Posts emitted an estimated 54.25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2009, according to the UPU’s latest survey on carbon emissions.
Data on emissions from postal vehicles and buildings, airfreight, subcontractors and employee travel were collected from 122 member countries. Posts from industrialized countries were responsible for 69 per cent of the total or 37.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Globally, vehicles accounted for the bulk of such emissions at 31.5 per cent, followed by buildings (26.5 per cent) and airfreight (22 per cent).
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, greenhouse gas emissions worldwide total some 38 billion tonnes. This would mean that Posts worldwide account for an estimated 0.15 per cent of the global total.
Strategic baseline
Using the results as a baseline, the UPU will develop a strategy to help Posts reduce their impact on the environment.
Discussions are currently taking place during the Union’s Postal Operations Council annual session, where the latest results were unveiled to member countries. To start the ball rolling, the UPU also presented best practices from Posts around the world, which have already started to ‘green’ their operations.
For its part, the UPU’s secretariat, the International Bureau, has also calculated its own carbon footprint for 2009 as part of the Sustainable United Nations initiative. The secretariat emitted some 1,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide during this period. The bulk emanated from its headquarters (45 per cent), followed by missions (25 per cent) and staff commuting to and from work (24 per cent).