On May 18, the Pontifical Academy of Theology (PATH) will officially present the Environmental Observatory at the Vatican, an instrument aimed at analyzing the contribution of digital technologies to the care of creation.
According to Monsignor Antonio Staglianò, president of PATH, the goal is to work for a use of digital technology that is sustainable, ethical, and attentive to human dignity, so that innovation becomes an ally in the stewardship of creation and a promoter of peaceful and just coexistence.
Digital Technologies and Sustainability
Digital technologies, when used well, can be a facilitator of sustainability:
- Smart grids: manage real-time electricity distribution, reducing waste and integrating renewable energies.
- Precision agriculture: optimizes the use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides, reducing soil pollution.
- Work and social processes: allow for reduced consumption and improved efficiency in multiple areas.
However, they also generate negative impacts: electronic waste and data centers that consume about 2% of global electricity, equivalent to the felling of thousands of trees each year.
Official Presentation
The event will take place in the Marconi Hall of Palazzo Pio, home of the Vatican media, and coincides with the anniversary of Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato si’ (2015). It is also linked to Pope Leo XIV’s pastoral visit to Acerra, in the “Land of Fires,” a region marked by pollution and organized crime.
Among the speakers will be:
- Monsignor Antonio Staglianò, president of PATH.
- Father Giuseppe Marco Salvati, secretary of PATH.
- Maria Siclari, director of ISPRA.
- Daniela Alba, from the Secretariat for Social Justice and Ecology.
- Maria Vittoria Trussoni (NTT DATA), who will present on sustainable technological applications.
Main Themes of the Observatory
- Exploitation of natural resources and its environmental and social consequences.
- Digital energy consumption: impact of data centers and platforms.
- Ecology of man: links between digital environment and social relationships.
- Impact on youth: addictions, distorted content, and weakening of bonds.
- Proposals to tech giants: commitment to reducing emissions and global energy consumption.
Inspiration from the Church’s Magisterium
The Observatory is inscribed in the spirit of the encyclical Laudato si’, which seeks to transform environmental awareness into concrete action. It also echoes the words of Pope Leo XIV, who emphasized that environmental sustainability and stewardship of creation are irreplaceable commitments for human survival.
Monsignor Staglianò highlighted:
“The digital world is closely connected with conflicts: there can be no true peace without technology that respects man, relationships, and creation.”
The Environmental Observatory is a space for dialogue and theological reflection that seeks to sensitize the business and economic world towards a truly sustainable and ethical use of technology. In times when digital shapes the life of the planet, this initiative represents a bridge between innovation and responsibility, with a focus on human dignity and the protection of the Earth.
