Foreign Office's 10:10 plan takes off with economy flights for ambassadors

What with the late-night cocktail parties; hobnobbing with heads of state; free opulent mansion and premium air miles account, few jobs have the glamour of ambassador.

But even the lifestyles of Her Majesty's representatives abroad are to be curtailed by the government's drive to reduce its contribution to carbon emissions.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff have been asked to downgrade flights to economy class – even for the top men and women and their families.

The shift from wider seats and more legroom to what is unaffectionately known as "cattle class", is part of the FCO's plan of action after joining the 10:10 climate change campaign.

Like more than 61,000 other members, the government department has pledged to reduce carbon emissions from its 291 posts around the world by 10 per cent in 2010.

In common with other individuals and organisations, including three other government departments, it will turn down heating and air conditioning, switch to eco-friendly vehicles, and try to use video-conferencing to replace one in ten flights. Staff overseas are also being encouraged to take their own initiative: in Portugal, our man in Lisbon, ambassador Alex Ellis now cycles to work.

The most uncomfortable change, however, might well be new rules that suggest staff should book economy seats on flights up to five hours – as far as Tel Aviv or Moscow – up from three previously. Staff and their families are also asked to take the smaller seats when flying on leave for journeys up to 10 hours – further than Washington or Delhi.

"Economy seats take up less room on a plane, and aviation emissions are calculated by the amount of room a person takes up on a plane," explained a government spokesman. "Therefore business or first class have higher emissions than economy." Foreign Office staff are not entitled to fly first class.

Union representatives said staff had been told the proposed new flying rules were to cut costs, and there will be concerns that the FCO said it did not have data on total flights last year, nor a breakdown of economy and business tickets.

However, Eugenie Harvey, 10:10's director, said the department and the foreign secretary, David Miliband, were very committed to the campaign, and the fact that changes could also save money should be celebrated.

"This whole challenge is about looking for the gaps and cracks, the little things that go unnoticed, and see how we can start with some of those to chip at this much bigger ambition [to cut global emissions]," added Harvey.

The carbon management company, Carbon Planet, tells travellers there is little difference between business and economy for short-haul flights, over 1,000 km business seats are allocated about 50 per cent more carbon than economy, and for long-haul destinations such as to Asia the difference can be three times.

Miliband said: "By signing up to and delivering on the 10:10 commitments, the FCO will signal its determination to play its own part in turning Copenhagen's intent into the reality of a low-carbon future."

The Foreign Office is the fourth government department to join 10:10, which is supported by the Guardian. The other three departments are Energy and Climate Change, headed by the foreign secretary's brother, Ed Miliband; International Development; and Customs.

Last week it was revealed total government emissions rose by more than six per cent in 2008, despite a tow per cent drop nationally, blamed on the economic recession.

Last October, a move to force the government to join the 10:10 climate campaign and cut its own emissions by 10 per cent in 2010 was defeated in the Commons. Ministers argued signing up the government estate to the 10:10 campaign would "make no sense".

• To sign up to the 10:10 campaign, go to 1010uk.org

This article first appeared on the Guardian

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