The Global Platform strives to minimize its "carbon footprint"

Recognizing that all of us have the obligation to do our part to combat climate change, the conference organizers were launching an effort to minimize the "carbon footprint" of the first meeting of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. Carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced through efficiency and conservation in the use of electricity, paper, supplies and travel.

The third session of the Global Platform will be carbon neutral!

The UN Secretary General has given high priority to reducing UN organizations’ greenhouse gas emissions. In October 2007, he launched the "greening of the UN" initiative which also includes moving the UN system towards climate neutrality. The Environmental Management Group (EMG) developed a "Strategy for a climate-neutral UN" which aims to make all UN agencies, funds and programmes climate-neutral.

Good environmental practice is a basic requirement for the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction secretariat (UNDRR) given that reducing disaster risks includes adapting to and reducing the risks of climate change as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, UNDRR aims to minimize and compensate the impacts related to the Global Platform. We endeavour to reduce the consumption of natural resources and the production of waste related to all phases in the lead-up to, during and after the Global Platform.

Since carbon emissions at international conferences cannot be avoided, UNDRR will offset the carbon emissions related to the meeting by contributing to a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project which could address one of the following disaster risk reduction measures such as:

  • Tree planting/afforestation to reduce the risk of drought, land slides, floods, desertification, wind erosion, or sand storm.
  • Mangrove planting to protect coastal zones of the impacts of storms and tsunami.
  • Soil conservation to reduce the risk of land slides, floods or droughts.
  • Natural watershed rehabilitation and regeneration to reduce the risk of floods, land slides or soil erosion.

Making the Global Platform a carbon neutral event is not an isolated activity. It is part of UNISDR’s climate neutral commitment to becoming a carbon neutral UNDRR secretariat.

Participants Can Support The Goal of Making The Conference Carbon Neutral in The Following Ways:

1. Reduce your carbon emissions and offset the unavoidable emissions

By far the largest environmental impact of international conferences is related to greenhouse gas emissions resulting from air travel. UNDRR has tried to reduce this impact where possible by encouraging the use of trains and promoting air travel in economy class. You will be able to learn more about your carbon footprint while at the Conference. We strongly encourage every participant to offset his or her carbon emissions related to participation to the Global Platform.

2. Use public transport in Geneva

Geneva has a very reliable and well connected public transportation system. Therefore, we encourage participants to make use of public transportation instead of taking a taxi or a car to the hotel or the conference centre.
Upon your arrival at the Geneva International Airport you can get a free ticket for public transport from the ticket machine in the baggage collection area. At your hotel you can ask for the free "Geneva Transport Card" that allows you to use all public transport in Geneva free of charge during your stay.
To get an overview of the entire Geneva’s Public Transportation Net use the following link The following lines arrive close to the conference center:


3. Conference Venue

The International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) is in line with the new environmental protection policies. The centre strives to avoid energy waste by having installed a new gas heating system with good insulation materials. Moreover, regular maintenance of the building avoids the waste of energy and water. In addition, the centre encourages recycling of glass, aluminium, plastic and paper. The use of the latest advanced technologies enables a constant improvement of the centre.

4. Catering

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Novae has committed to respecting the environment. The company buys principally local products. For every product Novae purchases, they take care of its ecological impact: they recycle their rubbish and treat used oil as a combustible fuel for the heating.

5. Printing Material

Since 2009, all UNDRR publications have been printed on 100% recycled paper with vegetable ink. We would like to remind participants to avoid making or distributing unneeded paper copies by making use of electronic copies and electronic distribution when possible. All conference documents can be downloaded from the conference website.

6. External Links

Last updated: 15 December 2020