The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
UNOPS launches ambitious Climate Strategy to accelerate climate action
Through its dedicated Climate Strategy, UNOPS furthers its commitment to advancing climate action – across its global operations, within our projects and with our partners.
Ahead of the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), to be held from 10-21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, UNOPS has officially launched its dedicated Climate Strategy (2025-2029). Developed under UNOPS Climate Action Programme, the comprehensive strategy represents UNOPS strong commitment to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and embed climate resilience targets across its global operations and projects.
Serving as a strategic roadmap, the Climate Strategy aims to accelerate global climate action, aligning UNOPS operations with international climate and development goals – including the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while strengthening capacity to implement climate-resilient, sustainable development around the world.
“UNOPS commitment to climate action starts from within. Through our Climate Strategy, we have a strong roadmap for reducing our carbon footprint and embedding resilience into all aspects of our work. This strengthens our ability to deliver climate-resilient development that benefits communities worldwide,” said UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva.
With a focus on practical solutions, we’re supporting the UN family and our partners to bridge the implementation gap and advance multilateral climate action, to deliver tangible impact for people and the planet.
UNOPS Climate Strategy is underpinned by five guiding principles: promoting a just transition; sustainably financing climate initiatives; aligning with national and regional climate goals; integrating climate and operational excellence with partners; and fostering a growth and learning mindset.
Together with UNOPS Strategic Plan (2026-2029), the Climate Strategy builds on previous commitments made by UNOPS during COP28. Mitigation and adaptation targets will address both direct emissions and those from within our value chain, driving change across UNOPS projects, our internal offices and operations, and with our partners and suppliers.
UNOPS pledges in the strategy include:
Reducing corporate emissions by 45 per cent by 2030, and achieving net-zero before 2050
Reducing energy use across our operations and offering more energy-efficient solutions in the projects we implement
Integrating sustainable procurement and circular economy principles
Tackling emissions in our supply chains, including Scope 3 value chain emissions
Integrating climate risk screening in all UNOPS infrastructure projects
Promoting nature-based infrastructure
Increasing the climate resilience of our operations and personnel across around 200 offices globally
Strong collaboration with our partners is a cornerstone of these efforts. Through the strategy, UNOPS will exchange climate knowledge and best practices, map project risks, integrate climate and biodiversity data, and engage suppliers to develop low-carbon and resilient supply chains. By 2030, it is expected that 95 per cent of UNOPS strategic suppliers will have emission reduction plans in place.
“UNOPS Climate Strategy marks a significant step forward in transforming our climate commitments into actionable outcomes across our operations,” said Samantha Stratton-Short, Head of UNOPS Strategic Advice and Support unit – Infrastructure and Project Management Group, and UNOPS Climate Action Programme Manager.
“From reducing our own emissions to designing low-carbon, climate-compatible infrastructure, we’re supporting a more sustainable and resilient future for communities around the world,” she added.
