Environmental Sustainability
The UN Sustainability Strategy 2020-2030 calls for all large UN events to be sustainable and climate neutral. Endorsed by Council in 2021 (C21/68), ITU has taken first steps towards this goal by implementing greening initiatives in recent events and aims to systematically integrate environmental and social considerations for all its future events.
With the help of the Government of Rwanda, here’s how we are aiming to make WTDC greener – and how you can support us.
| | Travel- Emissions from travel are responsible for the lion’s share of the event footprint.
- All delegates are asked to consider the environmental footprint of travelling to the event and to choose the most environmentally-friendly way, for example by train. Alternatively, consider car-sharing or, if flying is unavoidable, choose the most direct flights and economy class which emits less CO2 emissions than business class flights.
- Delegates, or their respective organization, are invited to offset their flight emissions. Emissions generated by air travel can for example be calculated using ICAO’s carbon emissions calculator and offset via UNFCCC’s climate neutral now platform.
ITU offsets the air travel greenhouse gas emissions of ITU staff travelling to WTDC in the context of its yearly Greenhouse Gas inventory. |
Waste- Rwanda strives to protect, safeguard and promote the environment. As part of an environmental protection policy, plastic bags are not allowed into Rwanda. Passengers entering Kigali International Airport, or any other border posts with plastic bags are required to discard them, and are supplied with an environmentally friendly alternative at a cost ranging between 2-6USD.
- In line with Decision 5 (Rev. Dubai, 2018), the World Telecommunication Development Conference will be conducted in a paperless manner. No paper copies of documents will be provided. WTDC documents are published on the Conference website in accordance with the ITU Information/document access policy, as adopted by the 2016 Session of Council.
- Delegates are asked to refrain from bringing plastic bags to Rwanda, avoid printing documents and dispose of all litter responsibly.
- Delegates are invited to bring their own reusable water bottle to refill at the water dispensers in the venue, in order to avoid the use of the single-use items.
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| | Others- Delegates are asked to enable energy-saving features on their devices and switch off all electrical devices, including lights, ventilation and ICT equipment when not in use in both conference and hotel rooms
- Delegates are encouraged to book a hotel as close as possible to the venue, to be able to walk there or choose an environmentally friendly alternative
- Delegates are asked to choose an accommodation with an environmentally friendly policy
- By abstaining from having towels washed every day, natural resources can be saved
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