By Leigh Hartman

U.S. diplomatic missions in the Pacific and beyond are shifting to renewable energy, tackling the climate crisis while helping partner nations meet their environmental goals.

On Earth Day, April 22, the U.S. Consulate General in Sapporo, Japan, announced its transition to 100% renewable carbon-free electricity. The shift saves an estimated 141,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually, roughly equal to 1,500 flights between Sapporo and Tokyo.

Cutting emissions at the consulate on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido supports Japan’s pledge, made at the April 2021 Leaders Summit on Climate, to cut emissions by 46% to 50% by 2030.

“This is our way of showing that we stand with the people of Sapporo and Hokkaido, who are also making great strides toward dramatically reducing dependence on carbon-based fuels,” said U.S. Consul General in Sapporo Andrew Lee. “We are very proud to take this step.”

The U.S. Embassy in Koror, Palau, recently installed solar panels to help it become the first U.S. Embassy to achieve net zero emissions. (U.S. Embassy Koror, Palau)

The U.S. Embassy in Koror, Palau, recently installed solar panels to help it become the first U.S. Embassy to achieve net zero emissions. (U.S. Embassy Koror, Palau)

The move responds to President Biden’s December 2021 executive order on federal sustainability, which directs the U.S. government to achieve 100% carbon pollution–free electricity by 2030 and net-zero emissions from federal buildings by 2045, among other goals.

On April 12, the U.S. Embassy in Koror, Palau, announced that new solar panels will provide 100% of the facility’s power, making it the first U.S. Embassy to achieve net-zero emissions. Through renewable energy production and other savings, the embassy will offset 154,000 kilograms of CO2 per year and save $100,000 in energy costs annually.

The embassy will work in partnership with the Palau Public Utilities Corporation renewable energy system to help power the local grid during the day while purchasing power at night.

Consulate General Sapporo and Embassy Koror are among numerous U.S. missions that are helping the environment. Other efforts include these:

  • Embassy New Delhi runs a drinking water recycling program expected to save almost 8 million liters of water annually.
  • Embassy Baku partners with local companies in Azerbaijan to sell reusable waste. It also has planted hundreds of trees.
  • Embassy Asuncion runs a zero waste program that composts and sells recyclables in Paraguay.

Numerous embassies monitor air and water quality, providing vital data to their host countries’ people and governments. U.S. embassies monitor air pollution in dozens of cities, from Beijing to Lima to Abuja, and post the information on the AirNow platform.

The U.S. Department of State also uses satellite imagery to help nations in Southeast Asia monitor Mekong River water levels, expanding publicly available data on the region’s vital waterway.

Banner image: U.S. embassies in Pacific nations, including Palau (above), are shifting to renewable energy and working with host countries to improve the environment. (© Norimoto/Shutterstock.com)