About

Created in 1874, the Universal Postal Union is an intergovernmental organization of 191 member countries. It is also the United Nations specialized agency for international postal services since 1948. The UPU is the main forum for cooperation among governments, Posts and other postal sector stakeholders. The organization’s mission is to develop social, cultural and business communication between people through effective postal services. It also plays a role in constantly modernizing such services.

With over 600 000 post offices worldwide, the postal sector operates the largest physical distribution network on the planet. Some 600 000 vehicles, 250 000 motorcycles and countless airplanes, covering billions of kilometres every year, are used daily to deliver the mail. What’s more, the post offices and 5.5 million postal employees consume electricity, water and paper, which all have an impact on the environment.

Strategy

Postal sector stakeholders are working to find ways to reduce this impact. Many Posts already use electric vehicles, while others have rationalized delivery routes or made their buildings more environmentally-friendly.

The UPU is convinced that the postal sector is part of the solution in the fight against climate change. That’s why it has been committed to protecting the environment for many years.

The UPU works closely with its member countries and international and UN organizations to determine the impact of postal activities on the environment and climate change. In 2008, the Union boosted its relations with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with a new partnership. UNEP has helped the UPU to establish a methodology for developing an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions produced by Posts and help it assist others in reducing the impact of their postal activities on the environment. The UPU has joined the initiative “Sustainable United Nations”, with the goal of becoming a climate neutral organization.

Its Environment and Sustainable Development Group has undertaken many activities to better share knowledge, resources and best practices among member countries. In addition, sub-groups are studying how the postal sector could better utilize renewable energies and how to promote the use of alternative vehicles for mail delivery.

Assessing the sector’s global footprint

The UPU’s global inventory of greenhouse gas emissions produced by Posts worldwide is an important step in the response against climate change. Close to 100 countries have provided the data to produce this inventory and more are expected to follow suit. The aim is to analyze the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions produced by Posts. A simplified guide will soon assist more countries in collecting and quantifying the greenhouse gas emissions generated by postal activities.

The UPU expects to present the results of this very first inventory of the global postal sector’s carbon footprint during the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December. As a UN family member, the UPU will be an observer at the conference.

The results of the inventory will enable the UPU to develop a range of measures, adapted to different types of countries, to help the Posts reduce their carbon footprint. The UPU’s aim is to encourage the transfer of technology and know-how among countries.

At the same time, the UPU is collaborating with other regional postal organizations to establish a common standard to ensure that all Posts operating in comparable contexts use a similar methodology to calculate their greenhouse gas emissions.

Going climate neutral

The International Bureau, the UPU headquarters in Berne, has established an inventory of its own greenhouse gas emissions. In 2008, the Union Secretariat produced 1 500 tons of CO2. Energy and paper consumption account for 48 per cent of these emissions, while official travel represents 29 per cent and staff commuting, 23 per cent. The UN Environment Management Group will present these results and those of other UN agencies, funds and programmes to the Chief Executive Board.

At the International Bureau:

•Staff received UNEP-led training on green purchasing to help them lessen the environmental impact of activities at headquarters and in the field;
•The headquarters building will be renovated in an effort to slash energy bills by 58 per cent;
•A policy will be developed to ensure that staff travelling on missions use the most ecological means of transportation;
•Lighting throughout the building has been replaced, and motion sensors installed, with expected energy savings of 70 per cent;
•Paper and office supplies are either recycled or FSC-certified;
•Returned international reply coupons are sent to be pulped into paper towels; and
•Videoconferencing facilities have been installed, with the aim of reducing the need for long-haul travel to the International Bureau.


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