Guest Post by Willis Eschenbach
The United Nations, progenitor of a thousand agencies, has released a report called “MOVING TOWARDS A CLIMATE NEUTRAL UN” regarding its success in reducing its own “carbon footprint” (full version , summary). The Head Prophet of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, has revealed the mysteries to us unwashed masses as follows:
We are making steady progress. In March, the main UN website launched a new section offering a wide range of information on the Organization’s sustainability performance. In April, I opened the new UN building in Nairobi – a beacon of sustainable construction. In May, a new position – UN Senior Advisor on Sustainability – was created to coordinate the Secretariat’s work on climate neutrality. In August, I presented the UN21 Award to the UN Environment Programme and the Department of Field Support for their efforts to green the UN. And in September, senior officials of the inter-agency Environment Management Group approved a Strategic Plan for Sustainability Management in the UN system.
The United Nations system is strongly committed to leading by example and ensuring that our operations are continuously monitored and improved – not just in terms of what we deliver, but also how we deliver.
Figure 1. A sheep contemplates the UN report whilst providing natural fertilizer for the flowers.
That all sounds wonderful … now, let’s parse his claims.
Here are the successes that he highlights:
1. The UN website launched a new section of its website, called “Greening the Blue“. It seems to be dedicated to the proposition that if you can’t do it yourself, you should tell others to do it.
2. A new UN building in Nairobi, Kenya, has 6,000 square feet of solar panels on the roof, and is rated (not measured but rated) at 515 kilowatts of power. No word on the cost, but it looks like a bureaucrat’s palace …
3. They have created a new bureaucratic position, “UN Senior Advisor on Sustainability”, at the usual high rate of pay and perks. This is in addition to their existing positions, such as the “Senior Advisor on Sustainable Development”, and the “Technical Advisor,Population & Sustainable Development”, and the “Advisor on Sustainable Water Development and Management”, and the “Second Committee Advisor on Sustainable Development”, and the “Consultant, Gender, Climate Change and Sustainable Development”, and …
The Senior Advisor post has been filled by a woman named Julie MacKenzie. Prior to this position, she had been an Environmental Management Coordinator and Climate Neutrality Advisor” for the FAO and an “Adviser” of an unspecified flavor for the UNEP. I cannot find a biography … classic faceless bureaucrat.
4. Mr. Ki-moon handed out a prize to one of the UN programmes for being really really good guys.
5. They put together a “Strategic Plan”, which is no doubt very strategic, and probably chock-full of brilliant plans.
6. He said that the UN is committed to leading by example … do you feel better now?
You may notice that in all of that, Mr. Ki-moon neglected to point out how much the UN has reduced their CO2 emissions …
…
…
… and there is a very good reason for him saying nothing about that:
UN CO2 emissions in 2009: 1.7 million tonnes.
UN CO2 emissions in 2010: 1.8 million tonnes
So if they didn’t reduce their emissions in the slightest, what did they do?
Well, they held a photo competition looking for “images reflecting the theme ‘Visions of a sustainable UN’ “. Here’s the winner:
That works, shut the lid and be done with the UN, sounds eminently sustainable to me …
w.
PS—There was one other achievement noted in their report, viz:
Once again, the UN office at Geneva invited hundreds of sheep to graze the grasslands surrounding the Palais des Nations. The sheep cut the grass in an ecologically sustainable manner whilst providing natural fertilizer for the grass and flowers to grow in spring.
“Whilst”? Who says “whilst” these days? In any case, trust the UN to boast about inventing animal husbandry …
How does one invite a sheep?
