Since 2012, the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions has implemented practical measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve its overall environmental performance.
These efforts align with the Greening the Blue initiative and the United Nations Climate Neutral Strategy. Within this framework, the Secretariat prepares annual greenhouse gas inventories, actively reduce missions where possible and offsets any unavoidable emissions.
In its approach, the Secretariat adheres to the Strategy for Sustainability Management in the United Nations System 2020- 2030, Phase I: Environmental Sustainability in the Area of Management which was endorsed by the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination in 2019.
The Secretariat’s carbon footprint and climate neutrality
Between 2010 and 2023, the Secretariat has successfully reduced its carbon footprint by an average of 28%, primarily through initiatives such as promoting online conferencing and systematically scheduling back-to-back meetings.
In 2023, however, the Secretariat’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remained nearly unchanged compared to the previous year.
2023 has marked 10 years of climate neutrality for the Secretariat. To maintain this status, the Secretariat offset its 2023 emissions of 650 tonnes of Co2 through the UN voluntary cancellation platform in the Clean Development Mechanism Registry.
Other efforts to reduce the Secretariat’s environmental footprint
The Secretariat has implemented a range of additional measures to enhance its environmental sustainability in other areas.
In 2023 the BRS Conventions Secretariat joined the UNEP Environmental Management System (EMS). This tool enables the Secretariat to systematically improve its environmental performance through a structured and documented set of processes. The first concrete step in this path was the development of EMS Action Plans for implementation in 2024. The plans focus on events management, facilities, ICT resources and supply chain.
In the area of event management, the meetings organized by the Secretariat are paperless and, whenever possible, plastic free. The meetings of the Conferences of the Parties in 2019, 2022 and 2023 were plastic free, exemplifying this commitment.
With regard to its facilities management, the Secretariat operates out of the International Environmental House in Geneva, Minergie certified building that meets rigorous Swiss environmental standards. The building incorporates waste separation and recycling systems; reduced energy and water consumption; and primarily utilises renewable energy sources, including hydropower and solar panels. Within the Secretariat’s offices, waste is separated with almost 100% of the waste generated in 2023 either reused, recycled, composted, or recovered. Moreover, waste generation in 2023 was 60% lower when compared to 2018, a reduction that reflects both improved practices and the fluctuating impacts of COVID-19.
On the front of water management, the Secretariat promotes the use of tap water and raise awareness of its environmental benefits. Waste and wastewater are measured, reported and managed by the building’s managing organization.
For more details on the BRS environmental performance and ongoing sustainability efforts, visit the Greening the Blue website .
Explore the UN system’s environmental footprint and how BRS contributes. View the Greening the Blue Report 2024 report here.
Baseline sustainability reports
Reports of the Secretariat’s sustainability team established in 2011 to work on sustainability performance aspects: