UNESCO's Environmental Commitment and Policy
UNESCO's environmental sustainability management
Environmental protection and climate action are a core part of UNESCO’s mission – these considerations are embedded within both its programmes in support of Member States as well as its own operational conduct. By integrating ambitious environmental criteria and targets into UNESCO’s management strategies, administrative policies and operations, the Organization’s environmental footprint could be substantially reduced since 2019.
By setting up its Environmental Management System (EMS) in line with the ISO 14001 standard and rolling it our across the UNESCO Field network, great steps forward have been made in improving the environmental performance of UNESCO
Key objectives of UNESCO’s Environmental Sustainability and Management Policy:
- Fully account for the externalities imposed by UNESCO’s own operations and facilities.
- Minimize any possible negative impact on the environment through targeted measures and continuous improvement, and contribute positively to protecting the environment and communities in which the Organization operates.
- To fully compensate for UNESCO’s unavoidable environmental footprint by systematically measuring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement, and offsetting all emissions which remain.
Key Figures
Key highlights and achievements
UNESCO is implementing a global Environmental Management System (EMS), in line with the UN’s 2020-2030 Sustainability Strategy. This has driven the development of a holistic framework to plan and conduct activities, aiming to minimize the negative impacts on the natural environment and fostering continuous improvement. While this agenda encompasses both increasing efficiency and integrating ambitious operational measures, it has embedded environmental sustainability across UNESCO’s global operations.
More information
Resources
This report gives a full assessment of UNESCO's environmental footprint in 2023 - including greenhouse gas emissions from facility use, travel and transport as well as water and waste management, paper use and procurement - and showcases efforts by the organization's Offices worldwide to improve environmental performance.
This report gives a full assessment of UNESCO's environmental footprint in 2022 - including greenhouse gas emissions from facility use, travel and transport as well as water and waste management, paper use and procurement - and showcases efforts by the organization's Offices worldwide to improve environmental performance.
This report gives a full assessment of UNESCO's environmental footprint in 2021 - including greenhouse gas emissions from facility use, travel and transport as well as water and waste management, paper use and procurement - and showcases efforts by the organization's Offices worldwide to improve environmental performance.
This Policy provides the framework and overarching principles to guide the mainstreaming of environmental sustainability considerations into UNESCO’s activities worldwide and is a strong commitment from senior management.
In this guide, UNESCO's staff as well as other concerned individuals find concrete tips on how to reduce their environmental footprint in their daily work and act​ively contribute to greening UNESCO. The guide contains good practices from and specific recommendations for both Headquarters and Field Offices.
Phase I of this Strategy sets common objectives, indicators and targets for all UN System organizations regarding Environmental Sustainability in the area of Management.
Face-to-face meetings have a considerable impact on the environment, caused mainly by the associated travel, facilities, catering and accommodation and support material. While shifting meetings online or hybrid is the best way to reduce their environmental impact, this is not always possible. Therefore, 91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ developed Guidelines for Green Meetings to help minimize the environmental impact of meetings and events organized by UNESCO.
Contact information
Any person or entity that is aware of or concerned by possible harm to the environment caused by UNESCO’s facilities, operations, programmes or projects, may contact environment(at)unesco.org