24 October 2017
EMG Peer Review Evaluates UN Offices in China
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
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The regional offices of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Beijing, China, will be included in the UN Environmental Management Group’s (EMG) Peer Review Process, representing the first time that such Peer Reviews will enter China.

The EGM initiated the Peer Review Process in 2012 to review the environmental sustainability profile and performance of UN agencies.

October 2017: The regional offices of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Beijing, China, will be included in the Environmental Management Group’s (EMG) Peer Review Process, representing the first time that such Peer Reviews will enter China. They are taking place from 23-27 October 2017.

The UN Environmental Management Group (EMG) initiated the Peer Review Process in 2012 to review the environmental sustainability profile and performance of UN agencies. The process involves one or more agencies reviewing peer agencies’ facilities and internal operations.

Thus far, the headquarters of UN Environment, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have been reviewed. WMO headquarters was reviewed on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions management, waste management, information and communications technology (ICT), green events/meetings, and GHG emissions and management related to air travel. UNIDO headquarters was reviewed on: waste and water management; GHG emissions; emissions management in buildings and facilities; and staff awareness, involvement and training. The IMF was reviewed on GHG emissions management in buildings and facilities, waste management, communication and outreach, and GHG emissions from air travel.

In 2016, the Peer Reviews were expanded to include field offices of the World Food Programme (WFP), UNDP and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Amman, Jordan. UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) refugee camps will be peer reviewed towards the end of 2017, while the 2018 schedule will include a peer review of a UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) site in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Peer Review Process, which aligns with the 2030 Agenda, includes identifying achievements, challenges, good practices and lessons learned in approaches to corporate environmental management.

The Peer Review Process, which aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, includes identifying achievements, challenges, good practices and lessons learned in approaches to corporate environmental management, and compiling them in a Peer Review Report, with recommendations. The recommendations focus on improving the environmental performance of the reviewed entity, while enhancing resource efficiency, and economic and social sustainability.

Benefits to reviewed agencies include: improved energy efficiency through, inter alia, identifying the procurement of more energy efficient lighting and heating; reduced costs for facilities and operations; increased staff engagement, by including environmental sustainability in job-related skills or responsibilities; and improved staff health and safety by improving air quality standards.

The EMG, established in 2001, is a UN system-wide coordination body chaired by the Executive Director of UN Environment and supported by a Secretariat provided by UN Environment. [EMG Newsletter] [Peer Review Brochure]

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