I suspect there is another transaction involved – as there is a herder at the other end. They’re not feral sheep…. ;-D
The UN spending money on itself……I’m shocked
Before we feed the poor, help with wars, etc……we need a new facility
Chuck Nolan,
Go ahead and use it, it’s interesting. Brit/Yank speech is separated by a common language, per Sir Winston. I even notice differences between usage in Northern and Southern California speak.
tokyoboy,
Thanks for the clarification. I always thought “Ban Ki-Moon” meant “You got it; we want it”.
steveta_uk says:
April 28, 2012 at 4:45 am
They must use less fuel, they’re sitting further back in the plane …
Nice find, Steve.
w.
tokyoboy says:
April 28, 2012 at 6:20 am
Hey, tokyoboy, good to hear from you. I was going to refer to Mr. Ban as the organ grinder’s Moon-ki … but then I realized it would be an insult to both monkeys and organ grinders …
w.
imoira says:
April 28, 2012 at 6:29 am
I’d seen that, imoira, and I thought “go Tennessee!” …
w.
Latitude says:
April 28, 2012 at 6:37 am
And not just any new facility …
w.
Willis
I think you meant 6000 square meters instead of 6000 square feet.
Richard Hanson
Now they must fill that new building with bureaucrats. No word on salaries:
Vacancies in Nairobi, Kenya. They seem to be housing a lot of NGOs. The list contains a few duplicates but some listings are for multiple openings.
Country director, Nairobi
Habitat for Humanity International
Closing Date: Friday, 01 June 2012
Finance Assistant, Nairobi (G-5)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Closing Date: Sunday, 29 April 2012
Consultant for security assessment, Nairobi (with regular travel in the region)
Save the Children
Closing Date: Friday, 11 May 2012
Environmental Health (WASH) Technical Advisor, Nairobi
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Closing Date: Tuesday, 01 May 2012
Field Researcher, Kenya
Voluntary Service Overseas
Closing Date: Monday, 30 April 2012
Regional Coordinator of Emergency and Recovery Programme
in East Africa, Nairobi CBM
Closing Date: Friday, 04 May 2012
Area manager kakuma, Kenya
Norwegian Refugee Council
Closing Date: Friday, 04 May 2012
Operations and Office Administration Manager, Kenya
ACDI/VOCA
Closing Date: Friday, 11 May 2012
Chief of Translation Unit (Senior Reviser), Nairobi (P-5)
United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)
Closing Date: Saturday, 26 May 2012
Technical Advisor for Economic Development and Market Engagement,
Kenya CARE USA
Closing Date: Saturday, 12 May 2012
Regional Administrator, Nairobi
CESVI – Cooperazione e Sviluppo Onlus
Closing Date: Monday, 30 April 2012
Country Director, Nairobi
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Closing Date: Thursday, 24 May 2012
Financial management analyst, Nairobi (SB-4)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Closing Date: Friday, 04 May 2012
Administrative associate, Nairobi
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Closing Date: Tuesday, 01 May 2012
Administrative associate (common services), Nairobi
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Closing Date: Tuesday, 01 May 2012
Administrative associate, Nairobi
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Closing Date: Tuesday, 01 May 2012
Administrative associate, Nairobi
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Closing Date: Tuesday, 01 May 2012
JPO – Genetic resources and food security policy specialist, Nairobi
Bioversity International
Closing Date: Sunday, 20 May 2012
Regional Advisor, Nairobi
US Agency for International Development
Closing Date: Friday, 11 May 2012
Associate Programme Officer, Nairobi (P-2)
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Closing Date: Saturday, 28 April 2012
Chief, Security and Safety Services, Nairobi (D-1)
United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)
Closing Date: Sunday, 06 May 2012
Budget and finance assistant, Nairobi (G-7)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Closing Date: Thursday, 24 May 2012
Child Protection in Emergency in Eastern and Southern Africa, consultant, Nairobi
UN Children’s Fund
Closing Date: Wednesday, 02 May 2012
Finance and administration officer, Nairobi
Independent Medico Legal Unit
Closing Date: Monday, 30 April 2012
Senior health finance advisor, Nairobi
Futures Group
Closing Date: Thursday, 17 May 2012
Internship, Nairobi
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Closing Date: Monday, 31 December 2012
Area representative, central Somalia, Nairobi
Save the Children
Closing Date: Saturday, 05 May 2012
