4] Hungarian start-up Klimafa, a subsidiary of the carbon offsetting company Planktos, offered to plant trees to restore a forest near Tisza River over 37 acres.[1][5] It promised to plant over 125,000 trees.[6] Dell and European governments also bought Klimafa's carbon offsets.[5] The land has not had trees since the Middle Ages when it was cleared for agriculture.[5] It now belongs to Bükk National Park but, as of 2007, corn continues to be farmed illegally on the land.[5]

The Vatican's acceptance of the offer, at a ceremony on July 5, 2007, was reported as being "purely symbolic",[4] and a way to encourage Catholics to do more to safeguard the planet.[7] An official from the Vatican's Council for Culture stated 'one can emit less CO2 by not using heating and not driving a car, or one can do penance by intervening to offset emissions, in this case by planting trees'.[5]

In September 2008, Klimafa promised it would plant the trees in December despite its parent company Planktos closing.[6] The company has not planted the trees that would have made up the Vatican Climate Forest.[8] As of 2011, the Vatican is considering legal action against Klimafa.[8] In an interview, Mayor Kiss Lajos of Tiszakeszi stated 'we felt honored because the Vatican chose our village'[9] but now 'feel sorry'.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d CNA. "Vatican announces plans to become first "carbon neutral state" in the world". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  2. ^ Going green: Vatican expands mission to saving planet, not just souls Archived 2007-06-12 at the Library of Congress Web Archives, Catholic News Service, published 2007-05-25, accessed 2007-06-12
  3. ^ Vatican wins award for creating rooftop solar-power generator Archived 2014-11-20 at Archive-It, Catholic News Service, published 2008-11-26, accessed 2009-12-22
  4. ^ a b Vatican signs up for a carbon offset forest Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine, Catholic News Service, published 2007-07-13, accessed 2007-08-03
  5. ^ a b c d e Rosenthal, Elisabeth (2007-09-17). "Vatican Penance: Forgive Us Our Carbon Output". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  6. ^ a b Glatz, Carol. "Vatican may sue carbon-offset company". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  7. ^ Climate forest makes Vatican the first carbon-neutral state Archived 2008-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Western Catholic Reporter, published 2007-07-23, accessed 2007-08-03
  8. ^ a b Dangers lurk in offset investments, Ethical Corporation published 2011-09-19, accessed 2012-08-25
  9. ^ a b Carbon offsets: How a Vatican forest failed to reduce global warming The Christian Science Monitor, published 2010-04-20, accessed 2025-04-03
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