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4 Jun 2010

The UN Greens the Blue

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On 5 June (World Environment Day) 2007, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on all UN agencies, funds and programs to become climate neutral and 'go green'. Since then, all UN organizations have been working together to put in place systems and procedures to measure and reduce the environmental impacts of the UN family. “I would like to see our renovated Headquarters complex eventually become a globally acclaimed model of efficient use of energy and resources. Beyond New York, the initiative should include the other United Nations headquarters and offices around the globe”. Led by the UN Environment Program (UNEP), in coordination with the UN Environment Management Group, the UN system launched “Greening the Blue”. an initiative aimed at assessing, and curbing, greenhouse gas emissions of its various entities. The initiative, which started as a desire for Ban to make the UN a more sustainable organization, was later validated by the October 2007 meeting of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination with the Executive Heads of UN agencies, funds and programs. The meeting decided to move UN organizations towards climate neutrality. This year, on the occasion of the World Environment Day (WED), the UN launched a website dedicated to showcasing the efforts of the World Body in this regard and informing staff of how they can help in this important work. Greening the Blue (www.greeningtheblue.org) provides details of the greenhouse gas emissions of every UN organization, as well as information on efforts to reduce them. In addition, the website provides case studies of how different UN organizations are addressing various environmental challenges and tips for staff in reducing work-related environmental impacts. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had said in his message on moving towards a climate neutral UN, (December 2009) that the UN system was collectively developing a climate-neutral approach for its premises and operations. “The responsibility for the future lies in our hands. Let’s begin change at home,” he affirmed. The website contains the 2008 greenhouse gas inventories of most UN organizations, including ESCWA, and the work they undertake in greening their activities. Visitors can check tips and tools on how to reduce their work-related carbon footprints. A short animation is also available to show how staff can get involved. ESCWA has taken significant steps in improving its own sustainability performance. During working days, lights are reduced by half in office floors at 3:30 pm, and switched off at 6 pm. The air-conditioning is also turned off at 3:30 pm. ESCWA also encourages staff to switch off their computers and monitors every evening, and to undertake paper recycling of old publications and meeting-related documents. On this line, new equipment is purchased according to energy-saving specifications, and double sided printing is set as default for all networked printers to reduce the amount of paper. The Regional Commission has assigned the sale of the recyclable paper/paperboard (e.g, cartons) to a local contractor who picks-up all recyclable material from the UN House. ESCWA is using teleconferencing and videoconferencing to reduce the need for international travel and associated technology, including new telephone/videophones, computer equipment. Finally, ESCWA has established a Task Force on Climate Neutrality to follow up on these matters. The Task Force involves representatives from Sustainable Development and Productivity and the Administrative Divisions.
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