30 November 2012: The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat has agreed to offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remaining after its own emissions reduction efforts, including its travel emissions from attendance to the Doha Climate Change Conference. The decision came as an agreement with the Adaptation Fund Board and its trustee, the World Bank.

The UNFCCC Secretariat has achieved its aim of full climate neutrality by the end of 2012, through emission avoidance and reduction, plus an offsetting scheme using Adaptation Fund (AF) Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) for the remaining balance. The UNFCCC Secretariat is calling upon other UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations to follow suit and purchase AF CERs to offset their emissions.

CER credits, under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), are available to projects in developing countries that reduce emissions. However, industrialized countries can also trade and sell CER credits to meet emissions targets defined by the Kyoto Protocol.

The Adaptation Fund, established by governments to finance adaptation in developing countries, is mainly financed from a share of 2% of CERs that are issued each year for CDM projects under the Kyoto Protocol. The AF also receives donations from governments, individuals, and the private sector. The proceeds from the purchase of AF CERs benefit especially those countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. [Greening the Blue Press Release] [Environmental Responisbilities of the UNFCCC Secretariat Webpage]