UN’s Geneva headquarters given ‘green’ seal of approval

The United Nations’ Geneva headquarters has joined a select group of environmentally-friendly entities, having been awarded a prestigious certificate recognizing its ‘green’ efforts.

The Nature Reserve Certificate, awarded by the Swiss non-governmental organization (NGO) Fondation Nature & Economie, is bestowed upon entities that protect nature by managing at least 30 per cent of the green areas around their buildings in a natural manner.

The UN Office at Geneva (UNOG) is home to the 46-hectare Ariana Park, housing trees that are more than a century old and a wide variety of flowers.

It also has undertaken other endeavours, such as avoiding pesticides, using compost and using sheep instead of lawnmowers.

The certificate “constitutes and acknowledgment of UNOG’s firm commitment to climate neutrality,” according to a press release.