1 August 2008: The United Nations plans to decrease its
carbon footprint for the month of August by increasing the temperature in its
New York Headquarters and eliminating air conditioning on the weekends. The
initiative will result in an emissions decrease of the equivalent of 300 pounds
of carbon dioxide and, if the trial period is successful and the initiative is
extended, could save the UN roughly US$1 million annually.

Speaking at the unveiling of the initiative, Michael
Adlerstein, Executive Director of the United Nations Capital Master Plan, said significant
energy savings – possibly exceeding a 40% reduction in energy use – would be incorporated
into the UN Headquarters renovation plans, and that wind generation would be
introduced for demonstration purposes. On 1 August, two
days after the Secretary-General’s announcement, Noeleen Heyzer, the Executive
Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(ESCAP), declared that the “Cool UN” initiative would also be expanded to
include the UN’s Bangkok offices. [UN press release, 30 July 2008] [UN News Centre article, 1 August 2008] [UN News Centre article, 30 July 2008] [UN press Conference, 30 July 2008]