World Food Programme (WFP)
www.wfp.org
HQ: Rome, Italy
Number of staff: 12,390
Number of locations: 1,262
Key figures
Total emissions: 80,045 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Emissions per staff member: 6.5 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Emissions from air travel: 22,422 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Air travel as a proportion of total emissions: 28%
Air travel per staff member: 1.8 tonnes CO2
Building-related emissions: 9 kg CO2 equivalent per square metre
Executive Director’s message
"There is no doubt that climate change is a great threat to food security. WFP has long recognized that measuring and managing the environmental impacts of our work is an important act of stewardship that does not diminish even during emergencies.
But reducing our future contribution to climate change need not hamper our ability to ensure access to nutritious food for the most vulnerable. Integrating environmental sustainability and resource efficiency into our decision-making frameworks will help WFP to deliver our mandate more efficiently. By focusing on strategies to improve resource management, we have the potential to reduce operating costs, improve staff security, and further enhance donor confidence in our work through greater transparency in reporting…"
Josette Sheeran
WFP Executive Director (2007-2012)
Mission
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, fighting hunger worldwide. In emergencies, we get food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After the cause of an emergency has passed, we use food assistance to help communities rebuild. WFP pursues a vision in which every man, woman and child has access at all times to the food needed for an active and healthy life.
Experience so far
- WFP conducted an initial Greenhouse Gas (GHG) footprint of HQ buildings for 2007 and has now completed three global footprints (2008-2010). In keeping with the scale of our operations, WFP’s footprint is one of the largest in the UN.
- Analysis of our emissions profile since 2007, and an all-staff consultation process in 2011, helped shape WFP’s Emission Reduction Strategy (2011-2013), which was approved at Executive level in January 2012. The Strategy aims to reduce WFP’s GHG emissions by 10% below 2008 levels by 2013, with the potential to save more than 8,000 tonnes of CO2e and USD 3.3 million in operating costs per year through improved energy management in buildings, reduced fuel consumption in vehicles and stabilizing travel emissions at 2008 levels.
- WFP’s emissions profile is different from many other UN agencies. More than half of all emissions come from diesel fuel used in our fleet, or to power generators in offices, warehouses and guesthouses in remote areas where mains power is unreliable, or unavailable.
- Travel comprised approximately 28% of emissions in 2010, much less than the UN-system average. Included in this total are emissions from WFP Aviation, including emergency food airlifts and chartered passenger flights via the UN Humanitarian Air Service, which can fluctuate dramatically depending on the location and nature of emergency operations.
- WFP has identified a range of options to improve building energy efficiency, including replacing internal and external (security) lighting, heating and cooling systems and ICT equipment. Even in rented premises, opportunities exist to reduce energy consumption.
- In some countries, particularly those with high fuel costs and heavy reliance on generators, renewable energy systems are proving to be cost effective.
- WFP has a fleet management plan in place to improve fuel efficiency through a range of driver training and fleet optimisation.
Reduction efforts
- A 20kW solar panel system installed during 2010 at the WFP country office in Kathmandu, Nepal continues to save on generator fuel costs and ensure security of supply during regular periods of load shedding.
- Several WFP sites, including in Sudan, Niger, Ethiopia and Chad have installed low energy solar security lighting that use 100 Watts or less per light, replacing traditional floodlights that draw up to 500 Watts each. Solar PV systems are also under consideration for sites in Ghana, Italy, Pakistan, and Somalia.
- Driver training continued throughout 2011, and more than 800 WFP drivers from 27 countries have received training since 2009 on driving more efficiently, to help reduce fuel consumption. The training also covers vehicle maintenance (a poorly maintained vehicle can use up to 20% more fuel) and driver safety and security. More than 220 drivers from other UN agencies have also received the training.
- A consolidation of WFP HQ facilities in 2011 will end WFP’s dependence on heating oil in Rome, with all staff able to access cleaner gas fired heating systems, saving an estimated 61 tonnes per year of CO2e. The zero-emission “green energy” tariff at HQ was also retendered during 2011, and will continue through 2012.
- Staff awareness programs in Dubai, Kathmandu, Khartoum, Rome and Vientiane helped promote energy-smart habits such as switching off lights, computers and AC equipment when not in use.
Offsetting
WFP’s current focus is on realising the financial and environmental benefits of reducing energy use. In an organization working on the frontlines of hunger, making energy reduction part of ‘business as usual’ operations is the best and most sustainable way to maximize energy savings and reduce GHG emissions in the long term. In the interim, a voluntary program that enables staff to utilise Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) to purchase high quality carbon credits to offset official travel is under consideration. Other options being considered include generating CDM-accredited offsets from WFP’s own project work and seeking donations of CDM-accredited carbon credits, or of cash contributions expressly for purpose of purchasing them.
Next steps
- With an approved Emission Reduction Strategy (2012-2013) in place, WFP is prioritising emission reduction efforts in its 10 most GHG intensive operations, which accounted for 63% of emissions in 2010. Targeting these countries will ensure the greatest potential savings for the organisation can be realised.
- WFP will undertake a scoping exercise in 2012 to establish an organisation-wide Environmental Management System, expanding current climate neutral and sustainability efforts into a comprehensive, internationally recognised framework.
- During 2012, WFP will allocate the first round of funds under the Energy Efficiency Fund, which will provide up to 50% of the cost of implementing energy saving actions. WFP will seek private sector funding and in-kind donations to assist with implementation.
- Cost effective implementation will be encouraged by exploring Long Term Agreements with suppliers of key products and services.
- Driver training and enhanced vehicle fleet management will continue throughout 2012 and beyond.
