On February 27, 2013 U.S. Ambassador Switzerland Donald S. Beyer Jr. received Swiss Climate’s CO2 Optimized Silver certificate from Swiss Climate CEO, Dr. Werner Halter, for the Embassy’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from both the Embassy and the official residence. Dr. Halter praised the Embassy’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint in Switzerland and congratulated Ambassador Beyer for the large reduction in CO2 emissions. The Embassy’s partnership with Swiss Climate, Ltd., a local Swiss environmental consultancy, has resulted in a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions.