THE STEP-BY-STEP GROUP

Transcription

1 PRACTICING WHAT WE PREACH AT THE UN GIGIRI COMPLEX, NAIROBI, KENYA A PRESENTATION BY THE STEP-BY-STEP GROUP NAIROBI, KENYA Workshop on Engaging internal and external audiences in Greening the UN Geneva, September 2009

2 Practicing What we Preach at the UN Gigiri Complex, Nairobi, Kenya The Step-by-Step (SBS) group Open voluntary group of UN staff in Nairobi (UNEP, UN-HABITAT, UNON and UNDP) meets bi-monthly or when urgency occurs Main objectives 1. To continuously improve the environmental performance at the UN Gigiri complex, while taking into account social and economic concerns 2. Continuously raise awareness on greening issues among staff at the UN in Gigiri. 3. By practicing what we preach, serve as catalyst for possible adoption of similar initiatives in greater Kenya and the region.

3 History and achievements of SBS along the way 2002 Step-by-Step (SBS) group established 2003 SBS proposes EMS, carbon neutral program, etc.to senior management 2004 Assessments on water, waste, energy and transport 2005 UNEP GC decision 23/8 on sustainable procurement 2006 Environmental Resource Management Group (ERM) receives contract for comprehensive environmental review; finalised in UNEP CPR members raised concerns and meet with the ED of UNEP and SBS 2007/08 Announcement of carbon neutral UNEP 2008 Creation of post to implement the carbon neutral strategy of UNEP as well as Greening UN Gigiri (SUN/DTIE) 2008/09 SBS and SUN continue their work together to implement ideas around greening the compound initiatives

4 Assessment findings (2004) No formal policy/ies; therefore SBS made recommendations to Senior Management of UNEP SBS assessment findings: collection of data on the ground + data provided by UNON. Waste assessment of kg of waste/daily 800kg of wastepaper/daily >1% of the paper used consisted of recycled paper < than 80% of disposed paper was only printed on one side Water assessment 320 cubic metres of water is consumed daily = 120 litres /staff/day Energy & transport assessments Every day 16,000 kwh of electricity is consumed Each year, the total official travel kilometres represent 77 journeys to the moon 75% of staff commute as a single occupant in a car (50% are SUV or 4x4) Every day 37,000 kg CO 2 is being emitted

5 Initial Environmental Review (IER) undertaken in 2006 IER was undertaken by the Environmental Resource Management Group (ERM) SBS supported ERM: assessments reports, data collection, reviewing draft reports. ERM recommended an Environmental Plan and professional staff towards greening on compound Environmental Plan recommendations: a) Carbon footprint/climate change: Monitor electricity consumption + official travels GHG inventory in line with GHG protocol and establish offsetting programmes b) Waste: Monitor all waste generated, reduce waste generation and improve housekeeping and general waste management c) Water use: Monitor water consumption and reduce consumption d) Biodiversity: Identify habitats and species that require protection, rehabilitate any disturbed ecosystems e.g. during constructions e) Sustainable Procurement: Integrate environmental parameters into standard procurement decision making collaborate with suppliers of services and goods to ensure services are provided in accordance with legal requirements

6 Current green situation and other achievements at the UN Gigiri complex 1. Green activities by all and done anyway Recycling grey water + rainwater for irrigation Solar heating at all hot water installations Passive/natural ventilation Natural lighting in Open office space (60% of the office space in Gigiri is open office space) Paper-saving toilet tissue dispensers Dual-flush toilets installed Push taps UV film installed at windows All office wastepaper =100% recycled. Returns in toilet paper. All service grade paper (napkins and toilet paper) is out of 100% recycled paper Office paper: FSC certified, options exist to purchase 50% recycled paper and to an extra cost even 100% recycled paper Before After

7 Green activities achieved by SBS Improved waste management- Sorting facility (N. Zero stn-50% landfill waste reduction), ban on the use of plastic bags at the commissary Energy efficiency- Eco-bulbs for desk-lamps and ceiling lights, Open plan- natural ventilation and lighting, activation of power saving schemes in PCs and monitors Green meetings guides distributed and shared during COPs and UNEP GC sessions Establishment and refurbishment of The Nature Trail: Nature trail shop-selling organic products including honey. SBS taskforce-to support greening major UN conferences: GC24 &GC25

8 Green activities achieved by SBS (ctd.) Articles in TIDBITS( staff magazines) - tips for a sustainable living at home and the office Mainstreaming Sustainable procurement in senior level decision making process- presentations to Local Contract Committee & procurement personnel. Awareness campaign Reminders stickers Keep our own divisions informed on energy saving possibilities and act as catalyst for greener decisions on divisional and organizational level

9 Green activities achieved by SBS + SUN in collaboration In 2009 stocktaking of offices-inventory of environmental practices in offices. Results published on the greening UN website ( SUN/DTIE sponsored a Professional post dedicated to the environmental initiatives. Carbon neutral UNEP (strategy) and UN Gigiri Complex (UNEP s support to UNON) Fair trade + organic refreshments to conference participants Greening the UN website-for exchange and more internal and external communication of SBS

10 Challenges, Needs For Training & Communication Training: Training needs analysis is highly required- resources and cooperation Resources highly required for developing training materials Communication Behavioral change in staff on all levels needed (electricity, paper, and water use) More regular communication strategy to communicate environmental performance on the compound How to engage more staff in SBS and raise awareness on a continuous basis among staff is a real challenge- need to market SBS Internal and external communication difficult due to lack of resources and staff time, however this has been partly addressed by recent Greening the UN in Nairobi website. Cooperation with DCPI positive which needs to be enhanced throughout the year (SBS member form DCPI needed)

11 Outreach Future Plans Objective: ''serve as catalyst for possible adoption of similar initiatives in greater Kenya and the region'', Strategy: Creating a forum for exchange of ideas and best practices. Organize for regular or one time off presentations on radio and TV. Offer maybe training to larger companies who want to go green Contact: stepbystep@unep

12 What next? Procurement - Petrol station: No alternatives to fossil fuels available - Contractors: cleaners, gardeners, architects and caterers need green training - Office paper need to become 100% recycled - Support towards new buildings and constructions (ecotoilets) UNON policies - IT equipment need to be environmentally friendly % recycled paper - Individual printers against network printers - Shuttle Transport for professionals and carpooling options - Support towards new buildings and constructions (ecotoilets) Lack of target setting and monitoring - water metering - paper consumption - A lot of irrigation occurs during day time A missing long-term planning and possible carrying capacity of the entire UN-Gigiri compound (water and power shortages, decline of wild life on the compound, loss of diversity in wildlife)

13 UNON Printshop Goes ISO 14001:2004 Background Printshop activities had high negative impact on the environment Initiative to act taken by the management of UNON/DCS/PSS Initial Environmental Review was done in 2006 Recommendations of the ER implemented progressively leading to an EMS in 2008 Environmental external auditors invited for a comprehensive audit June 2008 ISO 14001:2004 certificate awarded in October 2008.

14 Features Supporting the EMS EMS the guiding factor in our environmental good practices Environmental policy committing management support for the EMS Raised environmental awareness through training at different levels General environmental awareness training ISO implementors training internal environmental auditing Setting environmental objectives and targets, progressing and reviewing them annually Documented environmental management programmes to help achieve these objectives Documented operating procedures for all printshop activities Monitoring use of resources through stringent measures Solid and hazardous waste management procedures in compliance with legal and other requirements Scheduled environmental surveillance audits to ensure the ISO standard requirements are followed.

15 Achievements Increased efficiency in terms of use of resources Assisted in identifying and managing the significant environmental aspects of UNON Printshop Empowerment of staff members to walk the green talk through environmental training at different levels Assists in evaluation of environmental performance to achieve continual improvement environmental performance indicators used as benchmarks for improvement Internal environmental and external surveillance audits results measured against the environmental policy and legislation Corporate image Risk reduction

16 Challenges Limited sphere of control and influence outside the defined EMS scope staff members have an obligation to promote environmental good practices internally system requirements staff behaviour away from work not within the sectional/ems control Influence on procurement limited How to best disseminate and share information on greening initiatives internally and externally Documenting information not effective reading culture poor (observation from the printshop) Training or face to face awareness-raising a better option Role model set a good example to be followed Lack of budget line specifically for maintaining the EMS Cost of maintaining EMS high