Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
www.fao.org
HQ: Rome, Italy
Number of staff: 6,824 HQ (All of FAO including staff and non-staff human resources)
Number of locations: 220
Key Figures
Total emissions: 43,137 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Emissions per staff member: 6.3 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Emissions from air travel: 27,736 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Air travel as a proportion of total emissions: 64%
Air travel per staff member: 4.1 tonnes CO2
Building-related emissions: 46.2 kg CO2 equivalent per square metre
NB: The inventory contains all of FAO, including decentralized offices. In 2010 the inventory resulted in 7.19 MTCO2E per person but in 2011 the number decreased by 12% to 6.32 MTCO2E per person. This large reduction was mainly due to significantly less first and business class travel.
Mission
The FAO spearheads international efforts to defeat hunger and build a food-secure world for present and future generations. As the lead agency for agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural development, it seeks to alleviate poverty, hunger and malnutrition by promoting sustainable agricultural development, improved nutrition and the targeting of food security. Serving both developed and developing countries, it acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy.
Experience so far
FAO dedicates a significant amount of resources assisting in the agricultural development of areas that are often those most vulnerable to climate change. We as an organization must effectively play our own part in combating climate change through GHG emissions reductions and sustainability management. Failing to do so would be hindering the efforts towards fulfilling FAO’s primary mandate for sustainable agriculture.
Since around 2008, the organization has incorporated many in-house sustainability initiatives, primarily related to facilities, travel, and procurement. Many efforts have been made towards being more energy efficient and improving waste management, especially at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy.
Often the success of various initiatives depends on the staff as well. These include for example proper waste separation and being conscience of energy usage (thermostat settings and turning off lights).
Drawing a clear line between how FAO operates internally and the impact on the environment helps close the gap between administrative activities and work in the field. This fosters a conscience and aware organizational culture.
Reduction efforts
Highlights of emission reduction and efficiency activities during 2012 include:
- FAO published its first Corporate Sustainability Report in 2012 which also included the Emission Reduction Strategy covering years 2012-2014.
- Increase of videoconferences by 150% between 2010 and 2012.
- Elevator upgrades at FAO HQ which saves the Organization around 280 MTCO2E per year and over USD 140,000 annually through a reduction in electricity usage. (Financial payback of about 3 years)
- Energy and efficiency audit completed in the Santiago, Chile regional office with hopes to do a lighting upgrade project there in 2013.
- Closure of onsite petro station at FAO HQ.
- Replacement of six chillers at FAO HQ which will reduce emissions by about 40 MTCO2E annually.
- After completing a multi-year project, as of 2012 there are no more ozone-depleting refrigerants at the FAO Headquarters.
- Implementation of new travel initiatives which will reduce business class air travel as well as unnecessary trips.
- Reduction of plastic water bottle purchases by another 8% between 2011 and 2012, arriving at a 74% reduction since 2008.
- Doubled the number of reporting offices included the GHG inventory for 2011 data, resulting in a more comprehensive and accurate inventory.
Offsetting
FAO HQ offsets 100% of the emissions resulting from its purchased electricity. Furthermore, while we try to reduce emissions due to travel (mainly air), we also want to examine the potential for voluntary offsetting in this area.
We are currently in collaboration with the other Rome-based UN agencies on a joint project for voluntary emission offsetting paid for by the individual for official flights.
Next steps
Some initiatives in the pipeline includes:
- Replacement of paper towels at FAO HQ with high-efficiency automatic hand dryers which would save over 9 million paper towels per year and around USD 100,000 annually.
- Continuing the project development for a 100 kW solar PV installation on the FAO HQ building in Rome.
- Lighting upgrade in Santiago, Chile which if implemented would result in a reduction of over 22 MTCO2E/yr and around a 20% financial internal rate of return on the investment.
- Potential energy and efficiency audit performed at another regional office.
- Sustainable catering and cafeteria at FAO HQ major reduction of waste (food and material), increased sustainable food choices and awareness-raising.
- Complete elimination of plastic cups at FAO HQ.
- Sustainable Events and Conferences initiative which will reduce waste associated with events and also increase awareness.
- Add 50 new biking spaces at FAO HQ which will hopefully increase commuting by bicycle.
Please review the FAO Internal Operations Sustainability Management report
for more info.