Analyst emerging and good practices related to ICT,
learning and skills development, Nairobi GESCI
Closing Date: Sunday, 29 April 2012
Leadership, Management and Governance Project Advisor, Nairobi
Management Sciences for Health (MSH)
Closing Date: Saturday, 05 May 2012
Senior Project Advisor for Leadership, Management and Governance, Nairobi
Management Sciences for Health (MSH)
Closing Date: Saturday, 05 May 2012
Program Officer, Nairobi
Freedom House
Closing Date: Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Economist (human development), Nairobi
The World Bank
Closing Date: Wednesday, 02 May 2012
Women protection and empowerment program coordinator, Nairobi
International Rescue Committee
Closing Date: Monday, 07 May 2012
Programme support officer, Kenya
Danish Refugee Council
Closing Date: Sunday, 13 May 2012
Chief, Finance Services Unit, Nairobi (P-4)
United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)
Closing Date: Friday, 11 May 2012
Procurement and Office Manager, Kenya
ACDI/VOCA
Closing Date: Tuesday, 08 May 2012
Programme manager, Nairobi
Co-operation for the Development of Emerging Countries
Closing Date: Friday, 11 May 2012
Financial management analyst, Nairobi
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Closing Date: Friday, 04 May 2012
Adaptation learning programme – Mid term evaluation,
Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and Niger CARE
Closing Date: Monday, 07 May 2012
Program Associate, Nairobi
Freedom House
Closing Date: Monday, 28 May 2012
JPO – Associate scientist, understanding and using genetic
diversity to increase food security, Kenya
Bioversity International
Closing Date: Sunday, 20 May 2012
Consultant for the Fahamu Pan-African Fellowship Program Evaluation,
Kenya Fahamu
Closing Date: Tuesday, 01 May 2012
Project Director, Nairobi
Freedom House
Closing Date: Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Administrative Officer, Nairobi (P-3)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Closing Date: Monday, 11 June 2012
Civil engineer, multiple positions in various locations, Kenya (IICA-3)
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Closing Date: Monday, 30 April 2012
Civil engineer, multiple positions in various locations, Kenya (IICA-2)
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Closing Date: Monday, 30 April 2012
Financial analyst, Nairobi
Agency for Co-operation and Research in Development (ACORD)
Closing Date: Monday, 07 May 2012
Documents assistant (supervisor), Nairobi (G-7)
United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)
Closing Date: Sunday, 20 May 2012
Governance Specialist, Nairobi
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Closing Date: Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Consultancy – HIV global learning review, Bahamas, China,
Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Russia, Tanzania,
Ukraine and Vietnam
American Red Cross
Closing Date: Sunday, 13 May 2012
Regional Program and Data Officer – East Africa Regional Resource Center, Nairobi ((LP) 5)
African Development Bank (AfDB)
Closing Date: Tuesday, 01 May 2012
Regional Administrator, Nairobi
CESVI – Cooperazione e Sviluppo Onlus
Closing Date: Monday, 30 April 2012
Program Development Director, Business Development Unit, Nairobi
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Closing Date: Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Regional Administrator, Nairobi
CESVI – Cooperazione e Sviluppo Onlus
Closing Date: Monday, 30 April 2012
Chief of Translation Unit, Nairobi (P-5)
United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)
Closing Date: Saturday, 26 May 2012
Chief human rights officer, Nairobi (P-5)
United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS)
Closing Date: Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Africa Regional Auditor, Nairobi
Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)
Closing Date: Sunday, 29 April 2012
Finance Manager, Kenya
ACDI/VOCA
Closing Date: Tuesday, 08 May 2012
Documentation of eradication of rinderpest from Somalia – Consultancy, Kenya
Somali Animal Health Services Project
Closing Date: Monday, 30 April 2012
GIS Manager, Nairobi
Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)
Closing Date: Sunday, 20 May 2012
Senior industry specialists – Agribusiness (Washington and Nairobi), TBD
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Closing Date: Monday, 07 May 2012
Safe house caseworker, Nairobi
Heshima Kenya
Closing Date: Sunday, 06 May 2012
Opportunity for Development Advisory Services in Fragile
and Conflict Affected States, Kenya KPMG
Closing Date: Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Governance Coordinator, Somalia Program, Nairobi
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Closing Date: Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Project Development Intern, Nairobi
Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)
Closing Date: Monday, 14 May 2012
Regional Program Development Officer, East Africa,
Nairobi Samaritan’s Purse
Closing Date: Monday, 30 April 2012
Protocol Officer/ Special Assistant, Nairobi (P-4)
United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)
Closing Date: Saturday, 28 April 2012
Chief human righs office, Somalia (P-5)
UN Political Office for Somalia
Closing Date: Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Administrative associate (common services), Nairobi (GS-6)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Closing Date: Tuesday, 01 May 2012
Administrative associate, Nairobi (GS-6)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Closing Date: Tuesday, 01 May 2012
Local security associate, Nairobi (LICA-4)
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Closing Date: Thursday, 17 May 2012
Finance assistant, Nairobi
Mulrany International
Closing Date: Friday, 11 May 2012
Senior policy advisor, Nairobi
Futures Group
Closing Date: Thursday, 17 May 2012
Regional Sales Representatives, Nairobi
IRES
Closing Date: Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Chief of Translation Unit (Senior Reviser), Nairobi (P-5)
United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)
Closing Date: Saturday, 26 May 2012
Chief of Translation Unit (Senior Reviser) (6 Posts), Nairobi (P-5)
United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)
Closing Date: Saturday, 26 May 2012
Deputy director, Nairobi (D-1)
Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS)
Closing Date: Sunday, 17 June 2012
Senior investment officer, agribusiness and forestry sector, Nairobi
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Closing Date: Sunday, 13 May 2012
Principal investment officer, agribusiness and forestry, Nairobi
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Closing Date: Sunday, 13 May 2012
Someone explain to me how long the UN would last without the US funding its scam?
Here is what Reuters reported on the UN backed COP Conference’s carbon footprint.
As Willis has pointed out they are making inroads into their c02 output – just increasing. 😉
Dear Mr Willis Eschenbach
Loved this post of yours. Especially the sheep drawing and the garbage container photo.
The photo reminded me of what they showed, in the 1960 film “savage innocents”, ( with Anthony Quinn and Peter O’Toole ) , about the inuits and their old way of managing the carbon footprint of their elders. Apparently, when a village elder reached 80, the village threw a farewell party for him (or her), and then, they left him (or her ) abandoned on the ice platform, for the polar bears to feed on.
Could that be the method the UN would like to put in place ?. Because, obviously we old people usually feel the cold more than the young, and are less productive, so we use more energy than we “deserve”.
The people inside the winning photo container look quite young, but that could be a “thin edge of the wedge” strategy, just to plant the idea on people’s minds that there are too many people, and that humanity would benefit by treating the surplus, ( namely, the elderly, the sick, the helpless, the ones with psychiatric problems ) like garbage.
Your old Spanish fan:
María Maestre
@DBCooper. Your post is a joke, right?
What is the UN´s carbon foot print?. My guess is that the best sustainability possible would be to get rid of this big carbon monster.
Here are the successes that he highlights:
1. The UN website launched a new section of its website, called “Greening the Blue“. It seems to be dedicated to the proposition that if you can’t do it yourself, you should tell others to do it.
2. A new UN building in Nairobi, Kenya, has 6,000 square feet of solar panels on the roof, and is rated (not measured but rated) at 515 kilowatts of power. No word on the cost, but it looks like a bureaucrat’s palace …
—————————————————————————
We will now apply all Carbon Credits, Carbon Offsets, Cap and Trade Restrictions, and Minimal Carbon Footprint Formula to the plans…
After all the “adjustments”, here is what the new sustainable building with solar panels and web server look like:
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/227/445381587_cef506eaa8_z.jpg
Ain’t sustainability just grand…
From Aviemore Scotland today.
