SECRETARY GENERAL'S QUOTE
“ITU Member States have put sustainable digital transformation on an equal footing with universal connectivity. For the digital future of humanity rests on our ability to effectively protect our planet and all the life within it. As the UN agency for digital technologies, ITU will lead by example, taking responsibility to address its own carbon footprint – in line with the UN Sustainability Strategy 2020-2030, and in cooperation with the Greening the Blue community.”
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General, ITU
Mission
ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies. Founded in 1865, ITU allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strives to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide.
ITU also plays a leading role in developing an integrated approach to the relation between ICTs and climate change, focusing on monitoring, adaptation and mitigation. ITU works closely with its membership - including Member States and private sector companies, universities, and international and regional organizations - to lead efforts to achieve a climate neutral ICT industry and to promote sustainable development using ICTs.
ITU’s work in climate change relates to adaptation, emergency telecommunications, monitoring and mitigation through the adoption of standards for more energy-efficient ICT services and products, and to reduce e-waste. The Union allocates and protects radio spectrum for environmental monitoring and promotes ICT applications for e-environment and sustainable development. Work in emergency telecommunications for disaster mitigation and relief is a vital component of efforts in adaptation.
ALIGNMENT WITH THE STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT IN THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM, 2020–2030
Through its environmental sustainability policy ITU adopted a series of objectives and guiding principles to step up and act on internal sustainability ambitions.
ITU’s environmental sustainability policy sets out the organization’s vision:
To be the leader in environmental sustainability management in the UN system by systematically integrating sustainability considerations across ITU’s work, minimizing negative impacts on the environment and showcasing the power of digital technologies to drive climate action.
Emission Reduction
ITU’s purchased electricity for HQ use is from 100% renewable resources and several efforts have been made for at least 2 decades in the field of reducing energy consumption. A large part of the ITU HQ premises has been renovated to limit electrical consumption.
EMS and Reduction Efforts
Through the ‘ITU Environmental Sustainability Statement’ ITU adopted a series of guiding principles to step up and act on internal sustainability ambitions.
In early 2020 ITU started to implement an Environmental Management System (EMS), with the aim to establish a coherent approach towards sustainability management across the organization and systematically integrate environmental sustainability long-term into ITU’s internal practices. In the context of the EMS ITU, defined targets and activities aligned with the Strategy for Sustainability Management in the United Nations System 2020–2030.
Each year, as part of the Greening the Blue Report on Environmental Governance, each participating UN entity’s progress on the development of an Environmental Management System (EMS) is evaluated according to the UN system’s EMS criteria.
Water and Wastewater Management
In the ITU HQ buildings pressure reducers were installed across the entire network, and automatic taps have been fitted in the Montbrillant building toilets. These cut water use by 50 per cent compared with push taps.
Environmental Training for Personnel
Greening the Blue training is compulsory for ITU staff.
Offsetting
ITU is offsetting its residual operational emissions as of the year 2015 via the purchase of Certified Emission Reductions under the Clean Development Mechanism, and is also contributing to the associated Adaptation Fund. ITU has thus declared itself as Climate Neutral in its operations since 2015.