The United Nations has committed to “walking the talk” on sustainability by applying the environmental and social principles it promotes externally to the way it manages its own operations, programmes and projects.
For many years, the EMG has provided a platform for UN entities to develop common approaches to internal sustainability. This work has evolved from early efforts on sustainable procurement and climate neutrality to a broader system-wide approach covering environmental performance, organizational management, programming and environmental and social standards.
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The EMG’s work on internal sustainability dates back to the early 2000s, when UN entities began working together on issues such as sustainable procurement and climate neutrality. This gradually developed into a broader effort to make sustainability a more systematic part of how the UN manages its operations and delivers its work.
In 2007, the UN adopted a system-wide approach to climate neutrality, followed by work on sustainability management, common greenhouse gas accounting and environmental performance reporting. This operational work continues today through the Greening the Blue initiative, which supports UN entities in measuring and reducing the environmental impacts of their facilities and operations and reports on progress across the UN system.
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UN Sustainability Strategy 2020–2030
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The Strategy for Sustainability Management in the United Nations System 2020–2030 provides a common framework for integrating environmental and social sustainability across the UN system. It comprises two complementary phases endorsed by the UN Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB):
- Phase I: Environmental Sustainability in the Area of Management (2019) focuses on reducing the environmental impacts of UN operations through shared goals and coordinated implementation adapted to each organization.
- Phase II: Towards Leadership in Environmental and Social Sustainability (2021) extends sustainability principles across management, programmes and partnerships, strengthening coherence and accountability.
EMG Senior Officials have called on UN entities to embed the Strategy in their organizational strategies and programmes of work.
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Environmental and Social Standards for UN Programming
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In 2019, the EMG developed the Model Approach to Environmental and Social Standards for UN Programming. The Model Approach provides a common set of environmental and social benchmarks and processes that UN entities can use when developing or updating their own safeguards and standards.
UN entities can voluntarily align their standards with the Model Approach while taking account of their individual mandates, programme and risk-management systems and other institutional policies. The aim is to promote greater consistency, efficiency and accountability across UN programming while ensuring that the principles promoted by the UN are reflected in the way its own work is delivered.
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Continuing system-wide collaboration
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At their 30th meeting in 2024, EMG Senior Officials requested EMG members to explore options for identifying a host entity, or entities, to coordinate implementation of Phase II of the UN Sustainability Strategy at system-wide level, and to report back at their 31st meeting.
While a system-wide host for Phase II has not been identified, collaboration among UN organizations continues. A number of UN entities have established UNESSnet — the Network of United Nations Focal Points for the Environmental and Social Sustainability of Programmes. UNESSnet provides a forum for practitioners across the UN system to exchange knowledge and experience on strengthening the environmental and social sustainability of UN-led and UN-supported programmes and projects.
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Walking the talk
