29 September 2014: As part of a commitment to make the UN system climate neutral, the UN has measured the carbon footprint of the 2014 UN Climate Summit and will offset the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions created by buying Certified Emission Reductions (CERs). An equivalent of 18,639 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) will be purchased by the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat from the Adaptation Fund, at a total offset cost of approximately US$6,000.

The initiative to minimize the carbon footprint of the UN Climate Summit included detailed collection of air travel information from 5,000 attendants, and encouraging participants to choose lower-emitting options, such as hotels near public transportation routes, locally produced food, and paperless documentation. Resulting CO2 emissions were measured using a web-based carbon calculator created by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The event will be made carbon neutral through purchases of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) CERs from the Adaptation Fund, which will support both mitigation and adaptation actions in developing countries. The cost per CER, representing a ton of CO2, is currently below US$1.

According to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the initiative demonstrates “the UN system is ‘walking the talk’ and demonstrating the steps that any individual, corporation, event or government can take to contribute to a climate-neutral future.”

The UN carbon neutrality goal dates back to 2007. The organization has more than 220,000 staff members in 64 institutions or offices, some of which are already climate neutral. [AF Press Release] [UN Press Release] [ICAO Carbon Emissions Calculator]