02.11.2017 - Recognizing that our operations have an impact on the environment, the UPU regularly measures and takes action to reduce the carbon footprint of its secretariat, the International Bureau.
The 2016 environmental inventory, performed in collaboration with
Sustainable United Nations (SUN), shows that direct greenhouse gas
emissions from the International Bureau have decreased by 10% since
2014. In addition, the UPU has chosen to offset all emissions, earning
the International Bureau climate neutral status for 2016.
These positive results are a reflection of the UPU's commitment to
sustainability and its efforts to implement greener approaches to
managing our activities, resources and facilities.
In 2016, the UPU generated a total of 983 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2eq)
as a direct result of International Bureau activities. Of that amount,
29% originated from our facilities, 69% were related to air travel, and
2% to other forms of transport. Emissions per staff member total 3.78
tCO2eq, compared with the UN average of 7.18 tCO2eq.
UPU climate data has been published today in the UN-wide sustainability report: Greening the Blue Report 2017.
The report details the greenhouse gas emissions produced in 2016 by the
UN system as a whole, as well as each UN entity individually.
The UN has committed to becoming climate neutral across all entities by 2020. The data published in the Greening the Blue Report reveals that the 67 UN entities that reported their greenhouse gas emissions collectively emitted a total of 1.90 million tCO2eq in 2016, and 37% of these emissions were offset.
Earlier this year, in a speech on climate action,
UN Secretary General António Guterres highlighted the importance of
working together to combat climate change: "All of us – governments,
businesses, consumers – will have to make changes. More than that, we
will have to be the change. This may not be easy at times. But for the sake of today's and future generations, it is the path we must pursue."
SUN project coordinator, Isabella Marras, has commended the progress
made by entities in the 10 years since the UN Chief Executive Board
approved the UN's Climate Neutral Strategy
in 2007: "The leadership and dedication shown by UN staff at all levels
has been inspiring. We've seen efforts to measure and reduce our
environmental impacts across all agencies, in all countries, via
numerous activities, and I'm confident that the UN is on track to meet
the goal of being climate neutral, through emissions reductions and
offsetting, by 2020."
Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve overall
environmental performance have continued across the UN throughout 2017,
with several entities adopting a systematic approach to reducing their
environmental footprint. For more information on the methodology used,
please visit Greening the Blue.
More information about the UPU's environmental efforts
The UPU works together with SUN to measure and manage the
environmental impact of the International Bureau. In addition, the UPU
supports its worldwide network of postal operators in their efforts to
address their climate impact through the free online tool OSCAR – the
Online Solution for Carbon Analysis and Reporting (https://oscar.post).
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