United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
www.unicef.org
HQ: New York
Number of staff: 1,197
Number of locations: 383
Key figures*
Total emissions: 9,565 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Emissions per staff member: 8.0 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Emissions from air travel: 6,316 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Air travel as a proportion of total emissions: 66%
Air travel per staff member: 5.3 tonnes CO2
Building-related emissions: 10 kg CO2 equivalent per square metre
* 2008 data amended for available locations
Executive Director's Message
“Children are the least responsible for climate change yet they are the ones who stand to pay the highest price. With that in mind, UNICEF will strive to lead by example and promote efforts to minimize its overall carbon footprint.”
Ms. Ann Veneman
Mission
UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF insists that the survival, protection and development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral to human progress.
Experience so far
While UNICEF has taken action to identify and inventory its greenhouse gas at Headquarters Level, the challenges of determining inventories at the field level have been significant. Lack of resources, inconsistent records from landlords and travel providers and competing priorities of delivering Programmatic initiatives globally have hampered efforts in establishing a total carbon footprint.
Notwithstanding the above, UNICEF has taken major steps to introduce energy efficient recommendations for its facilities where possible. Travel has come under focus to introduce more efficient travel planning and a greater emphasis on tele / video conferencing.
UNICEF management and staff are highly supportive of greening initiatives as they do result in potential operational savings but also enhance and address UNICEF’s commitment to Climate Change action.
Reduction efforts
1. Have taken inventory of NYHQ greenhouse gas emissions related to travel and utilities usage
2. Collaborated with UNEP to perform HQ energy audit and implement findings
3. UNICEF has Position Paper on Climate Change / Carbon Neutrality pending
Offsetting
No current plans to purchase carbon offsets.
Next steps
UNICEF will continue to introduce energy efficient measures in its facilities. While initial focus has been at headquarters level, UNICEF will promote the following:
- Perform energy audits where feasible and take necessary action to reduce consumption
- Investigate and introduce ‘greening’ procurement processes
- Encourage and expend on recycling activities throughout the organization
- Reduce travel related carbon emissions by expanding use of tele/video conferencing and promoting more focused and selective travel planning strategies
