Blessed Sustainability

The Vatican has made the decision to become carbon neutral by planting a forest in Hungary that will offset the carbon emissions of the sovereign state:

The Holy See has accepted an offer from a climate solutions company to
plant a forest in Hungary which will offset the Vatican's carbon dioxide
emissions and make it the "first entirely carbon neutral sovereign
state".The
Vatican is pushing its green agenda, joining a reforestation
project aimed at
offsetting its CO2 emissions for this year, PR Inside
reports.

Cardinal Paul Poupard of the Pontifical Council for Culture accepted a
certificate from Hungarian-based firm Planktos/KlimaFa stating that the
reforestation of a large area of the Bukk national park in Hungary would
compensate for all its emissions this year."This donation means an entire
section of a national park in central Europe will be reforested," Cardinal
Poupard said. "In this way, the Vatican will do its small part in contributing
to the elimination of polluting emissions from CO2 which is threatening the
survival of this planet."

As the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, had recently stated, the international
community needs to respect and encourage a 'Green Culture,' characterized by
ethical values. The Book of Genesis tells us of a beginning in which God placed
man as guardian over the earth to make it fruitful. When man forgets that he is
a faithful servant of this earth, it becomes a desert that threatens the
survival of all creation…"

Monsignor Melchor Sanchez de Toca, the undersecretary for the Pontifical
Council of Culture, told The Associated Press that polluting emissions from the
Vatican would be offset by the reforestation. "To eliminate emissions, there are
two ways: either you reduce them by renouncing the use of cars or heating
systems, for example, or you do something good to compensate them, such as
planting trees," he said.The company is planting the trees and the Vatican's
acceptance of the move is purely symbolic."These are small initiatives that try
to send a signal," Monsignor Sanchez de Toca said. "We hope that other churches
contribute with small gestures to spread the concern for the protection of the
environment.

Just how much of the national park will undergo the reforestation project
will be determined by this year's energy usage in the Vatican and its other
emission reduction efforts, the Planktos/Klimfa statement said.

The reforestation project is part of a broader effort by the Vatican to go
green.Some of the Holy See buildings will start using solar energy next year,
with photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity being placed on the
roof of the Paul VI auditorium, which is used for the pontiff's general
audiences.Last summer, Pope Benedict XVI called on Christians to unite to take
"care of creation without squandering its resources and (share) them in a
convivial manner". He said lifestyle choices were damaging the environment and
making «the lives of poor people on Earth especially unbearable.

The Vatican is also considering solar energy for other Holy See buildings,
though historic landmarks like St Peter's Basilica will not be touched.

According to Planktos CEO and KlimaFa Managing Director, Russ George, "the
Holy See's increasingly creative environmental leadership is both insightful and
profound. Not only is the Vatican steadily reducing its carbon footprint with
energy efficiency and solar power, its choice of new mixed growth forests to
offset the balance of its
emissions shows a deep commitment to planetary
stewardship as well. It eloquently makes the point that ecorestoration is a
fitting climate change solution for a culture of life."

Source: http://www.cathnews.com/news/707/76.php

There have been many reasons presented to embrace sustainability. Some want to reduce our carbon emissions. Some want to preserve our resources. Some want to reduce our dependency on foreign oil. Some want to save the planet. Some believe humans were appointed to steward the planet.

Whatever your reasons, it's one common goal that can bring us all together.