Daily Times

The first Green Great Britain Week was celebrated from October 15–19 by the British High Commission.

Marked by British embassies and high commissions around the world, this week celebrates clean growth in the United Kingdom and the importance of taking care of the environment for future generations.

To mark the start of Green Great Britain Week, the UK government has unveiled a package of measures to help transform energy infrastructure to make it cleaner and greener, including proposals for new laws for smart energy appliances like washing machines and electric heating, laying the groundwork for a smart and clean electricity system of the future with the ambition of making all new buildings smart by 2030; opening the £18 million Heat Recovery Support Programme to help businesses become more energy efficient, which could save industry up to £500 million on their energy bills while making manufacturing firms more competitive and launching a £320 million government fund in low-carbon heating for cities.

In Islamabad, the British High Commission has undertaken a number of initiatives to play its part in marking Green Great Britain Week.

The British High Commission has launched a number of eco-friendly reusable items for sale in its premises, which include customised water bottles, coffee cups and reusable straws. It has already banned the use of plastic bottles from its buildings and has the ambition to become completely free of avoidable single use plastics within the next year.

Earlier this year, to mark World Environment Day, the British High Commission planted 80 new trees in the British Residential Compound in the Diplomatic Enclave, produced special recycling bins which were placed in the residential compound and at a Capital Development Authority waste collection point, and installed time lighting sensors to reduce electricity usage in its offices.

British High Commissioner Thomas Drew said, “The UK is a world leader when it comes to tackling climate change. Green Great Britain Week is another reminder of the importance that we place on making the world a cleaner and more sustainable place for us to live in. Pakistan is among the top 10 countries in the world that is most at risk of climate change. For that reason, the UK government plans to invest further in climate change initiatives here. We look forward to continuing our work in this vital sector, which is so important for a more prosperous Pakistan.”

Published in Daily Times, October 20^th 2018.