24 October 2022 UNMIK strives to meet renewable energy and environmental goals

Photo: UNMIK built an energy-efficient office building at its regional office in Mitrovica.

Photo and story reproduced with permission from the UN Intranet iSeek, first published there on 19 October 2022.

The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) already gets one-quarter of its energy from renewable sources.

Now it is on track to become one of the first UN peacekeeping missions to generate 40 per cent of its energy through renewables.

This achievement is just a part of vast progress made on environmental protection and management in the mission over the past four years.

Its environmental scorecard jumped from 79 to 88 over in that period.

“Real leadership means being the change we in the UN call for in our world. I’m proud to see our mission reach such a high level of renewable energy use, while at the same time being cognizant of the urgent need to push even further as per the UN Secretariat Climate Action Plan targets,” said Caroline Ziadeh, Head of UNMIK.

UNMIK achieved ISO 14001:2015 international Environmental Management Certification in 2021, in recognition of its environmental protection actions, including the installation of a solar PV system that self-generates about 25 per cent of current electricity consumption.

Other environmental achievements over the past four years include:

  • Constructing a sustainable and energy-efficient office building at its regional office in Mitrovica

  • Replacing 28 four-wheel drive vehicles with hybrid vehicles, replacing non-efficient lights with LED lights, installing motion sensors in all common areas and solar water heaters at two sites

  • Increasing the environmental projects funded through its Confidence Building Projects and adding a mandatory environmental metric to the selection of these projects

  • Banning the sale of single-use plastics and Installing water filters at all UNMIK sites

UNMIK recently provided 90 ultrafiltration tap water systems to 67 schools across Kosovo. The mission distributed reusable water bottles to students to help raise awareness on avoiding single-use plastic and conserving water.

“Early education is critical in teaching kids about the things that will help protect their environment and our planet,” said Environmental Officer Nazmije Abdurrahmani.

“The sooner we all understand how to look after the world better, the more enjoyment we can have in concert with the rest of the natural world.”

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