British embassy and 'Go Green' campaign

by Nilma DOLE

The British High Commission (BHC) recently launched its `Go Green Campaign' by inviting President Mahinda Rajapaksa to plant a `Na' tree at the Westminster House, the residence of the British High Commissioner Dr. Peter Hayes.

In order to achieve their goal of promoting a low carbon, high growth economy, plans are already underway to reduce energy consumption at the High Commissioner's residence with a solar energy solution. With regard to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office's mission statement for a `Better World, Better Britain', the local BHC's Environment Management System (EMS) will aim to promote a low carbon, high growth global economy by managing their operations at home and overseas sustainably.

The Sri Lankan FCO said, "With the belief that environmental considerations must be at the heart of the way the FCO is run, in order to promote a low carbon, high growth global economy, it is essential to meet our legal obligations and government targets on the sustainability of the government estate. We are committed to improve our environmental performance, preventing pollution and minimising the adverse impact on the environmental", he said. In order to fulfil its commitments, the BHC will operate an ISO 14001 compliant Environment Management System and hope to spread the principles of the EMS. The BHC said that attention was given to the use of photo-voltaic (PV) plates. The power density of PV systems is inadequate and as a result there is insufficient space to accommodate the number of plates required to generate energy.

The British High Commission has appointed the National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC) to do the carbon audit.

"We have worked with NCPC in the past, and we are confident that the centre will meet our requirements," BHC officials said.

The `Ruk Rakaganno', an NGO has been entrusted to the `Go Green Campaign'.

BHC plans to conduct environmental awareness workshops.

Dr. Hayes said "Many Sri Lankans have made an effort to reduce the carbon footprint and we hope others will also make that commitment and help promote a low carbon, high growth economy in Sri Lanka."