The Vatican Climate Forest, to be located in the Bükk National Park, Hungary, was donated to the Vatican City by a carbon offsetting company. The forest is to be sized to offset the carbon emissions generated by the Vatican during 2007.[1] The Vatican's acceptance of the offer, at a ceremony on July 5, 2007, was reported as being "purely symbolic",[1] and a way to encourage Catholics to do more to safeguard the planet.[2] No trees have been planted under the project and the carbon offsets have not materialized.[3][4]
In May 2007, the Vatican announced that the roof of the Paul VI Audience Hall would be covered with photovoltaic panels.[5] The installation was officially placed into service on November 26, 2008.[6]
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ Carbon offsets: How a Vatican forest failed to reduce global warming The Christian Science Monitor
- ^ Dangers lurk in offset investments[permanent dead link], Ethical Corporation published 2011-09-19, accessed 2012-08-25
- ^ 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
- ^ 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