The pontiff has repeatedly faced the aspects relating to transport and their sustainability, dedicating them reflections in the encyclical “Laudato yes” and during public meetings
Pope Francis was a deeply descended pontiff in the reality of the contemporary world and, as such, he could not exempt himself from facing the themes of the environment, his degradation and how contemporary man contributed to the acceleration of this process. Mobility, automotive and, in general, the transport system was very close to the pontiff, so much so that he was repeatedly mentioned in one of his most significant documents, the encyclical “Laudato yes”, dedicated to the “care of the common house”, that is, our planet. Published on June 18, 2015, the encyclical takes the title from the Canticle of the creatures of St. Francis of Assisi, which read precisely “Laudato yes, me ‘lord, for Sora Matre Terra”: an invitation to love and respect the world in which we live, too long looted in its primary resources, to safeguard it for the benefit of future generations.
insufficient progress
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Already in the first chapter of the encyclical, for example, the pontiff highlights how the air pollution caused by transport produces a broad spectrum of effects on the health of the population, in particular of the poorest one, “causing millions of premature deaths”; To this are added the consequences of global warming and climate change, at the origin of natural catastrophes. “Therefore”, the pontiff wrote almost ten years ago, “the development of policies has become urgent and urgent so that in the coming years the emission of carbon dioxide and other highly polluting gases is drastically reduced, for example, by replacing fossil fuels and developing renewable energy sources”. For Pope Francis, however, the level of access to clean and renewable energies was still too small: “There is still need”, he said, “to develop adequate accumulation technologies”. And the progress hitherto achieved, although significant, were not enough: “There have also been some investments in production and transport mode that consume less energy and require less than raw materials (…), but these good practices are far from becoming general”.
decent transport
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What can help us in the effort to preserve the planet is what the Pope calls “ecology of daily life”: a series of small actions that each of us can put in place to contribute to the collective result. “The quality of life in the cities”, says the encyclical, “is largely linked to transport, which are often the cause of great suffering for the inhabitants. In the cities many cars used by one or two people circulate, so traffic becomes intense, the level of pollution is raised, enormous quantities of non -renewable energy are consumed and the construction of multiple roads and parking lots, which damage the urban fabric, become necessary. On the need to give priority to public transport. Pope Francis, therefore, recognized the need for reduced and more rational use of cars in the urban area, but at the same time he incited to work to ensure an improvement in the alternative made up of public transport, which must preserve the dignity of its users.
No shortcut
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Not only that: pursuing the necessary reduction of polluting emissions, starting from those generated by the products derived from oil, it is necessary, but it is a task to be carried out taking into account the indispensable criteria of social equity. “We know that the technology based on fossil fuels, very polluting – especially coal, but also oil and, to a lesser extent, the gas – must be replaced gradually and without delay”, recited the text of the encyclical, adding that “pending a large development of renewable energies, which should already be started, it is legitimate to opt for the smaller evil or resort to transitory solutions”. The problem, Pope Francis underlined, is that the international community has not yet achieved adequate results regarding those who have to “endure the major costs of the energy transition” and that “politics and industry respond slowly to this need, far as they are” from being at the height of world challenges “. A strong incitement to do more, moreover without taking shortcuts: already ten years ago, the pontiff declared himself against the sale of the green credits, an option that would subsequently make the fortune of an automotive manufacturer like Tesla. “The purchase and sale strategy of emission credits,” said the Pontiff, “can give rise to a new form of speculation and would not serve to reduce the global emission of polluting gases. This system seems to be a quick and easy solution, with the appearance of a certain commitment for the environment, which however does not imply a radical change at the height of circumstances. Indeed, it can become an expedient that allows you to support the super-consumption of Some countries and sectors “.
The meeting with Aci
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Of these and other themes related to mobility Pope Francis had the opportunity to speak in the meeting last January with a delegation of the Automobile Club of Italy, led by President Angelo Sticchi Damiani, on the occasion of the 120 years spent from the foundation of the association. In his speech, the Pontiff had underlined the “need for a culture of respect and road safety, starting from schools”, adding how the key is “to assume responsible behavior, respect the rules, be aware of the risks” to help civil coexistence and the achievement of the zero victims on the roads. “A program, but first of all a duty”, for Pope Francis, according to which “traveling rhymes with learning, meeting and not with suffering, crying or even dying”. Even on that occasion, the Pontiff had not given up also to face the issue of education for respect for the environment, facing the challenges related to his protection. “The number of vehicles, the consumption of non -renewable energy and the cost of fuel, pollution and traffic are some of the factors that have an undeniable impact on the common house and on those who live in it: the quality of life is at stake!”, Francesco said, and for this reason “it is urgent to work to face these challenges with seriousness and determination, also through the creation of alliances to encourage sustainability”. A “wide and collaborative” vision, so that mobility is not only more ecological, but also more accessible, because environmental sustainability must be adequately supported by the social one.
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