Inaugural Countries Joining the Greening Government Initiative Announced
Today, at a U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) Global Climate Action Event, Federal Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Mayock from the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced the 39 inaugural countries joining the Greening Government Initiative (GGI).
“Through the Greening Government Initiative, the United States and Canada seek to accelerate climate action across national government operations globally,” said Federal Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Mayock. “National governments are often a nation’s largest real estate holder, fleet owner, and consumer. We are stronger together in tackling complex challenges like transitioning to zero-emission cars and trucks and moving to 100 percent carbon-free electricity purchases. Countries engaged with the Greening Government Initiative can help one another go further and faster in their efforts to make their government operations more sustainable and climate ready. This is what climate leadership is all about, and I am excited to see the results of international collaborations forged through this initiative.”
Launched by the United States and Canada in April 2021, GGI is a first-of-its-kind initiative that enables countries to exchange information, promote innovation, and share best practices to green government operations and meet Paris Agreement climate commitments. By actively participating in the GGI, countries will build a community of practice among sustainability leaders in order to strengthen and accelerate greening of national government operations.
GGI participants will convene this winter and the Initiative will continue to accept participant countries on a rolling basis. Inaugural countries who have endorsed the GGI Concept Note are:
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belgium
- Bermuda
- Canada
- Curacao
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ethiopia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Iceland
- Italy
- Japan
- Jordan
- Lithuania
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Panama
- Republic of Korea
- Singapore
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Timor-Leste
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
For more information, visit www.sustainability.gov/GGI.
About the U.S. Federal Government Sustainability Plan
President Biden recognizes that with a footprint of more than 300,000 buildings, over 600,000 vehicles, and $650 billion spent annually on goods and services, the U.S. Federal Government has a unique opportunity to dramatically and equitably influence the country’s climate future. That’s why he issued Executive Order 14008 during his first week of office, calling on the Federal Government to align its management of property and procurement to support robust climate action while creating new jobs and catalyzing the country’s clean energy industries. Along with agency partners, the Office of Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, which is a part of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, is leading the development of the Federal Government’s plan to create jobs and stimulate clean energy industries by revitalizing sustainability efforts, transitioning the Federal fleet to zero emission vehicles and powering Federal operations using 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity. The Federal Government will lead by example to help achieve a 100 percent clean energy economy by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
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