COPENHAGEN - The current edition of UN Webbuy motor vehicle catalogues for the first time includes environmental specifications. UN Webbuy is the UNOPS e-procurement portal accessible to the UN, development banks and their borrowers, and NGOs.
The green catalogues provide environmental data on vehicles and rank them according to their CO2 greenhouse emissions and Euro ratings on toxic pollutants. This information allows buyers to consider environmental concerns when they procure vehicles, and helps them "drive cleaner".
In June 2007 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called upon the United Nations family to become climate neutral and environmentally more sustainable. All UN organizations must take concrete measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including in their vehicles.
Therefore, as a unique UN Webbuy requirement, only those vehicle manufacturers having – or in the process of obtaining – ISO 14001 certification are included in the new catalogues. ISO 14001 dictates that businesses control their activities that have an impact on the environment. Furthermore, UN Webbuy will display the environmental ratings of every vehicle offered.
These green catalogues are the result of collaboration between UNOPS and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).