International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
www.iaea.org
HQ: Vienna, Austria
Focal Point: Aba Asante-Koranchie
Email: [email protected]
Internal sustainability team: N/A
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL
"Nuclear power plays a vital role in contributing to climate change mitigation by providing a quarter of the world’s low-carbon electricity. To meet our climate change goals, we will need even more nuclear energy also to help decarbonize high-emission sectors such as industries and transport. The IAEA plays a key role in supporting countries in the safe and secure use of nuclear power—and in ensuring that it gets full consideration in global discussions on climate and energy."
Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General
MISSION
The International Atomic Energy Agency:
• Is an independent intergovernmental, science and technology-based organization, in the United Nations family, that serves as the global focal point for nuclear cooperation;
• Assists its Member States, in the context of social and economic goals, in planning for and using nuclear science and technology for various peaceful purposes, including the generation of electricity, and facilitates the transfer of such technology and knowledge in a sustainable manner to developing Member States;
• Develops nuclear safety standards and, based on these standards, promotes the achievement and maintenance of high levels of safety in applications of nuclear energy, as well as the protection of human health and the environment against ionizing radiation;
• Verifies through its inspection system that States comply with their commitments, under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and other non-proliferation agreements, to use nuclear material and facilities only for peaceful purposes.
FIELD OFFICES
ALIGNMENT WITH THE STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT IN THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM, 2020–2030
The IAEA collects and reports data on:
• Waste
• Water usage
• GHG emissions
The IAEA achieved carbon neutrality in 2016 and, since then, continues to purchase credits to offset its carbon emissions.
As part of the Vienna International Centre (VIC), the Agency is powered by carbon-neutral electricity from 100% renewable resources.
The IAEA, as an organizer to the 63rd General Conference, significantly contributed in making the event a green meeting in accordance with the guidelines of the Austrian Ecolabel.
The IAEA’s Division of Conference and Document Services (IAEA/MTCD) in collaboration with the Conference Management Service of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV/CMS) achieved the ISO 14001 certification in 2011 and has maintained its certification since then.
The IAEA has made a significant effort to reduce staff and non-staff travel by increasing the use of virtual meetings. For instance, the IAEA held its first fully virtual meeting in July 2019, the International Conference on Theranostics (iViCT 2019).
IAEA is a member of the infrastructure committee (IC), which oversees Infrastructure issues for the Vienna Based Organisations (VBOs) at the Vienna international centre. EMS is currently a standing issue in the IC’s Agenda, and the VBOs are working on the possibility of addressing EMS collectively.
EMISSIONS REDUCTION
In 2016, the IAEA received the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) certification for climate neutrality and has maintained this status since then.
Since 2016, there has been a decrease in carbon emissions due to efforts made to reduce air travel:
Total emissions decrease of 30% (2016-2020 data)
Per capita air travel emissions decrease 2tCO2/personnel (2016-2020 data)
The IAEA has made significant reductions in the use of fuel, mobile combustion, and refrigerants since 2016.
EMS AND REDUCTION EFFORTS
Emission reduction efforts are currently made on an ad-hoc basis.
Each year, as part of the Greening the Blue Report on Environmental Governance, each participating UN entity’s progress on the development of an Environmental Management System (EMS) is evaluated according to the UN system’s EMS criteria (these criteria are available on the Methodology webpage). Upon this evaluation the entity is then rated Exceeds, Meets, Approaches, or No response. For the 2022 reporting year, IAEA’s progress on the EMS is rated as: Does not meet.
ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS AND STANDARDS IN POLICIES, PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES
For the 2022 reporting year, IAEA’s status of implementing environmental and social safeguards and standards in their policies, projects and programmes is: Yes.
ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING FOR PERSONNEL
For the 2022 reporting year, IAEA’s status on providing training on environmental sustainability is: Yes, but it is voluntary.
Inventory Management Plans (IMPs)
The IAEA’s inventory consists of data for waste, GHG emissions, and water usage.
OFFSETTING
The IAEA will continue to offset its entire carbon emissions through carbon credit purchases from the UNFCCC.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
The waste management is handled by UNIDO’s Building Management Services who delivers data to the IAEA.
WATER AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
Water and wastewater management is also managed by UNIDO’s Building Management Services.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
https://www.iaea.org/topics/oceans-and-climate-change
https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/iaea-participates-cop21-one-un-climate-action
https://www.iaea.org/topics/climate-smart-agriculture
https://www.iaea.org/atoms4climate