2050Today Members
GAHP – Global Alliance on Health and Pollution
Signatory institution of the 2050Today Charter
Contribution to climate action
The Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) addresses pollution issues that critically impact health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Pollution exacerbates the triple planetary crisis and climate change. GAHP employs a multisectoral approach to tackle these interconnected challenges effectively.
Thematic actions
Biodiversity
GAHP collaborates with local governments to develop infrastructure and policies for managing hazardous and chemical waste, aiming to prevent contamination of air, soil, and water.
GAHP protects biodiversity by tackling pollution and environmental degradation that threaten ecosystems. Its initiatives reduce harmful pollutants like heavy metals, pesticides, and pollution, which damage habitats and disrupt ecosystems. By promoting sustainable practices in agriculture, waste management, and industry, GAHP helps mitigate climate change, preserve natural habitats, and support ecosystem restoration, ensuring biodiversity is protected for future generations.
Energy
GAHP addresses energy challenges by promoting sustainable practices. We have initiatives in the management of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) in Latin America and open burning in Vietnam. Through circular economy principles, GAHP supports the recycling of battery components, reducing lead emissions and preventing informal dismantling. This approach contributes to cleaner energy solutions, as seen in Brazil’s recent policy change, which lowers production costs, reduces market prices, and curbs the trafficking of contaminated materials in South America.
Additionally, GAHP advocates for transitioning from open burning, a wasteful energy practice, to reduce emissions, improve health, and foster cleaner energy systems.
Food
GAHP collaborates with agricultural communities to reduce harmful practices like open burning of crop residues and excessive pesticide use, which threaten food safety and public health. In Vietnam, the Environmental Pollution Program (EPP) educates farmers on sustainable alternatives and healthier farming practices, promoting safer food production and long-term ecosystem restoration. By addressing toxic pollutants like lead and mercury, GAHP also indirectly strengthens the safety of food supply chains.
Mobility
GAHP promotes sustainable mobility by maintaining a predominantly remote workforce, reducing daily commutes and energy consumption. Most employees work remotely and prioritize virtual meetings, minimizing the carbon footprint of travel. The Geneva secretariat remains small, working up to 40% from home, with project experts employed locally in their respective countries. The Geneva Secretariat prioritizes the use of public transportation to reach the office.
GAHP also supports flexible work arrangements, allowing employees to choose between remote work and co-working spaces. When travel is necessary, GAHP tries to compensate for the carbon footprint through taxes, further reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. This approach enhances work-life balance while reducing energy use and promoting eco-friendly operations.
Sustainable IT
GAHP’s approach to Sustainable IT integrates energy-efficient technologies, supports remote work to reduce commuting emissions, and ensures responsible e-waste management. The organization advocates for sustainable IT practices within its partner networks, encouraging energy-efficient solutions and responsible recycling. For example, GAHP has implemented an e-waste initiative in Azerbaijan as part of its Health and Pollution Action Plan.
Additionally, GAHP supports digital tools that contribute to sustainability, such as satellite imagery of open burning in Vietnam under the Environmental Pollution Program (EPP), helping to monitor environmental impacts and promote sustainable practices. On a daily basis, GAHP’s IT system is designed to reduce environmental impact by storing all documents in an electronic shared archive, eliminating the need for printing and mailing.
Waste management
GAHP actively supports sustainable waste management practices to address the harmful effects of improper waste disposal on health and the environment. A key focus is integrating circular economy principles into waste management to mitigate risks from hazardous waste, including e-waste, which often contains lead, mercury, sulfuric acid, contaminated plastics, and other toxic substances. These contaminants disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, particularly children, through environmental exposure and pose a threat to ecosystems.
In collaboration with local governments and stakeholders from relevant sectors, GAHP works to develop and promote integrated waste management systems. One of our largest initiatives is in Latin America, where GAHP has been mandated by MERCOSUR countries to facilitate dialogue on Used Lead-Acid Batteries (ULABs), leading to recent significant policy achievements. GAHP also runs awareness campaigns to educate the public on the dangers of burning or improperly disposing of waste and advocates for safer recycling practices. This year, GAHP partnered with SIG in Geneva to illuminate the Jet d’Eau in green on “Zero Waste” Day (30th of March 2025) to raise awareness.
Footprint and emissions by scope
2050Today’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions measurement methodology follows the GHG Protocol. The Protocol provides standards and guidance for organizations to measure and manage climate-warming emissions. It was created in 1998 through a partnership between the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
According to the GHG Protocol, the distribution of emissions is done by scopes:
Scope 1 represents direct emissions linked to the consumption of fossil fuels.
Scope 2 represents indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating and cooling consumed by the reporting company.
Scope 3 includes all other indirect emissions that occur in a company’s value chain (i.e. purchased good or services, business travel, employee commuting).
The 2050Today carbon footprint takes into account the reported emissions generated by the activities of the institution over one year and is divided by categories:
Energy and water
It takes into account the amount of the consumed electricity produced and purchased by the institution. The energy consumed to heat and/or cool the institution’s building area and the consumed water are included as well.
Mobility
It takes into consideration business travels and commuting (on a survey basis).
Food
The CO2 impact of food includes the catering of the institution and individual consumption (on a survey basis) during working hours.
Purchased goods
The perimeter of purchased goods is set to a list of new office equipment, new mobility equipment (vehicles) and construction materials.
Waste
The perimeter of the waste inventory is set to waste production from facilities and internal operations of the institution
It has to be noted that the collected data of the 2050Today members resulting in each carbon footprint are not yet fully standardized and might not be entirely complete. Data collection is being progressively harmonized and improved. Therefore, direct comparisons between tCO2 / employee among institutions – be it in general or per sector – are not yet possible nor relevant.
To ensure the reliability, the accuracy and a recurrent updating of the carbon footprint assessment, 2050Today is advised by an international Carbon Footprint Scientific Committee.
Carbon Footprint
The carbon footprint is being calculated and will be published here in due course
