Alaina Teplitz, Director of the Office of Management Policy, Rightsizing, and Innovation at the U.S. Department of State will join the Mayor of the District of Columbia, the Honorable Vincent C. Gray, in hosting the D.C. Greening Embassies Forum at the Embassy of Australia on Thursday, March 14. This initiative, which aims for embassies in the District to be more sustainable, will bring together representatives from more than 75 foreign embassies, including 22 that will sign the Diplomatic and International Sustainability Pledge with the District of Columbia.

The D.C. Greening Embassies Forum is a partnership between the Department of State, the Earth Day Network, and the D.C. diplomatic community. Officially launched by Secretary Clinton on Earth Day 2010, the forum meets quarterly to offer Washington, D.C.-based foreign missions the opportunity to share best practices, challenges, and experiences on greening facility renovations and sustainable business operations.

The Forum and its charter/pledge with the city run parallel to sustainability goals of the D.C. Government. Several programs to beautify D.C. and interact with residents are underway, including a Diplomatic Garden program, edible schoolyards, and sustainable parks.

For further information, please contact Landon Van Dyke at eco-diplomacy@state.gov or (202) 647-7980, or visit www.state.gov/green.