Department of Political Affairs (DPA)
www.un.org/Depts/dpa/
HQ: New York, USA
Number of staff: 1,339
Number of locations: 11
Key Figures*
Total emissions: 18,227 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Emissions per staff member: 13.6 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Emissions from air travel: 6,289 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Air travel as a proportion of total emissions: 35%
Air travel per staff member: 4.7 tonnes CO2
Building-related emissions: 1445 kg CO2 equivalent per square metre
* 2008 data amended for available locations
“We all have to play our part in addressing the challenge of climate change.”
B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General, Department of Political Affairs (DPA)
Under-Secretary-General’s message
“Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. It is also developing into a major threat to human security by causing drought and desertification, extreme weather events, and the rise of sea-levels. Of particular concern for DPA, the effects of climate change may also increase the risk of violent conflict in some parts of the world. Therefore we have to increasingly factor in climate change in our thinking on how to prevent and resolve conflicts, build peace and foster cooperation. We all have to play our part in addressing the challenge of climate change.”
B. Lynn Pascoe
Mission
Through peacemaking, preventive diplomacy and a host of other means, the UN works to prevent and resolve deadly conflict around the globe and to promote lasting peace in societies emerging from wars. DPA plays a central role in these efforts: monitoring and assessing global political developments; providing support and guidance to UN peace envoys and political missions in the field; serving Member States through electoral assistance and through the support to the work of the Security Council.
Reduction efforts
1. Some political missions have already created ‘Green committees’ to give a local response to environmental issues, addressing greenhouse gas emissions
2. Environmental focal points have been appointed in each mission
Offsetting
DPA will align its policy with a decision to be taken for the UN Secretariat by the Member States.
Next Steps
At its Headquarters in New York, DPA staff will be active participants in the Secretariat’s greening efforts.
