Forestry Commission utilises IT system to help combat climate change

18:00 22nd December 2008

The Forestry Commission has announced the launch of the COA Solutions' Employee Expense Management (EEM) system to help it combat climate change.

This is not a device related to trees and forests, but is instead an instrument that will measure the carbon footprint of every member of staff.

The Forestry Commission is committed to meeting the prime minister's targets that require each government department to cut carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2020.

Steve Atkins, head of finance systems development at the Forestry Commission, commented: "It made sense to build a carbon measurement tool into our expense management system, because it provides an easy and reliable method of tracking staff transport emissions."

He added that the new IT solution would provide the organisation with ready access to data detailing the organisation's carbon emissions, which will prove invaluable in efforts to minimise the output of greenhouse gases.

The Forestry Commission is a land manager and oversees conservation projects and educational programmes throughout the UK's forests and woodland.