In 2018 and 2019, a Vatican Energy Transition Dialogue was convened by Pope Francis. Its purpose was to build an effective commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
CEOs of major oil companies — such as Exxon, Shell, BP and Respol — major investment funds and multilateral groups such as the World Bank met with the pope for two days of study and debate.
Result: They all personally signed an agreement to transition to a low-carbon emissions future, relying heavily on carbon pricing.
These CEOs committed to detailing the financial mechanisms supporting their strategic plans for “significant acceleration” of carbon reduction. Importantly, they also committed to “full transparency” about these plans with their boards of directors and their major investors, ensuring accountability.
In 2020 they will convene to detail with “Just Transition” strategies, ensuring that their plans for carbon reduction will protect vulnerable populations.
Imagine if President Russell Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened such a dialogue, with CEOs of major companies such as Rocky Mountain Power, EnergySolutions and Wolverine Fuels? Such a “Tabernacle Dialogue” among top leaders might move the church, and Utah’s economy, while leveraging the growing grassroots efforts, such as Citizens Climate Lobby, to deal with our climate crisis.
Nancy McHugh, Salt Lake City
