The British Trade and Cultural Office (BTCO) in Taipei yesterday became the world’s first government office to be certified carbon neutral under the PAS 2060 framework — an internationally recognized standard.
Mark Basham, managing director of BSI Asia Pacific, a global business services organization that launched the standard in April, awarded the certification to the BTCO at the “What Next? International Practical Experience of Carbon Management Seminar” held by the BTCO and the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taipei.
“The UK government is taking a lead by cutting its own emissions. The certification is a sign of our commitment to this and will be a baseline for further work, including through the global 10:10 program. We are already on the way to cutting our emissions by 10 percent in 2010,” BTCO Director David Campbell said.
BSI Taiwan managing director Gao Yi-min (高毅民) said that the BTCO had set a good example for other government organizations and businesses wishing to make a difference by pursuing a low-carbon future.
“It was a beginning to push Taiwan forward toward a low-carbon society,” Gao said.
The ministry’s Bureau of Energy is working actively to achieve PSA 2060 certification, Gao said, adding that BSI Taiwan was in talks with government agencies on possible measures to encourage emissions reductions and the use of green products.
In his opening remarks at the seminar, Campbell said the UK and Taiwan were working together on combating climate change and that the BTCO would continue to maintain its focus on the issue.
Campbell said Taiwan was at the cutting edge of the green industry, with its businesses ranking among the global leaders in green technology, such as solar panels, LED and solar batteries.
“With its high-tech industry and highly skilled workforce, Taiwan is well placed to benefit from the commercial opportunities from leading the fight to cut emissions,” Campbell said.
He said business opportunities in the UK and globally were growing enormously and the global low-carbon and environmental goods and services sectors are estimated to be worth up to ￡3.2 trillion (US$5.17 trillion) annually.
Some analysts predict the sector could be worth US$7 trillion by 2015, he said.
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