United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)

www.unon.org
HQ: Nairobi, Kenya
Focal Point: Talia Owen-Frigyik
Internal Sustainability Team: UNON’s Environmental Management System (EMS) is led by UNON’s Director-General, an executive team of (8) senior managers representing the respective UNON functional areas, the UNON facilities manager is the responsible lead for the EMS, an environmental/sustainability focal point, a lead EMS focal point and internal auditor, a team of (4) facilities technical focal points and (25) section focal points drawn from the various functional areas, of which (15) are also trained as internal auditors. Responsibility for UNON’s EMS is very specifically an integrated approach, firmly embedded within the daily operations of the Facilities Management Section, and all staff working on EMS, while on full time posts, work part time on the EMS. 

The entity may not report waste data for all its personnel. Please refer to the entity's personnel chart below for more information.
All entity personnel are included in the entity's greenhouse gas emission inventory.

ENTITY HEAD’S MESSAGE

"UNON is committed to protection of the environment and prevention of pollution, fulfilling its environmental compliance obligations and continually improving its Environmental Management System to enhance environmental performance." 

Mrs Zainab Hawa Bangura, Under-Secretary-General, Director-General UNON

MISSION

The United Nations Office at Nairobi, the UN headquarters in Africa, was established by the General Assembly in 1996. The office serves as the representative office of the Secretary-General in Nairobi and performs representation and liaison functions with permanent missions, the host-country and other Governments, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in Nairobi, as well as other organizations of the United Nations system in Kenya. 

ALIGNMENT WITH THE STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT IN THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM, 2020–2030 

  • An Environmental Review was conducted by UNON in 2007 to assess the current environmental performance of UNON, and to provide recommendations on further steps for the implementation of an environmental management system for the UNON complex. 

  • UNON’s Publishing Section achieved ISO 14001:2004 certification in 2007. 

  • In 2016 UNON tendered for the services of an external consulting firm to assist UNON in achieving ISO 14001:2015 certification. 

  • UNON has determined the boundaries and scope of its Environmental Management System (EMS) to be: 'Managing and implementing the programmes of administrative and other services for United Nations staff and facilities at the Gigiri complex, United Nations Office at Nairobi, including operations such as energy, water, wastewater, and waste management; related to facilities, safety, catering, medical, conferencing, printing and publication services'.

  • As part of this exercise, UNON constructed a waste management (sorting and recycling station) at the UNON Gigiri complex and tendered for a waste management station operator. In 2018 UNON implemented an office waste management program, recycling bins were placed in offices and common spaces throughout the complex which enabled the separation of waste at source. UNON currently recycles up to 99% of office waste generated at the complex (https://www.greeningtheblue.org/stories/lets-sort-it-out-solid-waste-management-unon). 

  • Related to this, UNON banned the sale of all single use plastic within catering outlets. All plastic bottles for water at the UNON complex, have switched to glass, which are returnable to the vendor. 

  • A construction and demolition waste management program was introduced in 2021 with incremental improvements piloted on annual basis, including the adoption of targets for waste recycling/ reuse on construction project sites. In 2021 UNON recycled 66,000kgs of construction waste. 

  • In 2019 UNON launched its EMS and Environmental Policy Statement (https://www.greeningtheblue.org/stories/unon-launches-environmental-management-system) 

  • In November 2022, following some delays due to the COVID pandemic, UNON concluded the first of two independent external audits as part of the ISO 14001:2015 certification process. 

  • The second independent audit of UNON’s EMS was conducted successfully in December 2022, and resulted in UNON's certification as ISO 14001:2015 compliant on 26 January 2023, the first UN headquarters to do so. GtB report – case study ‘United Nations Office at Nairobi First UN Headquarters to Achieve Environmental Management System ISO 14001:2015 Certification’ 

  • In November 2023, UNON will undertake the first of various annual surveillance audits.  

EMISSIONS REDUCTION

  • UNON started measuring emissions in 2009 and since then the annual combined (Kenya Power + Solar System + Diesel generators) energy consumption was reduced by more than a million kWh. 

  • Several improvements implemented over the years have included increased investments into solar photovoltaic panels that produce electricity, passive systems for heating water, electricity reducing measures such as more efficient LED lighting systems, lighting controls and daylight harvesting, solar street lighting systems and the use of passive ventilation for all office spaces. 

  • In 2022, the new primary data centre for the UNON complex was constructed, and became operational in 2023. The new cooling system for this data centre replaces the previously traditional cooling system, and aims to reduce power consumption by 60%. This is achieved by a new mechanical cooling system based on direct free cooling technology that allows for the utilisation of fresh filtered air for cooling purposes whenever the weather conditions are suitable, which is frequent in Nairobi. 

