Vatican City to use only electric vehicles in its car fleet by 2030

The Vatican has announced that it will gradually replace its fleet of vehicles running on fossil fuel with electric vehicles to make its car fleet carbon-neutral by 2030.

The Governorate of Vatican City State, the government body tasked to run the day-to-day operation of the Vatican as a sovereign state, said it is committed to achieving carbon neutrality in the smallest country in the world by applying the principles of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si' and Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum.

The governorate said it has entered into an agreement with Volkswagen Group to renew the Vatican’s car fleet with Volkswagen and Škoda brand vehicles through the medium- and long-term rental formula.

The Governorate said other projects to achieve the Vatican’s carbon neutrality goals are the establishment of recharging networks within the Vatican and its extra-territorial areas and extend its use to its employees; and, ensure that its energy needs come exclusively from renewable energy sources.

While Pope Francis has been the most active pope in ecological issues, it was his predecessor, the late Pope Benedict XVI who was the first pope to issue statements to protect the environment.

As early as 2008, Benedict ordered the installation of 2,400 solar panels on the roof of the Paul VI audience hall, earning him the monicker the “Green Pope”.