Climate Neutrality and Greening UN - an overview Niclas Svenningsen Head SUN
Climate Change and the United Nations UN s ability to walk the talk on climate change is defining our credibility and thereby ability to deliver our mandates. Climate Change impacts almost all mandates of UN. More and more UN organizations are challenged by their governing bodies and member states UN Climate Neutral Strategy
Focus on emission reductions SUN provides support for greenhouse gas emission reduction in UN and other organizations. in the wider context of sustainable operations management systems in UN Travel: travel less / travel more efficiently/ travel policy Buildings: passive / active / power supply / bldg management systems Processes: procurement / admin / budgeting/ meetings Organizational culture: Green policy / EMS / check points/ training & awareness / office set-up / flex work / incentives & recognition / reporting
Focus on emission reductions Others Transport Electricity Heating Cooling Travel Typical Causes for emissions - Technology performance - Management of technology - Staff Behaviour - Incentives for staff - UN Common policies - Administrative systems - Politics Typical emission profile for UN org Indicative, based on preliminary survey results
Sustainable Travel The major source for greenhouse gas emissions in UN Interventions include travel reduction, travel replacement, travel efficiency, monitoring & reporting, and staff incentives. SUN is working with IATN and JIU to reflect climate neutral issues in harmonization of travel rules Helpdesk on travel strategies established as of 1 September 2009 Guide to sustainable travel in UN to be released in October 2009
Buildings and Facilities Five Guidelines: Sustainable lighting Energy efficiency in buildings Climate Friendly Offices Guide Procurement Handbook for sustainable buildings Field operations INFM 9: Established a working group to develop minimum sustainability criteria for all UN facilities
Green Meetings Sustainable procurement Policy, guidelines, training E-communication Review of E-communication access, with ICT Network E- administration Input to Umoja Project In the meantime: Local action Processes Budgeting Propose to compile examples of budgeting strategies (CMP, offset funds )
Sustainable culture What Makes Us Do What We Do
Culture and culture Formal-Official: UN Policies Management decisions Administrative rules & systems Rewards & incentives Formal Communication Informal-Personal Information & knowledge Attitudes / motivation Convenience & support Visibility & Recognition etc. Organizational culture: Green policy / EMS / check points/ training & awareness / office set-up / flex work / incentives & recognition / reporting /management leading from the front / perks & subsidies etc.
Progress so far Strong emphasis on inventory system & support tools Initial inventories for all UN organizations, funds and programmes ready by September Most organizations have initiated efforts to reduce emissions and greening operations - surge in efforts in 2008-2009. Common report from the UN system on implementation of Climate Neutral Strategy at COP 15 (December) Emission reduction plans to be adopted by end 2010 Recommendation to establish emission reduction targets Work to improve related policies on procurement, travel, ICT, buildings management. Potential expansion of the climate neutral strategy to implement sustainable management systems throughout UN. Effort to green all Delivering as One UN houses
Who is doing what? Formal responsibility rests with each head of agency Reporting of implementation of UN strategy by the Environmental Management Group (EMG) All UN organizations have assigned Climate Neutral Focal Points to cooperate in the Issue management Group (IMG) Technical support provided by SUN UN networks on procurement, travel, ICT, and facilities management engaged to review and revise policies Large number of staff driven green groups In some cases also major projects are going green Other key groups include 4:th & 5:th committees of GA, HLCM/HLCP, UN auditors etc. We want to help staff to behave in a responsible manner, improve our rules and policies, use as efficient and sustainable equipment as possible
The role of communications
Successful communication How good are you in engaging your audiences