www.unhcr.org
HQ: Geneva, Switzerland
Focal Point: Cleo Forster
Email: [email protected]
HIGH COMMISSIONER’S MESSAGE
“We all have a responsibility to act, both by reducing our own emissions and by ensuring that refugees and the communities hosting them have clean and renewable energy.
UNHCR has worked for years to reduce the environmental impact of refugee crises. We now have a revitalized Global Strategy for Sustainable Energy (2019-2025) and have launched a multi-stakeholder Clean Energy Challenge with the ambitious goal of bringing clean and safe energy to all displaced settlements and nearby host communities by 2030. Like other organizations, we also recognise that we need to step up action to reduce our own carbon footprint, notably by increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy use, amongst other initiatives.”
Filippo Grandi, High Commissioner, UNHCR
Mission
UNHCR is mandated by the United Nations to lead and coordinate international action for the worldwide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems.
The Organisation’s primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. In its efforts to achieve this objective, UNHCR strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, and to return home voluntarily. By assisting refugees to return to their own country or to settle permanently in another country, UNHCR also seeks lasting solutions to their plight.
FIELD OFFICES
~413 offices
121 countries
ALIGNMENT WITH THE STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT IN THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM, 2020–2030
UNHCR is committed to reduce its carbon footprint through sustainable approaches and solutions. In this regard, UNHCR adopted Strategic Plan for Climate Action. The strategic plan is based on one common vision, firmly rooted in the ambition of UNHCR Strategic Directions 2022-2026, and aligned to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): By 2030, increasing numbers of forcibly displaced and stateless people fleeing from climate-fueled crises and/or living in climate vulnerable countries find solutions are protected and resilient to the impacts of climate change, and are living self-sufficient lives. In order to realize this vision, UNHCR has set four inter-dependent objectives for protection, solutions, resilience and adaptation to be achieved in support of national governments, together with partners:
1) People fleeing persecution, violence and human rights violations occurring in relation to the adverse effects of climate change and disasters who need international protection are effectively protected.
2) Forcibly displaced and stateless people and their hosts have increased access to services that promote the rights-based, sustainable use of natural resources and a clean and healthy environment.
3) Forcibly displaced and stateless people and their hosts have improved physical and economic means to prepare, withstand, recover and be protected from the impacts of climate change.
4) UNHCR operates sustainably with systems in place to minimize negative impacts on the environment
Under the fourth objective, UNHCR has a vision to reduce UNHCR's environmental footprint by using green solutions and become one of the most sustainable organizations within the UN system. Within the next 10 years, UNHCR aims to transform its infrastructure, fleet, and travel to minimize environmental footprint and enable green solutions, while continuing to adhere to the highest standards of refugee protection and response.
Emission Reduction
UNHCR through its sustainability initiatives aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 30% by 2030.
EMS and Reduction Efforts
UNHCR continues to take a progressive approach to EMS development. Our Policy on the Environment for Buildings, Facilities, Fleet and Travel illustrates the intention to develop EMSs for our offices, and we are working towards a global approach based on an Environmental Management manual for our offices.
For the 2023 reporting year, UNHCR's progress on the EMS is rated as: Approaches.
Emissions Reduction initiatives include:
- Fleet - Preference for electric vehicles where possible and the promotion of ridesharing to reduce trips.
- Travel - Travel policy that promotes train travel where possible and a removal of business class travel.
- Infrastructure - A number of energy management initiatives are in place. Monitoring and measuring energy consumption in buildings is done through Green Box energy meters and generator loggers. Energy reduction through energy efficiency projects and guidelines for offices are in place. Lastly solarisation is encouraged for offices connected to a dirty grid or those relying on generators, funding for this transition is available through the Green Financing Facility. Read more about UNHCR Green Financing Facility (external) https://www.unhcr.org/green-financing-facility
Environmental Training for Personnel
UNHCR currently provides all staff with voluntary access to general environmental sustainability awareness training.
For the 2024 reporting year, UNHCR's status on providing training on environmental sustainability is: Yes, but it is voluntary.
ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY APPROACH
UNHCR follows the methodology for calculations which is outlined by UNEP for Greening the Blue. UNHCR uses the DEFRA emissions factors for vehicle emissions and the IEA Grid Emissions factors for grid electricity.
Offsetting
For the 2024 reporting year, UNHCR will not be offsetting its emissions and will focus on emissions reduction activities.