United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
www.unep.org
HQ: Nairobi, Kenya
Number of staff: 1,210
Number of locations: 35
Key figures
Total emissions: 13,505 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Emissions per staff member: 11.2 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Emissions from air travel: 12,710 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Air travel as a proportion of total emissions: 94%
Air travel per staff member: 10.5 tonnes CO2
Building-related emissions: 40 kg CO2 equivalent per square metre
“UNEP must not only promote climate neutrality – it must practice climate neutrality. Reducing our emissions is our priority, as it should be for all organizations around the world, and we will continue to lead by example.”
Achim Steiner, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Executive Director's Message
“Climate change is an environmental change phenomenon that poses a serious threat to the health, security and prosperity of current and future generations. UNEP leads the way in supporting the entire UN system to respond to the challenge by operating in an environmentally sustainable manner.
"UNEP must not only promote climate neutrality – it must practice climate neutrality. UNEP has been climate neutral since 1st January 2008. As one of the first UN organizations to take on this challenge we are able to understand the challenges and the necessary enabling measures to become climate neutral. Reducing our emissions is our priority, as it should be for all organisations around the world, and we will continue to lead by example.”
Achim Steiner
Mission
UNEP's mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
Experience so far
UNEP has been climate neutral since 1st January 2008. This was achieved by reducing greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible and procuring offsets to compensate for the remaining emissions. Offsets have been purchased as issued Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol.
The greenhouse gas inventory completed for UNEP for 2007 helped us understand our footprint and identify where to focus reduction measures.
UNEP’s work to support Climate Neutral UN has resulted in harmonized methodologies within UN, and inspired organizations within as well as outside the UN to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve improved sustainability.
49 UN organizations and three governments have already received or are receiving support from UNEP, through provision of tools and methodologies, training, awareness raising, coordination and information sharing.
UNEP also facilitated UN inter-agency groups on travel, facilities management, information and communications technology, and procurement work for low-carbon solutions.
Reduction efforts
UNEP aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the extent possible, while also reducing our overall environmental footprint. Some examples include:
1. Improved the waste management system at UNEP HQ, Nairobi (office waste sent for disposal has been reduced by more than 50% since June 2008)
2. Reduced emissions from conferences and events (e.g. GMEF 2008 and UNEP GC25/GMEF 2009)
3. Conducted research to support the New Office Facility in Nairobi (the new UNEP HQ) to become energy neutral, using solar PV panels on the roof, energy-efficient building design and office equipment
Offsetting
The first year of UNEP climate neutrality was 2008. To compensate for emissions caused by UNEP operations worldwide, UNEP procured CERs from a CDM project identified through an open procurement process. A total of 11,508 CERs based on 2007 emissions were procured, offsetting the total emissions of 11,508 tonnes CO2-eq. Preference was given to CERs generated by projects addressing renewable energy, end-user energy efficiency or biomass/biogas and projects that also contribute to poverty alleviation and environmental improvement in addition to greenhouse gas
emissions reduction. CERs from HFC or other gas burning with no additional benefits than reducing greenhouse gas emissions were not eligible.
Next steps
1. The UNEP climate neutral strategy will be updated before the end of 2009, to include targets and organizational structures for its implementation. This will include measures to improve efficiency of travel, reduce emissions from facilities management, include checkpoints in management systems and administrative processes to encourage greener behaviour, and training, information and incentives for staff to better support a climate neutral and green UNEP.
2. UNEP greenhouse gas emission inventories will be updated yearly.
3. Offsetting will be arranged on a yearly basis, using issued Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol.
4. UNEP will develop and implement an environmental management system to support continuous improvement on emission reductions and other sustainability aspects.
5. UNEP will continue to support other organizations, inside and outside UN, in achieving climate neutrality through information sharing, awareness raising and training, provision of tools and methodologies, inspiration and coordination via the Environment Management Group (EMG) and the UNEP Sustainable United Nations (SUN) facility.
