World Trade Organization (WTO)

DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S MESSAGE

"Trade policy must catalyse green transformation, support climate adaptation."

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General

Mission

The World Trade Organization (WTO) provides a forum for negotiating rules aimed at reducing obstacles to international trade and ensuring a level playing field for all, thus contributing to economic growth and development. It also provides a legal and institutional framework for implementing multilateral trade agreements and settling disputes. Sustainable development and protection and preservation of the environment are fundamental goals of the WTO. They are enshrined in the Marrakesh Agreement, which established the WTO, and complement the WTO’s objective to reduce trade barriers and eliminate discriminatory treatment in international trade relations.

EMS and Reduction efforts

The COVID 19 pandemic has drastically changed the patterns in organizing events. Hybrid events is now the norm, reducing the footprint of many participants, including from the Secretariat. It has clearly reduced the global footprint of the organization.

The host country of UNWTO headquarters is working on a new HQ building with highest environmental norms.

Each year, as part of the Greening the Blue Report on Environmental Governance, each participating UN entity’s progress on the development of an Environmental Management System (EMS) is evaluated according to the UN system’s EMS criteria (these criteria are available on the Methodology webpage). Upon this evaluation the entity is then rated Exceeds, Meets, Approaches, or No response. For the 2022 reporting year, WTO’s progress on the EMS is rated as: Does not meet.

ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS AND STANDARDS IN POLICIES, PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES

For the 2022 reporting year, WTO’s status of implementing environmental and social safeguards and standards in their policies, projects and programmes is: No, but in progress.

ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING FOR PERSONNEL

For the 2022 reporting year, WTO’s status on providing training on environmental sustainability is: No.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Measurements based on weight invoiced by the waste removal contractors (Serbeco, RVM & EcoLogistic) :

• Installation of waste compactors, in order to reduce the number of transport needed for the collection of waste.
• Since 2017, plastic cups have been replaced in the conference rooms by compostable cups (made of PLA).
• For take-away foods our catering provider offers returnable and reusable packaging to avoid single use ones.
• Home to work recycling: small appliances & toners are recovered by our partner EcoLogistic which is a workshop of EPI (Public Establishments for Integration) committed to sustainable development that offers socio-professional integration programs in the field of recycling.

WATER AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

• Handsfree automatic taps, to limit and control water flows in sanitary facilities.
• Handsfree automatic flushing installations on urinals to limit water flows.   
• Differential flow toilet flushes.
• Regular tours by the plumbers to control the faucets leaks or flushing toilets.
• Efficient watering system for landscaping.
• Rain Water used for the toilet of the New Building (EM).

OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES

• New Building (EM) as a Minergie-P label (very low energy consumption buildings).
• Implementation of occupancy sensors and timers in areas that do not require constant lighting.
• Replacement of light sources with low power sources (LED).
• Electricity is 100% certified renewable.
• Cooling system using Geneva Lake Water (GLN).
• Since 2019, we have chosen the supply of a more ecological quality of Gas (Gaz vitale découverte). Carbon neutral, including 2% of biogas and supporting environmental projects in Geneva.
• Soft mobility encouraged with 10 self-service E-bikes for the staff. On site bike repair workshops (funded by the Staff Council).
• Agreement with VéloPostale who offer postal bicycle deliveries in Geneva within a very short time frame and in an environmentally friendly way.
• Some green spaces on our site are left as flowering meadows. This promotes wildlife in the city by providing habitats and food resources for local wildlife.
• Three beehives are installed on our site since 2019. As well as insect hotels and bat shelters (funded by the sale of honey).
• Maintenance of green spaces in a sustainable manner by promoting the use of organic products.
• Cleaning method using only products with ecolabel.
• Catering provider has the 14001 label, vegetarian menus are offered and GRTA products identifying agricultural products from the Geneva region are also available.

Next steps

• Project to shift from individual waste bins to recycling stations.
• Re-evaluation of the cooling needs for the technical rooms (data center,...).
• Energy audits for the Historical Building (Centre William Rappard).
• Project to remove single-use cups (compostable) to encourage the use of reusable containers.

ADDITIONAL LINKS

https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/envir_e/envir_e.htm