Nissan donates Leaf to the Vatican to support Pope's net zero goals

Nissan has donated an electric Nissan Leaf to the Vatican, helping the Vatican gradually replace its service vehicles with an all-electric fleet.

At the Climate Ambition Summit in December 2020, Pope Francis committed the Vatican City State to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. As part of this effort, the Vatican is gradually replacing all their combustion engine cars with electric or hybrid vehicles.

Sally Axworthy, British Ambassador to the Holy See, said: "Transitioning to electric vehicles will be an essential part of our collective efforts to keep global temperature rises below 1.5 degrees. In the year in which the UK will host the climate summit, COP26, I am really delighted that the Vatican is greening its vehicle fleet with the help of Nissan. This sets an excellent example for us all.

"The UK has committed to reach net zero by 2050 and will end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK by 2030. The vehicle’s production in Sunderland shows how technology can bring sustainable economic growth and dignified employment."

Ben Greenwood, UK Consul General in Milan and Director of the Department for International Trade in Italy, said: "This event is testament to our desire to collaborate with the Holy See to help them reach their sustainability goals and their commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This is part of Pope Francis' wider effort to protect the environment, as outlined in 2015 in his Laudato si' Encyclical on Care for our Common Home and announced at the Climate Ambition Summit in December 2020."