Environmental sustainability and adaptation to climate change

On behalf of its partners, UNOPS helps implement climate change adaptation activities, protect international waters and vulnerable areas, address the environmental consequences of natural disaster or conflict and support small grants aimed at non-governmental and community-based organizations. For more information on environment projects visit the Environment site in the UNOPS focus areas section.

Cross-cutting concern: Environmental sustainability

While environmental sustainability is the focus of Millennium Development Goal 7, it affects several of the other goals. It is of global concern, and people living in poverty are likely to bear the brunt of hazards such as the depletion of natural resources and the effect of climate change. Therefore UNOPS targets environmental sustainability as a cross-cutting objective across all its goals, services and focus areas.

Sustainable infrastructure

UNOPS considers environmental sustainability as a core requirement in all of its physical infrastructure projects. Local materials and contractors are generally utilized with international supervision to achieve a longer lifespan. UNOPS in house design team and international consultancies endeavour to use sustainable design practices.

UNOPS endeavours to consider environmental sustainability in its physical infrastructure projects. For example, in Liberia UNOPS is constructing and rehabilitating ministry buildings as part of the Government’s decentralization process. These buildings are fitted with solar power and solar water pumping equipment to study the technology’s viability in future projects, since solar energy offers both environmentally sustainable power generation and significant cost savings.

In Lima, historic buildings are being refurbished for a new UN house by the Government of Peru and UN agencies. UNOPS has been hired to implement the tendering process and supervision of the refurbishment. The buildings will keep their original design and architectural features but will be upgraded to new environmental standards including use of alternative energy sources such as wind power for outdoor lighting and water recycling.

An EU funded project in Sri Lanka is helping residents of the Ampara district recover from the 2004 tsunami by improving solid waste management and storm water drainage. As part of this project UNOPS is designing and implementing a management system to reduce waste production, improve collection, encourage recycling and ensure safe deposit of residual waste.

A micro-grants project improving the quality of life for communities in Sedhiou, Senegal, is also encouraging the sustainable use of natural resources. Fonds de Développement Local de Sédhiou, funded by the Governments of Italy and Senegal, includes ‘micro-projects’ such as the rehabilitation of town drainage systems, digging village wells and irrigating communal gardens for village woman. UNOPS is administering the fund and providing quality control.

Sustainable procurement

Environmentally responsible, sustainable or "green" procurement is the selection of goods and services that minimize environmental impacts. This means procurement that helps achieve goals such as conserving energy, water and other resources; reducing waste; phasing out use of ozone-depleting substances; and minimizing release of greenhouse gases and other substances damaging to health and the environment.

UNOPS is committed to sustainable procurement and ensures that environmental and health considerations are taken into account wherever possible during tender evaluation. The Annual Statistical Report on UN Procurement 2008, published by UNOPS, contains a supplement on sustainable procurement. The supplement provides an overview of the current debate and latest policy developments.