  • UNON also completed what aims to be its first net-zero building in 2022, equipped with solar photovoltaic panels, sized to generate at a minimum the equivalent of the total energy consumed by the building throughout the year. Full data on the annual energy production will only be available after the first year of operation, which will consider the seasonal fluctuations in solar production across a full calendar year. 

  • Efforts to achieve a net-zero in energy UNON complex in the coming years will further be supported in 2024 by, amongst others, what aims to be UNON’s second-net zero building, the new office buildings as part of the General Assembly funded capital construction project, ‘Replacement of office Blocks A-J’. Planning for these new office building was concluded in 2022, with construction activities already having commenced from mid-2023.  

EMS AND REDUCTION EFFORTS

2010: Building for the Future   

  • UNON’s office construction, the New Office Facility (NOF) was completed at the end of 2010 and serves as the Headquarters of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT). 

  • The NOF added an additional 20,000 sqm of built-up area to the UNON complex, with a capacity for 1,200 staff. Solar panels were installed on the roof of the NOF, with a target of producing 750,000 kWh of solar generated energy per annum. The NOF benefits from a north and south orientation to minimize solar gain within offices, eliminating or reducing the need for mechanical ventilation or air conditioning systems. 

  • The building is passively and naturally ventilated through cross ventilation and by the chimney effect of warm air rising through the landscaped atrium, which in turn draws through cooler external air from offices. 

  • Light wells are provided throughout the building blocks. The central atrium is covered with translucent material allowing natural light into landscaped areas and offices facing the atrium. Occupancy and daylight sensors in the office space introduced a further 40-45% in energy savings. A professional lighting study conducted by UNON confirmed that total energy consumption on lighting would be approximately 200 kWh per annum, which is in-line with global best practice for an energy efficient building. 

2015: Environmental Commitment Charter 

  • As part of the World Environment Day celebrations UNON, UN Environment & UNHABITAT (with their Headquarters at the UNON complex) signed the Environmental Commitment Charter. Other agencies have since joined. 

  • This Charter formally acknowledges the importance of sound environmental management of facilities in the UN Gigiri complex and the need to minimize the impact of operations and buildings on the environment by reducing the waste generated, promoting waste recycling, conserving energy, water, paper, and other natural resources, enhancing the use of renewable energies, and promoting UN staff awareness on environmental sustainability. 

  • One of the specific commitments of the Charter was to strive to develop an environmental management system, in line with ISO 14001. 

2019-2023: Sustainable Transport Operations 

  • Starting with a pilot project in 2010, UNON fuelled two vehicles (a van and minibus) with biodiesel. The biodiesel used is from a non-food source, using cotton seed oil generated as by product from the cotton production process. 

  • Since 2019 UNON has implemented a switch from large fossil fuelled (diesel) staff transport vehicles to smaller ‘right-sized’ vehicles, operated using custom digital transport booking modalities, resulting in a systematically reducing environmental footprint related to staff transportation. 

  • In 2022 UNON took delivery of its first three fully electric vehicles. They are now fully operational, with another added in 2023. UNON has plans to gradually convert the fleet to fully electric vehicles over the next few years.  

  • In addition, in 2023 UNON launched an electric vehicle fleet service, which provides a more sustainable “green” means for shorter distance urban travel, available to all UN entities within the Nairobi environs. 

2022-2025: New Office Buildings Under Design 

  • Significant process has been made on the design of the new office buildings as part of the capital construction project, ‘Replacement of Office Blocks A-J’, for which construction activities commenced in mid-2023. 

  • These office facilities, which aim to be a showcase for environmental sustainability and best practice, adopt key strategies such as, targeting a net-zero design through clean energy and efficiencies, water efficiencies and materials efficiencies. While UNON has elected not to pursue green building certification, the LEED green building rating tool has been adopted, and score card used as guidance in both the design and construction stages. 

  • The buildings will offset their energy consumption through installation of extensive renewable energy systems, which started at the design stage with passive energy studies, energy modelling to simulate the total building energy demand and implementation of a solar photovoltaic system designed to offset the building’s energy demand.  

  • The buildings will take advantage of the natural environment, with an indoor-outdoor work concept linking the work environment to nature, taking maximum advantage of natural lighting and ventilation.  

  • Water efficient fixtures will also be introduced, and all wastewater channelled through on site oxidation ponds to be reused for irrigation.  

  • Established construction waste management practices will target a reuse and recycling factor of 70-80%, to as far as possible divert solid waste from landfill.  

  • Construction is scheduled to be completed by December 2024, with occupation planned from 2025. 

For the 2022 reporting year, UNON's progress on the EMS is rated as: Exceeds.

ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING FOR PERSONNEL

  • In 2010 UNON’s Division of Administration trained 11 staff members as implementers and internal auditors of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) in compliance with ISO 14001:2004. 

