EMBASSY VATICAN HIGHLIGHTS THE ENVIRONMENT WITH VISITS BY

UNCLAS VATICAN 000077 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO VT SUBJECT: EMBASSY VATICAN HIGHLIGHTS THE ENVIRONMENT WITH VISITS BY TWO IIP SPEAKERS REF: VATICAN 54 ¶1. (U) Summary. To underline the increasing importance of addressing climate change, Embassy Vatican hosted two IIP speakers on the environment in the first half of June. Walter Grazer, who visited Rome from June 3-5, emphasized the role of faith communities in protecting the environment and interfaith collaboration in this field. A week later, Mark Hopkins, an expert on energy efficiency, detailed current energy policies to Vatican City State officials, and learned about the Holy See's new plans for renewable energy. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Walter Grazer, a consultant for the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, highlighted the role faith communities in America have played in caring for the environment. Mr. Grazer met with Holy See officials, interviewed with print and radio journalists, and met lay and religious organizations. At each stop, he spoke of the environmental work of religious communities in the United States, from `greening' buildings, to creating interfaith partnerships centered on environmental protection. He also discussed the challenges of climate change and new USG environmental policies. ¶3. (U) The Holy See's recent efforts to draw more energy from renewable sources (reftel) provided an ideal background for the June 12 visit of energy efficiency expert Mark Hopkins. He shared details of pending U.S. energy legislation with experts from the Vatican City State's engineering services department. Hopkins visited an existing solar energy installation at the Vatican, and learned about plans for a much larger solar energy installation to be constructed on extra-territorial property just outside of Rome. Although still at the developmental stage, the new solar power plant could have a capacity of up to 100 MW, enough to enable Vatican City State to draw all of its energy needs from renewable resources. Excess energy would go to the Italian energy grid. ¶4. (U) Media outreach was central to both programs. Walter Grazer spoke at a roundtable for Italian and international print journalists, and interviewed with Vatican Radio's English language service. Mark Hopkins conducted a lengthy interview with Catholic News Service, a leading provider of English language news to Catholic communities around the world. The outreach highlighted new U.S. approaches to environmental and energy policies while emphasizing the shared commitment of the United States and Holy See to safeguarding the environment. ¶5. (SBU) Comment. The visits of IIP speakers Walter Grazer and Mark Hopkins allowed Embassy Vatican to positively portray U.S. environmental policies to a broad range of contacts and media outlets. The environment represents fertile ground for increased engagement with the Holy See, especially as it moves towards complete reliance on renewable energy. End comment. NOYES