International Trade Centre (ITC)
www.intracen.org
HQ: Geneva, Switzerland
Focal Point: Michaël Cordier, Sophie Hecht de Alwis
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
"At ITC, we are fully committed to supporting SMEs on their journey to go “green” and to prioritizing the sustainability of our own operations."
Ms. Patricia Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director
MISSION
- Strengthening the integration of the business sector of developing countries and economies in transition into the global economy,
- Improving the performance of trade and investment support institutions for the benefit of SMEs, and enhancing the abilities of trade support institutions to better support them
- Improving the international competitiveness of SMEs.
FIELD OFFICES
ITC has many project-based short-term presences in the field and, as such, do not have permanent offices outside Geneva except in New York City.
ALIGNMENT WITH THE STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT IN THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM, 2020–2030
ITC has taken many steps to align to the strategy for sustainable management in the five environmental impacts:
Steps | Impact |
Energy savings measures: Automatic light detection in all offices, reduction of lightings in common areas (7 floors) and garage (3 storeys), heating system limited to 20 degrees Celsius |
Facilities GHG emissions
|
Video Conferencing / MS Team / Zoom capabilities to connect without travel |
ICT GHG emissions Air Pollution |
Greater staff commute to work by bicycle and rack for electric charger (Ebikes) |
Facilities/HR GHG emissions Air Pollution |
Printed event programmes replaced by online and apps | Events - Reduced Waste |
Printed promotional materials at events replaced by web links, QR codes, USB keys | Events - Reduced Waste |
Printed post-event reports replaced by web editions, social media and video reporting | Events - Reduced Waste |
Printed editions of publications were replaced by online pdfs and e-pubs | Events - Reduced Waste |
Centralized photocopiers / printers with smart-card for on-demand printing defaulted to two-sided black & white printing | Facilities/ICT Reduced color printing Reduce waste |
Green Electrical supply | Facilities/Procurement GHG emissions |
FSC and 100% recycled paper. | Facilities/Procurement GHG emissions |
Mixed gas/fuel heating system | Facilities GHG emissions |
Installation of LED lightings (reduction of 35% per year in electric consumption) | Facilities – GHG emissions |
Ban on all single-use plastic for catering operations | Facilities – Waste reduction |
Centralized office supplies (Reduced consumption) | Facilities - Recycling supplies |
Recycling all waste as per Swiss regulations. | Facilities - Waste |
Regular maintenance of water sanitary network | Facilities - Less water use/waste |
Water fountain connected to city water network | Facilities - No plastic bottles |
EMISSIONS REDUCTION
ITC Co2 emissions are in large part resulting from travel and in much less proportion from facilities and events. ITC has achieved reduction in the area of facilities and events as shown above. The fluctuation in emissions due to travel is directly related to project implementation across the world.
OFFSETTING
ITC purchased offsets since 2018 for its overall emissions from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Carbon Offset platform. ITC purchased offsets as follows:
For a residual 2,188 tons CO2 equivalent in 2022:
- Salkhit Wind Farm, Mongolia (755 tons CO2 equivalent)
- Improved Cook Stove Project 1, Nkhata Bay District, Malawi; Rippley Africa (678 tons CO2 equivalent)
- Fundão-Santa Clara Energetic Complex Project (FSCECP) both located in Jordão River, state of Paraná - Brazil. (755 tons CO2 equivalent)
For a residual 669 tons CO2 equivalent in 2021:
- Salkhit Wind Farm, Mongolia (669 tons CO2 equivalent)
For a residual 1,110 tons CO2 equivalent in 2020:
- Improved Cook Stove Project, Malawi; (360 T)
- Angkor Bio Cogen Rice Husk Power, Cambodia (375T)
- Malagone Project, Minas Gerais, Brazil (375T)
For a residual 3,900 tons CO2 equivalent in 2019:
- Methane recovery from waste water; India (1,600T)
- Angkor Bio Cogen Rice Husk Power, Cambodia (1,000T)
- San Antonio El Sitio Wind Power; Guatemala (1,300T)
For a residual 2,618 tons CO2 equivalent in 2018:
- Improved Cook Stove Project, Malawi. (873T)
- The Jorethang Loop Hydroelectric Project, India (873T)
- Manure treatment, Pocillas & La Estrella, Chile (873T)
WASTE MANAGEMENT
ITC uses the environmental software to monitor and report on waste.
WATER AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
ITC uses the environmental software to monitor and report on waste.
OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES
ITC carries out many projects for beneficiaries (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises MSMEs, institutional trade entities etc.) imbedding environmental sustainability objectives and is considering integrating in its strategic plan 2022-2025:
“Placing environmental sustainability and climate change at the heart of competitiveness: Climate change and its resulting impacts such as loss of biodiversity, resource depletion, rising sea levels, and increased temperatures will have an even greater impact than now on ITC’s most vulnerable clients—such as small island developing states (SIDS), least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and small, vulnerable economies (SVEs). ITC will need to make an even more compelling business case for MSMEs to “go green” and identify opportunities in emerging “green markets,” while helping MSMEs to meet green standards and supporting the wider national and regional ecosystems to incorporate sustainability as a main pillar of competitiveness. This will be central to building resilience.”
NEXT STEPS
Large project to renovate the ITC HQ building by the owner specifically to bring the building to Swiss Legislative energy savings standards (insulation, optimized heating / cooling system, electrical rewiring etc…) where ITC expects substantial reduction in emissions.