UN Agency in Rome Receives LEED Platinum Certification

ROME — In 2009, the United Nation’s (UN) International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome began to work towards making its building more energy efficient, first seeking a LEED certification for sustainability. These efforts were prompted by the UN’s Greening the Blue initiative. On Nov. 16, IFAD announced in a statement that the existing buildings had been awarded LEED Platinum certification by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for operations and maintenance.

IFAD first achieved LEED Gold certification in 2010. The organization made efforts to reduce energy use, water use and paper consumption. It also encouraged staff to either carpool to work or use public transportation, and introduced environmentally friendly policies such as minimizing the use of toxic cleaning products, according to a statement.

“Since 2010, IFAD has drastically reduced its energy consumption as well as our carbon emissions from 5,570 tons to 3,930 tons. As we get ready to participate in the global climate talks in Paris, we will be doing so as one of the few UN agencies, which is officially recognized as climate neutral,” said IFAD’s President, Kanayo F. Nwanze at the award ceremony for the organization’s LEED Platinum certification.

IFAD recognizes that there are factors in operations such as travelling that will contribute to global emissions. The agency has invested in carbon offsets through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to work to compensate for air travel, according to a statement. The organization has also encouraged employees to use teleconferencing and other technology instead of traveling whenever possible.

Working towards its energy-efficiency goals, IFAD has been working with Habitech, an Italian consulting firm that specializes in sustainable management,, since 2009. “By following Habitech’s recommendations over the past five years, IFAD has seen very tangible results. We need more organizations to follow IFAD’s example if we are to effectively fight global climate change,” said Gianni Lazzari, CEO of Habitech, in a statement.

Nwanze thanked the Italian government and the employees of IFAD for their efforts in making the buildings more energy efficient and for their active engagement in adopting sustainable practices. Nwanze also said in a press conference that although IFAD has reached this high LEED achievement, the organization will not stop searching for green initiatives and hopes that other UN agencies will follow in its footsteps.