Environmental Impact of UN Peace Operations – from Ambition to Action

20 January, 2025

Side Event

Date: Friday, 31 January 2025, 1:15 – 2:45 pm

Place: CR-6, UN Headquarters & online (UN Web TV)

Agenda

Welcome remarks by Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council
Introduction by Mr. Atul Khare, Under-Secretary General for Operational Support, Department of Operational Support
Lessons from the ground by Ms. Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of MONUSCO
Examples of good practice by Colonel Robert Šipec, Energy Efficiency and Green Transition Division Head, Logistics Directorate, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia
Interventions by the Co-Sponsors:
- Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to the UN
- Ambassador Maurizio Massari, Permanent Representative of Italy to the UN
- Colonel Axel Jancke, Military Advisor at the Permanent Mission of Germany to the UN
- Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the UN
Q & A session

Peacekeeping represents a significant share of the UN’s overall emissions, accounting for 87 % of the UN Secretariat’s greenhouse gas emissions and 48 % of the entire UN system’s emissions. Concerns about the environmental impact of UN peace operations have been steadily growing over the years. Many peace operations are deployed in remote and conflict-affected areas where infrastructure is often inadequate or damaged through conflicts. Consequently, these missions must be predominantly self-sufficient, particularly in terms of energy, water, and waste management, which contributes to their considerable environmental footprint and increased operational vulnerabilities. If not effectively managed, this footprint can pose risks to personnel, host communities, ecosystems, as well as the reputation of the UN.

By adopting greener practices, guided by “The Way Forward: Environment Strategy for Peace Operations 2023-2030”, missions can significantly reduce the strain on host countries and foster stronger relationships with local communities. This is especially critical in conflict-affected regions, where environmental degradation caused by war has already taken a toll. Transition to renewable energy systems also improves operational resilience, reducing the missions’ dependency on fuel supplies. If implemented as part of wider, comprehensive UN approach, it can contribute to more effective peace operations and greater safety and security of the Blue Helmets.

This event will highlight progress in environmental management within military and peacekeeping contexts, including advancements in impact and emissions reporting. It will also examine the challenges of decarbonizing the sector and outline a pathway for addressing environmental impacts and emissions.

Discussions on this topic, held through high-level engagements at the 2023 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Accra, the 2024 UN Security Council Open Debate on “Strengthening Peacekeeping: Reflections for the Future,” and the COP29 side event on “Transparent Military Emissions Reporting and the Path to Military Decarbonization,” provided valuable opportunities for reflection. The event offers a platform for shaping new pledges and commitments in preparation for the 2025 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin.

Background

In 2007, the then-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon introduced the “Greening of the Blue” initiative, urging UN funds, programmes, and agencies to mitigate their carbon footprint. This was followed by specific calls by the Member States both through the General Assembly and the Security Council to include environmental management among the issues to be given special consideration by peacekeeping operations.

In 2016, the UN Department of Operational Support (DOS) launched its multi-year Environment Strategy for Field Missions, implementing it across two phases (2017-2020 and 2020-2023). This strategy aimed to facilitate the deployment of “responsible missions that achieve maximum efficiency in their use of natural resources and operate at minimum risk to people, societies and ecosystems; contributing to a positive impact on these wherever possible”. It was aimed at addressing a legacy of underperformance in this area – minimizing risk and maximizing efficiency across the board, while laying out priorities for innovation in the areas of renewable energy and positive legacy. In recognition of unique environmental considerations, the Environment Strategy was applied to peacekeeping operations (PKOs) and relevant special political missions (SPMs), in coherence with the broader context and initiatives in the UN system as they evolved.

In 2017, UN Security Council agreed on a press statement on Environmental Management of Peacekeeping Operations. The members of the Security Council were cognizant of the possible environmental impact of peacekeeping operations mandated by the Security Council. They underscored the importance that peacekeeping operations endeavour to minimize their impact on the sustainability of the ecosystems where they are deployed, based on sound consideration of the risks, benefits and costs. The members of the Security Council encouraged UN Member States to incorporate, as appropriate, environmental guidelines into their national training programs for military and police personnel in preparation for deployment to UN Peace Operations.

In the latter part of 2021, the Council started to focus more intensively on the energy efficiency aspect of peace operations, aligning with one of the core objectives of the DOS strategy. In August 2021, the Council issued a presidential statement regarding the integration of technology in peacekeeping operations. This statement endorsed endeavours by the Secretary-General and TCCs “to enable UN peacekeeping missions to increase the use of renewable energy technologies, which can enhance the safety and security of UN personnel, mission efficiency, and sustainability”.

On 29 June 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution acknowledging the progress made in implementing the 2017-2023 Environment Strategy and requesting the Secretary-General to consult with Member States to develop a “way forward” to ensure continuity of efforts beyond the initial strategy period. Building on the successes and lessons learned from 2017-2023, DOS issued The Way Forward: Environment Strategy for Peace Operations 2030 in February 2024.

This “living document” was developed through close consultation with Member States and incorporating substantive input from Member States, including the Group of Friends for Leading on Environmental Management in the Field (LEAF)—a group of 33 UN member states from all regional groups, along with one regional organization, which has played a key role in supporting the strategy’s implementation across field missions since its launch in 2018. The Way Forward builds on the five operational pillars established over the previous six years—energy, waste, water and wastewater, environmental management systems, and wider impact, with a strategic focus on ambition, responsibility, and positive legacy.

Today, the references to environmental management are included in practically all missions’ mandates, with the newly updated Environment Strategy for Peace Operations 2023-2030 reflected in UN Security Council resolutions 2729 (2024), 2759 (2024), 2760 (2024) and 2765 (2024) and therefore in the mandates of UNMISS, MINUSCA, UNISFA and MONUSCO, respectively.

Objectives

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations, in collaboration with the Permanent Missions of Bangladesh, Italy, Germany and the Republic of Korea, is convening the side event with the aim of:

reflecting on the achievements of the UN peace operations in reducing its environmental footprint and green-house gas emissions;
exploring ways in which positive environmental legacies can strengthen UN peacekeeping’s ability to deliver tangible and sustainable benefits for local communities;
examining how environmental responsibility contributes to the safety and security of peacekeepers;
discussing the transition to renewable energy systems in UN Missions and Troop- and Police Contributing Countries to enhance operational resilience;
encouraging the adoption and integration of advanced technologies to enhance environmental management;
increasing awareness of importance of comprehensive subject-specific training ahead of deployment of personnel;
fostering cross-sectoral partnership and strengthening collaboration with the scientific community and industry to optimize interoperability, improve efficiency, and reduce logistical and environmental impacts;
bringing together Member States, including Security Council members and Troop- and Police Contributing Countries, to strengthen collective support for the “Greening the Blue” initiative;
emphasizing the critical role of the Group of Friends for Leading on Environmental Management in the Field (LEAF) in advancing these goals;
considering new pledges and commitments in preparation for the 2025 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin.

Modalities

The side event will be chaired by H.E. Mr. Samuel Žbogar, Ambassador and Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council. All UN Member States and Permanent Observers, as well as UN and civil society organizations representatives are invited to participate.

Delegations are kindly invited to RSVP by Tuesday, 29 January 2024 COB at https://forms.gle/zSrRm2A5iXwYRbvG7.