FAO Launches Ambitious Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 45 Percent

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has taken a significant step towards reducing its environmental footprint by launching a new Corporate Environmental Responsibility Strategy. The strategy aims to reduce the Organization's total Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) by 45 percent by 2030. This ambitious goal is in line with the Organization's commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Concrete actions outlined in the new Strategy include promoting the use of renewables, increasing waste separation and recycling, phasing out single-use plastics, and encouraging flexible working practices to reduce commuting. The Strategy also aims to boost environmental sustainability throughout the Organization's entire program of work, targeting all projects and offices across the world.

Key Takeaways:

• The FAO's new Corporate Environmental Responsibility Strategy aims to reduce the Organization's total GHG emissions by 45 percent by 2030.
• Concrete actions outlined in the new Strategy include promoting the use of renewables, increasing waste separation and recycling, phasing out single-use plastics, and encouraging flexible working practices to reduce commuting.
• The Strategy also aims to boost environmental sustainability throughout the Organization's entire program of work, targeting all projects and offices across the world.
• The new Strategy builds on the Organization's existing efforts to reduce environmental impact, including the installation of solar energy systems at headquarters and regional offices.
• FAO has already made significant progress in reducing its environmental impact, with a cumulative reduction of over 27 million kg of carbon dioxide equivalent and cumulative savings of over USD 4 million since 2008.

Statistics:

• The FAO aims to reduce its total Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) by 45 percent by 2030.
• The Organization has already made significant progress in reducing its environmental impact, with a cumulative reduction of over 27 million kg of carbon dioxide equivalent and cumulative savings of over USD 4 million since 2008.
• Solar energy systems have been installed at FAO headquarters, at the FAO Regional Office for Africa in Accra, Ghana, and at FAO country offices in Djibouti, Mauritania, Nepal, and Uganda.

Sources:

• FAO Director-General QU Dongyu's opening address at the launch event.
• Ambassador Cline Jurgensen, Permanent Representative of France to FAO.
• Ambassador GUANG Defu, Permanent Representative of China.
• Jennifer Harhigh, Charge d'Affaires of the United States.