COP27: An initiative of "ten thousands" to promote ecological education

By Benedict Mayaki, SJ

During COP24 which held in Poland in 2018, a declaration centered around “driving change together” was adopted to raise public awareness about the effects of climate change and how, through decarbonizing the transport sector at central and local levels, the noticeable effect of pollution generated by vehicles can be reduced. This idea highlighted the need to develop and facilitate the use of zero-emission cars.

In this regard, the Polish Chamber of Electromobility Development (PIRE), a non-governmental organization which brings together entities operating in the e-mobility sector with the goal of developing an ecosystem of eMobility, has set off on an expedition to every country host of the Conference of the Parties.

 The first expedition was from Poland to the Vatican, a pilgrimage that included stops at major national sanctuaries of Europe. In Italy, the expedition stopped at Assisi and then made its way up the Vatican where the delegation was received by the Pope and to Madrid, Spain then Glasgow, Scotland.

This year, the plan was to set off on another similar expedition, from Poland to the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference in Egypt (COP27), however, plans had to change because of the crisis in Syria, coupled with difficulties in crossing the border between Turkey and Syria. Thus, the expedition decided take another form – to take up other initiatives that promote ecology-friendly options.

Initiatives of “ten thousands”

In an interview with Vatican News, Krzysztof Burda, President of the Management Board of the Polish Chamber of Electromobility Development Association, explained that there are 10,000 kilometres between Katowice and Sharm el-Sheikh. Because of the inability to take up the eMobility expedition this year, the group decided center its efforts around the number 10,000.

“It's a metaphor and we would like to do something good with 10,000 kilometres because we've got some projects which will be implemented by next year,” Burda said.

Among these projects is a plan to plant 10,000 mangrove trees, organize 10,000 net-zero school initiative in collaboration with Clean Stock, set up 10,000 solar panels to generate a minimum of 10,000 kw/h of energy. There is also a plan to donate 10,000 bricks towards building a school in collaboration with a foundation in Uganda, among others. All these are to be done before the next Climate Change Conference which is scheduled to hold in Dubai in 2023.

In line with Laudato si’

Burda explained that two weeks before the G20 and B20 (Business 20) event in Bali, Indonesia, a delegation went to visit Pope Francis in the Vatican, together with Mr. Arsjad Rasjid, the host of the B20 meeting.

During the meeting with the Holy Father, the group highlighted how the e-Mobility initiative joins with Pope Francis’ call for care of our common home in the Laudato si’ Encyclical, and also presented Pope Francis with the principle of 5Ps, which will serve as a guide for initiatives in this field.

Burda said the 5Ps are People, planet, partnerships, prosperity and peace, and noted that these will be central in the consideration of the delegation as they go about their work.

“We should think about decarbonisation because it is for us, for our people and in order to [make the planet] beautiful,” he said, adding that implementing eMobility does “good for people and for the planet.”