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The Permanent Mission of Switzerland integrates the importance of reducing the carbon footprint of its operations in all areas of its work. Various measures are therefore implemented to ensure positive impacts in reducing CO2 emissions. These measures refer to all sectors that impact the carbon footprint of the Mission’s activities, including energy, mobility, food, recycling and waste reduction, as well as new equipment.
FOOD
Vegetarian menus and the use of local and seasonal products are promoted at the Mission’s receptions and events. The use of plastic bottles has been reduced to a minimum, in favour of glass and cardboard recipients. Mission staff are also encouraged to adopt an emission-reducing practice for individual consumption during working hours.
MOBILITY
The Mission promotes the use of soft mobility for urban travel, such as public transport, bicycles, electric bikes and walking. Electric bicycles are provided for business use. With the return to a normalised situation, teleworking will continue to be implemented on a part-time basis to reduce commuting. For participation in events abroad, the Mission asks its members to take into consideration the impact of CO2 emissions. In line with the flight reduction policy of the Swiss Federal Administration, the use of the train is the priority when travelling in Europe.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
The Mission has set up sorting centres to ensure better recycling and reduce the proportion of waste. All members are encouraged to keep printing to a minimum and to send and receive documents electronically.
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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