Skip to content

Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Sustainability Update: Our 3rd annual progress report

See the latest progress update on our ongoing transition to more sustainable ways of working in our 3rd Environmental Sustainability Report 2024.

Environmental Sustainability Report 2024

Purple, white and yellow wildflowers amidst thick green long grass. A CWGC Cross of Sacrifice is visible in the background but out of focus.

Since we published our first sustainability report in 2022, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has continued to develop and embed its sustainability agenda, re-shaping working practices, policies and expectations to support efforts to: 

Download the latest CWGC Environmental Sustainability Report 2024

Our teams across the globe are embracing and delivering against our sustainability agenda.

We are making tangible strides towards reducing the environmental impact of our activities worldwide and we have made real progress in delivering on the positive potential of our estate, both in terms of promoting greater biodiversity and sequestering more carbon dioxide.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is mandated to care for the 1.7m Commonwealth men and women who lost their lives in the World Wars in perpetuity. As such, we need to consider the present and longer-term risks presented by changing climatic conditions on our sites and operations, and work to address these risks. 

Combatting Climate Change

We have committed to a net-zero GHG emission target by 2050 and to reducing our emissions in line with climate science.

Over the latest reporting period, we recorded a combined 8.6% drop in our scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions, which include the direct emissions from our core activities and the indirect emissions associated with the electricity we consume (see the 2023 Sustainability Report for scope definitions). 

The main single contributing factor behind this decrease in emissions has been the partial switch to renewable electricity tariffs, but many of our other sustainability initiatives will also have contributed to this reduction.

 Combatting Climate Change Key Achievements 23/24 graphic

As the graphic above shows, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has undertaken a wide range of initiatives as part of the commitment to combatting climate change, including:

For the scope 3 emissions quantified to date, emissions unfortunately increased by 0.4% rather than decreased, due to increased business travel.

There is clearly work to be done in this area to align practice with our ambitions.

As part of our ongoing efforts to decarbonise our operations, we will:

More details are available in the 2024 Sustainability Report.

Protecting and enhancing biodiversity

From the rolling green fields of northern France to the more tropical climes of the Far East, Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries and memorials sit within a huge variety of climates and ecosystems, with a delightful mix of differing flora and fauna.

However, the decline in biodiversity around the world is stark, and we are committed to playing our part in responding to this crisis by working to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment and by also delivering on the positive potential of our estate to promote greater biodiversity.

The drive to enhance the biodiversity potential of our estate has been embraced by many of our workforce and our progress has exceeded expectations. Working to improve biodiversity is now an accepted part of our responsibilities. 

CWGC protecting biodiversity key achievements 23/24 graphic

By early 2024, we had improved the range of habitats available for wildlife by:

Importantly, we continue to progressively reduce our usage of herbicides, pesticides and biocides, and have achieved an amazing 94% reduction by volume in the use of these chemicals against our 2019 baseline. 

As a replacement to biocides, we have introduced an enzyme-based, headstone cleaning product. This product is now in use at all locations where we previously used biocides (predominantly northern Europe).

It is also in use in northern Italy, Malta and Singapore. We no longer order biocides for stone cleaning and are depleting any remaining stocks of such chemicals.

Promoting a circular economy

The Commission is striving to promote a circular economy approach, whereby resources are used efficiently, and are reused or recycled where possible to reduce overall resource consumption. This approach also reduces the quantities of waste generated, equating to more sustainable ways of working.

What does this mean for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission?

CWGC Promoting a Circular Economy Key Achievements - FY 23/24

Over the last 2 years, we have heightened our focus on water consumption, by:

These advances have contributed to the 12.6% reduction in water consumption achieved over the last financial year.

In terms of efforts taken to reduce waste generation, we have:

Here are some specific examples from the range of measures being undertaken to promote a circular economy:

What’s next for sustainability at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission?

We are in an exciting period of transition as we progressively move to more sustainable working practices. 

As mentioned previously, we have made tangible progress in our endeavour to transition to more sustainable way of working, but we recognise that we have much more to do to fully embed our transition throughout the organisation.

For more information on sustainability at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, please refer to our Sustainability page.

Tags Sustainability