  • Since 2019 UNON has now trained the entire core team overseeing the development and implementation of EMS, as well an internal audit team responsible for reviewing the EMS for compliance with ISO 14001:2015.  

  • In 2023, UNON conducted refresher training for both existing and new section focal points on the EMS, and is the process of developing an updated online basic awareness training on UNON's EMS, and ISO 14001:2015, to be made available to raise awareness and educate both existing and new UNON staff. Similar training for existing and new internal auditors to support the ISO internal audit process is also planned for the coming year. 

  • In addition, starting in 2023 and continuing into 2024, increased efforts will be made to raise awareness of environmental sustainability efforts at the UNON complex, UNON’s EMS and ISO 14001 certification through existing and new communication channels, including physical exhibitions, short videos, environmental walks, and tours for UNON staff, entities and visitors to the UNON complex. 

For the 2022 reporting year, UNON's status on providing training on environmental sustainability is: Yes, but it is voluntary.

OFFSETTING

UNON has offset all remaining unavoidable emissions annually since 2015.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

  • In 2018 UNON implemented a robust Waste Management Strategy by building a waste sorting station, where all waste is separated into the different waste stream fractions and recycled or re-used. A key feature of this strategy is an innovative waste contractor, together with comprehensive monthly waste monitoring logs, recycling bins placed across the compound, a supporting staff awareness campaign and the ban of plastic products (i.e., bottles, straws, and food containers). UNON now routinely recycles up to 99% of office waste generated at the UNON complex.  

  • UNON’s phased waste management strategy was expanded in 2021 to include launch and implementation of a construction and demolition waste management strategy, in which all construction and demolition waste materials are sorted, tracked, and weighed and then follow a systematic decision-making process which is aimed at maximizing the potential for reuse on site, reincorporation into the works or other sites and or disposal for recycling purposes. This strategy was rolled out and has been in place on all capital construction project works as part of a documented construction waste management plan. UNON has also for the first time included specific targets for waste recovery of 70-80% as part of recent construction contracts.  

  • As next step, in 2023, as part of a broader e-waste management strategy under development, a sustainable means for disposal of used electrical cables was concluded on. The existing disposal practice of auctioning surplus or obsolete material to the highest bidder was altered in favour of disposal through a technically assessed and specialist e-waste recycling service provider. While as first being applied to waste from refurbishment works, it is anticipated that this same methodology will be possible extended to other waste streams in the coming years.

WATER AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT 

  • Water conservation and wastewater treatment are two of the main environmental aspects of the EMS. A water reduction of more than 2 % per year in 2022/2023 was achieved by amongst others, investigating for leaks, and as part of ongoing construction and refurbishment works applying new water efficient taps, shower heads, and flushing systems.  

  • All wastewater continues to be managed within the boundaries of the UNON complex by grease traps (where needed), new and larger septic tanks, and new and larger oxidation and maturation ponds/ lagoons. After treatment, wastewater is used for irrigation of the UNON complex grounds.

OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES

  • The land on which the UNON complex sits was originally part of Karura forest. Over time, the green lawns and exotic trees planted have proven to be poorly adapted to the local climate. In addition, and in light of increasing water shortages due to climate change, grass lawns requiring excessive watering, are no longer sustainable. As part of UNON’s reforestation strategy, introduced in 2022, UNON intends to restore the original dry upland forest environment to as much of the UNON complex as possible. In partnership with a local Community Forest Association, it is intended to plant and nurture 3000 indigenous biodiversity supporting trees on the complex over the next 3 years, synchronizing them with the rains. As at mid-2023 over 1,000 trees had already been planted. 

  • Related to this, a strategy for the active re-use and reintegration of any trees that may need to be removed for whatever reason, is also in place. Harvested trees are processed and returned back to the UNON complex, and integrated into the built spaces as signage, indoor and outdoor furniture pieces. 

NEXT STEPS

  • In 2023, work will include introduction the Field Infrastructure Remote Monitoring (FRIM) monitoring system, which has proven itself in field missions in recent years, as an early warning system for leaks and power outages, as well as a robust data collection and monitoring platform to meter amongst others, energy consumption so that even more targeted energy-saving measures can be implemented and scaled up as needed. 

  • In 2024, in addition to environmental and sustainable structures, the focus will be on training, communication and engagement with UN entities, UN staff, visitors and other external stakeholders regarding environmental sustainability efforts at the UNON complex. Active participation and commitment by all stakeholders is essential to the success of UNON’s EMS which in turn, results in broader benefits, such as reduced emissions from facilities operations, being passed on to the +/- 50 UN agencies, funds and programmes housed at the UNON Gigiri complex.  

  • More broadly, the goal of achieving net-zero in energy for the entire UNON complex in the coming years places considerable demands on the supply concept. In the coming years, in addition to a significant increase in energy production capacities, investigations and feasibility studies will also be carried out into storage and feed-back possibilities.