Right after his election, the German pope said: “Solar energy is essential to preserve creation.” Now, pope Benedikt XVI  has followed up his words with action. A huge solar panel on the roof of the Vatican’s Audience Hall has been inaugurated.

It provides energy from above, so to say from the “boss” Himself – 300,000 kilowatt hours a year. Free and environmentally friendly. The pope’s ecological commitment cuts CO2 emissions by 315 tons a year. Radio Vatican has announced that more solar panels will be installed. The pope wants to set a clear example. In his book “Jesus” he has already described the ecological Jesus.

Other institutions are blazing ecological trails, too, these days. The environmental protection authority of the UN is demanding a global ecological “New Deal” for the whole world economy. The UN authority says that the financial crisis and the resulting cash-infusions amounting to billions of dollars/euros offer a great opportunity for an ecological restructuring of the industrial societies. The World Bank also says that world economy can only be saved by an ecological turnaround. In the USA, Barack Obama has announced a 150 billion dollar project for renewable energies and energy efficiency. And what is Germany doing?

The announced subisidization of the car industry will definitely not help the environment. It would benefit the climate much more, if houses were better insulated, if the public transport network were expanded and if the Renewable Heat Act were extended to old buildings. All this has been recommended to the Federal Government by the Council of Sustainability, but the Federal Government hasn’t taken any action so far.

A rapid total changeover to renewable energies would be the best way of protecting the climate and of making best use of cash-infusions. But in autumn 2008 only 15 % of electricity is being produced ecologically in Germany. Millions of citizens are far more environmentally aware than their government. But at least, the Germans are hardly buying any more large cars.

The chance for a green economy and the breakthrough to ecological technologies is today greater than ever before. This is what the heads of Siemens and ENBW groups have realised these days. If the Federal Government has to raise billions in order to help the economy, as Brussels has been pushing for, the investments should at least produce results in the future.

The pope has now shown what is important. Sunny congratulations.

© Franz Alt 2008