Bonn 2.June 2023: At the technical preparatory conference for COP 28 Dubai (2023) in Bonn (SB58) with 7.000 participants, the Holy See presented its Nationally Determined Contributions(NDCs). The NDCs are the most important, binding instrument for all states in order to achieve the Paris climate targets, in particular the 1.5⁰ C target.

The Vatican City State commits itself to reduce greenhouse gases to 20% below 2011 level by 2030. In 2011, CO_2eq emissions reached a value of almost 18.940 tonnes CO_{2 eq.} - 2030 the Vatican City State will reach 15.152 CO2 eq. 

The fundamental question of SB 58 for COP 28, Dubai

Mariana Paoli (Christian Aid) from the Climate Action Network emphasized in the press conference (12.06.23) of the Climate Action Network that the fundamental question for the further implementation to achieve the climate goals is sufficient funding. There is currently the biggest gap, which hinders that existential measures for e.g. lost and  damage of the South are implemented or compensated . A fundamental rethink of the global financing logic for a suffienct Lost and Damage Fund - must take place here until 2025 to be in work for the next phase until 2030.

On June 8, Caritas Internationalis and the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) organised a side event titled Perspectives of Faith and Local Actors on the New Joint Work on Agriculture and Food Systems.

Let Justice and Peace flow

“Let Justice and Peace Flow” is the theme chosen for Season of Creation 2023, the ecumenical celebration we hold each year from September 1, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to October 4th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

In the Time or Season of Creation (from 1.09 until 4.10), all churches worldwide (with 2.2 billion Christians) work together for the care of our common home, with meditation, prayers, actions and the celebration of the Day of Creation.

The prophet Amos cries out, “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5: 24), and so we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity.

“A mighty river” is the symbol chosen to go with this theme, representing biodiversity at risk. The urgency grows and we must make visible peace with Earth and on Earth, at the same time that justice calls us to repentance and a change of attitude and actions. When we join the river of justice and peace together with others, it creates hope instead of despair.

All are invited to join the river of justice and peace on behalf of all creation and to converge our individual identities, of name, family or faith community, in this greater movement for justice, just like tributaries come together to form a mighty river.  

Vatican 2.02.2023: Pope Francis establishes the Laudato Si'  Center for Higher Education (with university functions) “a scientific, educational and social organization, working for integral formation”  in the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo, near Rome. 

The centre manages the "Borgo Laudato Si" project for training in integral ecology. The Borgo Laudato si' wants to present itself as a concrete sign of the applicability of the principles which Pope Francis outlined masterfully in the encyclical "Laudato si'".The aim is to create an educational place for integral ecology that is open to all people of good will. The activities and initiatives that will be implemented in the coming months aim to combine education in integral ecology, circular and ecological economy and environmental sustainability.

Pope Francis wanted to make a "concrete contribution to the development of environmental education" by providing a new training and awareness-raising space.

The Centre will also gradually take over some of the competencies of the Directorate of the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo, including the Papal Palace and the Pontifical Gardens.

Let me repeat: “In the name of God, I ask the great extractive industries – mining, oil, forestry, real estate, agribusiness – to stop destroying forests, wetlands, and mountains, to stop polluting rivers and seas, to stop poisoning food and people” (Pope Francis)

On 6 July 2022 His Excellency Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Permanent Observer to the UN, deposited before the Secretary-General of the United Nations the Instrument with which the Holy See, in the name and on behalf of Vatican City State, accesses to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). At the earliest possible date, considering the legal requirements of the Paris Agreement, the Holy See, in the name and on behalf of Vatican City State, will deposit the instrument of accession to the latter.

At the earliest possible date, considering the legal requirements of the Paris Agreement, the Holy See will deposit the instrument of accession to the latter, continues the statement.

Emergency Call for Action for the Universal Church and World Religions for 100% Renewable Energy Power until 2050

This is an important step for the Church but also for the other religions to actively contribute to climate neutrality by 2050.  We - the Academy - have proposed this important step for a long time, because joining the Climate Framework Convention makes all words and deeds of our Church more credible and also gives powerful motivation. For the internal effect, this means that now every diocese, every Catholic institution, from the orders, parishes, universities, schools must set out here - concretely means to investigate all possibilities of reducing CO₂ , how climate neutrality can be achieved and implement appropriate measures quickly for e.g. deinvestment. This is a Herculean task. We will only achieve this goal if we 1.3 billion Catholics, together with all religious communities, practice a climate-neutral lifestyle which is in harmony with following Jesus. We need a "devotio ecology" - a powerful synergy of Sustainable Lifestyles, Ecological Spirituality and innovative Global Energy Solutions  - towards powerful Christian Actions transforming our unsustainable world.

“We cannot have a healthy planet without a healthy ocean. Our failure to care for the ocean will have ripple effects across the entire 2030 Agenda,“ said Secretary General António Guterres

The second United Nations Ocean Conference (27/06 to 01/07) has begun in Lisbon - Portugal's capital is on the Atlantic coast - with emotional appeals and urgent demands to save the world's oceans, increasingly battered by littering, overfishing, climate change and acidification. Thousands of politicians, experts and environmentalists have come together to try to save the fragile health of the oceans from harmful "cascading effects," according to organizers.

The Pontifical Academy of Science inspired by Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si  develeoped following statement: "On Health of the Seas and Oceans and their Role in the Present and Future of Humanity"

From May 22 to 29, on the occasion of this anniversary, the Catholic Church invites to celebrate the Laudato si' Week. The main objectives will be to raise awareness of the importance of the encyclical, to promote the principles of integral ecology and to begin together the journey towards ecological conversion.