Network of low carbon embassies to be rolled out worldwide

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29 July 2008
Carbon Trust and Foreign and Commonwealth Office partner to cut carbon 


The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has commissioned the Carbon Trust to work with it to develop its strategic vision for sustainable operations. This will enable the FCO to identify and take steps to reduce its global carbon footprint.

The Carbon Trust will help the FCO establish a framework to implement a sustainable operations policy across the entire FCO estate, a total of 260 sites in both the UK and overseas. The initiative will form a core element of the FCO’s broader environmental programme which, to date, has included implementing a comprehensive energy management system in its UK offices and introducing similar projects in 100 of its overseas posts.   

This work is a key step in a longer term strategy by the FCO to significantly reduce its environmental impact. 
 
Michael Rea, Chief Operating Officer, the Carbon Trust, said:

“We’re delighted to be working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to develop innovative and effective carbon reduction measures, which can be implemented worldwide.

“In the UK alone, the Government Estate’s total energy demand is approximately 10 billion kWh per year - around one per cent of the UK’s total - so there is an urgent need for central government to take action to cut carbon. We would urge other government departments to follow the FCO’s example and rise to the challenge of tackling climate change.”

Keith Luck, Director General and Environmental Champion, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office added:

“The FCO is making progress towards meeting its environmental commitments in the UK and we are proud that our Embassies and High Commissions overseas are taking a lead locally in addressing the environmental impact of their operations; for example Berne has installed photovoltaic cells, Lisbon assesses all work contracts against sustainability criteria, Muscat has reduced water usage by almost 35% by introducing plants requiring less water, and Phnom Penh has replaced one of its vehicles with one fuelled by recycled cooking oils. We now want to take this further.

“The UK is committed to delivering effective action to tackle climate change. It is important to us that the FCO itself sets a strong example on these issues and addresses the challenges which our very function throws up. I welcome this partnership with the Carbon Trust which will enable us to further reduce the environmental impact made by our posts overseas.”

 
 
Footnotes
 

Notes to editors

• The Carbon Trust is an independent company set up by government in response to the threat of climate change, to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy by working with organisations to reduce carbon emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies. The Carbon Trust works with UK business and the public sector through its work in five complementary areas: insights, solutions, innovations, enterprises and investments. Together these help to explain, deliver, develop, create and finance low carbon enterprise.

• The Carbon Trust is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and Invest Northern Ireland. The Carbon Trust is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and Invest Northern Ireland.