The UNFCCC secretariat is committed to sustainable development practices such as the improved management of operations and facilities, building on existing efforts and promoting cost effectiveness. In approving the secretariat's Programme Budget for the Biennium 2010-2011, the Conference of the Parties encouraged the Executive Secretary to "continue to implement initiatives to reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions of the secretariat's operations and activities".

Against this background, and as part of the secretariat's overall sustainability efforts, a number of actions are being undertaken to reduce the carbon footprint of the conference and minimize wastage of all resources, including paper, related to it. For further information, please refer to this Information note to Parties and observer organizations (174 kB)

The UNFCCC secretariat, together with the Integrated Sustainable PaperSmart Services (ISPS) secretariat, is adopting the United Nations PaperSmart services for COP 18/CMP 8. More information may be obtained here.

A carbon neutral conference
Green bus fleet
City-wide recycling scheme launched as part of legacy project
Green products on sale at the eco store

Background information on the secretariat's efforts to achieve full climate neutrality (including information on the UN's "Greening the Blue" initiative) may be found here.

The UN Sustainable Events Guide may be downloaded here.