Last Updated on: 28/04/2012 10:40
OUR CAR PARKS ARE NOW FULL. The number 31 bus brings you up here, it leaves Aviemore at 10 minutes past the hour, every hour.
HIGH AVALANCHE RISK ON THE HEAD WALL AND CORONATION WALL.
KEEP AWAY FROM THESE AREAS.
Top station weather – 6cm of fresh snow overnight, Temperature -5C, Minimal wind 5mph NNE. Fantastic conditions up here today with superb snow quality and sunshine!! Doesn’t get much better than this!
WUWT?
Bottom line: more jobs, larger system, more power.
It would have been funny if it wasn’t so sad,
imoira, I think we went through this drill earlier this week, but, do you have any references to the primary documents regarding UN Agenda 21?
‘Primary’ meaning references to the UN documents themselves (in particular, references to paragraphs or those particular ‘parts’ dealing with things like ‘land grabs’ and such), not somebody else’s (possibly slanted) interpretation.
Not that The New American (house organ for the John Birch Society and whose view on some things like “less government” I share) has taken a slanted view or anything …
.
_Jim says: April 28, 2012 at 8:21 am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agenda_21
http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/agenda21/
and all the primary documentation you could wish for:
http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/agenda21/res_agenda21_00.shtml
Marion says:
April 28, 2012 at 2:35 am
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/copenhagen-climate-change-confe/6736517/Copenhagen-climate-summit-1200-limos-140-private-planes-and-caviar-wedges.html
Which includes this paragraph:
“As well 15,000 delegates and officials, 5,000 journalists and 98 world leaders, the Danish capital will be blessed by the presence of Leonardo DiCaprio, Daryl Hannah, Helena Christensen, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Prince Charles. A Republican US senator, Jim Inhofe, is jetting in at the head of an anti-climate-change “Truth Squad.” The top hotels – all fully booked at £650 a night – are readying their Climate Convention menus of (no doubt sustainable) scallops, foie gras and sculpted caviar wedges.”
PLUS How many “security people, bodyguards, personal assistants, personal trainers, makeup advisors, etc……?”
“Read the literature. -gavin”
Thanks.
(The request was for “in particular, references to paragraphs or those particular ‘parts’ dealing with things like ‘land grabs’ and such”.)
.
Imagine sheep roaming and fertilizing the pristine Central Park in New York City and how that would work out. Probably OK if you never went to the park.
The UN plans to lead by example. They expect sacrifice in support of their goals from contributing sovereign nations but the UN has nothing invested in manufacturing, farming, mining, distribution and sales and in the lives of the unwashed so they can make no similar sacrifice. They, the UN, cannot possibly lead a sovereign nation and certainly not the unwashed.
The point is do we want to be ruled by unelected regulators or governed by elected representatives?
Regulations and rules that have not gone through and approved by representative process do not have the benefit of accountability to the public. In no way can a blank check to regulators be considered representation.
What is perfection and exists beyond reality? Zero defects, zero tolerance and Carbon neutral.
Oh my. You can’t make this stuff up to make them look more dumb. Those names for UN positions, now known by the readership here, paint this in the colors of elite budget busting liberal hogwash. I swear, if there is one last dollar on Earth to spend, a liberal will spend it. But I’ll be damned if I will stand by and let any of my hard earned taxes go to support the new “Administer of the Global Sustainable Green Earth Environmental Neutrality Initiative Muffin Society”.
I will never vote for liberalism again. If I can’t make my own way in life, for gawd’s sake all you bleeding heart liberals, don’t help me. I don’t need that kind of Earth Muffin Society help.
Q: “Whilst”? Who says “whilst” these days?
A: Brits.