Other public sector-led initiatives are performing similar work on different levels. The Greening Government Initiative (GGI), led by the United States of America and Canada is working at the national level to green government’s operations. As of 3 November, 39 countries had joined GGI (for a full list of the countries please see https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/news-updates/2021/11/03/inaugural-countries-joining-the-greening-government-initiative-announced/).

The Global Platform for Action on Sustainable Energy in Displacement Settings (GPA), hosted by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), is working at a global level in the humanitarian space. The GPA is the global initiative to promote actions that enable sustainable energy access  in displacement settings, as laid out in the Global Plan of Action Framework Document, thereby ensuring SDG7 is inclusive of displacement situations.

One of the largest humanitarian agencies in the world, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – the UN Migration Agency, also joined the discussions, contributing based on its experience as a direct implementer and inter-governmental organization. IOM is also an active member of the UN Greening the Blue and the GPA.

The panel discussion at this COP26 side event brought together these initiatives to discuss the common threads among them by highlighting how:

• Public sector organizations are those who work on the base of shared values with funds trusted to us by citizens. Coherence between words and actions is essential to maintain trust.
• Networks such as Greening the Blue, GGI and GPA have the power to multiply the actions and successes of their members.
• Efforts to “go green” by Member States and agencies of the United Nations result in a positive legacy through long-term benefits to the local communities and countries where entities operate.

Highlights of comments from the panellists include:

Isabella Marras, Sustainable UN Coordinator, UNEP (replacement panellist for Ligia Noronha) said: “Partnerships are our best chance to accelerate emissions reductions. We need Member States’ attention and collaboration if we are to reach the ambitious Greening the Blue objectives set for the UN system.” 

Highlighting the key goal of ‘leaving no one behind’, Thomas Fohgrub of the GPA at UNITAR mentioned, “we need to bring investments on new technologies and renewable energy infrastructure to reduce our humanitarian footprint, however, we must not forget to leverage these investments for displaced people and host communities. It is about bringing benefits for the people and the planet.”

“National governments are often a nation’s largest real estate holder, fleet owner, and consumer. We are stronger together in tackling complex challenges like transitioning to zero-emission cars and trucks and moving to 100 percent carbon-free electricity purchases. Countries engaged with the Greening Government Initiative can help one another go further and faster in their efforts to make their government operations more sustainable and climate ready. This is what climate leadership is all about, and I am excited to see the results of international collaborations forged through this initiative,” stated US Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, Andrew Mayock.

Amy Pope, Deputy Director General for Management and Reform of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said during the Call to Action: “We absolutely need [investments in our physical assets] if we are going to do the ultimate efficiencies along the road. And we need to make these investments now. Our Member States, partners, donors, everyone needs to get on board."

This was a hybrid style event with both in-person and virtual panellists and attendees. Approximately 60 in-person participants and 770 live and 135 on-demand views attended the side event. A recording of the event is available at https://youtu.be/1g3Uf3jUliE