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More than twenty years ago, Kofi Annan warned : “Science tells us that if we do not take the right action now, climate change will bring havoc, even within our lifetime” and that “unless action is taken on climate change, sustainable development will not be achieved.”. We have waited far too long to take action. Young people all over the world are already struggling with the impact of our leaders’ inability to reduce GHG emissions meaningfully. The Kofi Annan Foundation is very pleased, therefore, to be part of the 2050Today initiative, which is focused on immediate, concrete and continuous reduction measures. We will do our part !
The Kofi Annan Foundation is strongly committed to climate action, especially as climate change has direct consequences for many of the areas on which the Foundation works, such as peace, democracy, and hunger. The Kofi Annan Foundation is also actively involved in promoting several roadmaps for climate action, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement. In this context, the Foundation aims to reduce the carbon emissions associated with its activities in Geneva by 2030. To achieve this, the Kofi Annan Foundation is taking actions, with a particular focus on mobility, sustainable IT, and waste management. All employees participate in these actions and adopt behaviors that help to achieve the Foundation’s climate objectives.
The Foundation rents premises in a building managed by FIPOI. Within the limited space and the restrictions related to the tenancy conditions, the Foundation has potted plants in its office to reduce carbon dioxide levels and thereby help reduce the amount of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. While the impact of houseplants on global carbon dioxide levels may be small, every little bit counts when it comes to fighting climate change. The Foundation is also proud to host on its terrace the nesting spot for a family of common kestrel. Every spring the birds return, and several are born on our terrace!
As a tenant, the Foundation has limited influence on energy-related decisions, but the building will soon be connected to the GeniLac network, which will reduce energy-related emissions. The Foundation continuously reminds its employees to practice good daily habits such as switching off lights, computers and printers at the end of each workday, and has installed a timer for the shared printer/scanner.
The Foundation does not have a cafeteria, and most employees do not consume meat during lunchtime meals. Furthermore, when events/receptions are organized, meat is not offered.Most employees bring their own lunch thereby reducing single use plastic and single use packaging. Benefitting from the safe drinkable tap water in Geneva the Foundation stopped providing bottled mineral water in January 2022.
At the Kofi Annan Foundation, employees demonstrate exemplary commuting habits, with the majority opting for bicycles and public transport to reach the workplace. Electric car drivers benefit from charging facilities in the parking lot. Additionally, most staff work from home at an average of 2 days per work week, effectively curbing mobility-related emissions. The Foundation actively pursues strategies to mitigate aviation emissions, although certain flightsremain unavoidable given its global mandate. Travel policy requires employees to travel in economy class. Discussions are underway regarding the feasibility of utilizing trains for intra-European journeys, such as from Geneva to Brussels or Vienna. These sustainable initiatives not only reduce the Foundation’s carbon footprint but also set a precedent for eco-friendly workplaces in Geneva.
The Kofi Annan Foundation is committed to keeping computer equipment beyond its usual lifespan, thus avoiding unnecessary carbon emissions by purchasing new hardware when it is not needed. It recycles or seeks to give a second life to old equipment. Notably, following the migration to Microsoft 365, several obsolete/outdated portable computers were donated to associations in low-income countries.
Waste is sorted into separate bins for household waste, paper and cardboard, glass, aluminum and plastic. Stickers are posted to remind employees to sort waste. The Foundation uses glasses and ceramic cups for coffee and tea. It also provides reusable plates and cutlery that are not plastic/paper for use in the office. This way, emissions related to waste are minimal.
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.
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