The U.S. Department of State won the 2024 Presidential Federal Sustainability Award for Advancing Carbon-Free Electricity in recognition of the United States Embassy and Consulates in Japan being the first multi-post diplomatic mission to obtain 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) for its operations throughout the country. The winning team consists of innovative employees from Mission Japan and the Office of Management Strategy and Solutions’ (M/SS) Greening Diplomacy Initiative (GDI). Mission Japan met the President’s mandate for agencies to operate on 100 percent CFE by 2030 seven years early and is eliminating approximately 5,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year which is equivalent to the emissions of more than 900 households in Japan. U.S. Embassy Tokyo and U.S. Consulates Naha, Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Nagoya collaborated with utility providers in their districts to facilitate this achievement.
Ambassador Rahm Emanuel and the project team are taking action to lead by example on the climate crisis. This effort not only supports a strong partnership with Japan, but also paves the way for other Missions to follow.
The White House honored the U.S. Department of State and other winning federal agencies at an award ceremony hosted at the White House on Tuesday, June 25. Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, Brenda Mallory, provided opening remarks and White House National Climate Advisor, Ali Zaidi, delivered the keynote message. Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, Andew Mayock, presented the awards. For more information on all 2024 award winners, please visit https://www.sustainability.gov/awards.html.
Presidential Federal Sustainability Award
The Presidential Federal Sustainability Awards Program, launched in March 2023, celebrates the extraordinary leadership, innovation, and achievement of Federal agencies and their employees toward the President’s charge for Federal climate action and the ambitious sustainability goals established in the Federal Sustainability Plan and Executive Order 14057 . Federal programs, projects, project teams, facilities, and individuals are eligible for nomination by their agency.
Greening Diplomacy Initiative
The U.S. Department of State organizes climate adaptation and sustainability efforts under the Office of Management Strategy and Solutions’ Greening Diplomacy Initiative which supports the Under Secretary for Management – the U.S. Department of State’s Chief Sustainability Officer – by coordinating strategic planning and reporting, advancing climate and sustainability solutions, and bridging the Department’s diplomatic policy priorities and management operations to lead by example on climate action.