27 November 2015: The UN emitted 2,093,572 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2015, according to a report titled ‘Moving Towards a Climate Neutral UN.’ The report provides an update on progress in implementing the 2007 Climate Neutral UN Strategy, which commits all UN agencies, funds and programmes to move towards climate neutrality within the context of greening the UN, including through reducing and offsetting emissions.

The UN has published an annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory since 2009. The 2015 report analyzes data from 65 UN organizations. More than half of the UN’s total emissions are from field missions and their facility operations, such as electricity and heating or cooling. Emissions from air travel decreased to 44% of all UN emissions, compared to over 50% of emissions in previous years. Total emissions from air travel were 920,058 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2014, or 3.64 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per personnel.

The UN system is continuing its efforts to reduce emissions, with 21 organizations becoming carbon neutral through the purchase of carbon credits. According to the report, 18 UN organizations have an Emissions Reduction Strategy and at least nine are implementing an Environment Management System or using the highest standards in their building management.

The report also showcases steps taken by UN agencies to reduce emissions, including at the One UN Rwanda mission, the One UN House in Viet Nam and the phase out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) at UN Bangkok. The report describes how the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) achieved Platinum LEED certification in the Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance category for its Rome, Italy headquarters. IFAD also improved its waste management and implemented a no smoking policy. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Zimbabwe replaced two large electricity generators with four small ones to facilitate greater flexibility in energy production. This change helped the office cut its carbon emissions from electricity generation by 36%. UNICEF Zimbabwe also increased its recycling, reduced its waste-to landfill by over 50% and reduced its water use by 10%.

“The UN is taking action and proving—through trial and error—that it is possible for large, public sector organizations to manage their GHG emissions,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon states in the report’s introduction. He encourages others to join the UN in reducing emissions and highlights the significance of the Paris Climate Change Conference in this context.

The UN uses the GHG Protocol methodology, developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), to calculate its emissions. [Greening the Blue Press Release] [Publication Website] [Publication: Moving Towards a Climate Neutral UN] [Report Poster]