were flown in from elsewhere in the world. The materials used in these structures (metal,
wood) were not well adapted to the hot climate, requiring additional energy consumption for
heating/cooling, which augmented carbon consumption and overall environmental impact.
If a strategy of regenerative sustainability had been pursued instead, the missions would be
able to contribute more to the nearby cities (in this case, Bamako and Gao) instead of
draining limited resources.
In recent years, especially as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2015
Paris Agreement on climate change have put more global focus on environmental issues,
the UN has spearheaded several initiatives to address the environmental impact of its
operations. The United Nations did not focus on the environmental impact of its operations
until the 2000s. In 2009, an Environmental Policy was developed, requiring each UN peace
operation to appoint an environmental officer and establish an environmental policy. The
UN mission in Mali in 2013 was the first UN peacekeeping mission given a direct mandate
to address the environmental impact of its operations. In 2017, the UN Department of Field
Services created an Environment Strategy, focusing on improving sectors of energy, water
and wastewater, solid waste, wider impact, and environmental management systems
(EMS). By January 2018, there were environmental units in ten UN missions (including
MINUSCA, UNSOS, MINUJUSTH, MINUSMA, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNAMID, UNMISS,
MONUSCO, and UNIFIL).
In accordance with the DFS Environment Strategy, several missions have had positive
environmental successes in recent years, as noted in “Environmental Good Practice” (DFS,
November 2017):
Energy: The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) began a program in 2015 to
reduce its environmental impact by insulating 80% of its office buildings in Erbil,
upgrading 60% of air conditioning units and 70% of lighting to more energy-efficient
models. In ten months, as much as $500,000 was saved and as much as 2-3 years
for energy demand reduction.
Water and wastewater: In January 2017, the African Union/United Nations Hybrid
Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) implemented an injection well connected to a waste-
water treatment plant. This style of well reduces risks of disease from standing
water. Furthermore, given the scarcity of water in this region, this well helps
minimize waste of water because excess water goes to recharging tree plantations
instead of evaporating.
Solid waste: UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has supported the
local economy through recycling solid waste. Local companies were contracted to
recycle the waste, dividing it into different products (cardboard vs. plastic, etc.) that
are used to produce toilet paper and PVC pipes which are then sold at the market.
Wider impact: As the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) drew to a close on
30 June 2017, the mission attempted to restore the environment prior to departure.
It remediated and treated contaminated soil from mission generators as well as
improved a waste disposal site used by the mission and local community in the
municipality of Daloa, extending the life of a landfill by over a decade.
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