UNDP’s Greening Moonshot initiative aims to reduce the organization’s corporate carbon footprint by 50 percent by 2030. To achieve this goal, UNDP country offices are investing in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable transport, making operations cleaner, more reliable, and resilient, including in fragile and remote contexts.
After five years, UNDP has implemented 194 projects across over 170 offices, combining solar power, efficient systems, and electric mobility. These initiatives avoid more than 4,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, equivalent to planting over 50,000 trees. By 2025, UNDP’s operational carbon footprint is projected to have shrunk by 24 percent through reductions in travel, energy, and fuel use. Every dollar invested in these measures has generated about three dollars in energy cost savings, with total savings estimated at $84 million.
Greening operations strengthens resilience, improves efficiency, and enhances accountability. By monitoring energy use, travel, and waste, UNDP identifies where to invest for maximum impact in a cost-effective manner. Across its global offices, the organization demonstrates how sustainable operations can deliver environmental, economic, and social benefits simultaneously.
In Benin, UNDP’s office now runs on a 42-kW solar system, providing reliable power during frequent outages, reducing diesel use, and improving indoor air quality. Energy-efficient lighting, smart sensors, and air conditioning further cut energy waste, while new streetlights enhance safety for staff. These measures have resulted in significant cost savings and a healthier, more productive workplace.
In India, UNDP New Delhi has reduced its energy carbon footprint by 24 percent since 2018 through a 174-kWp rooftop solar plant, energy-efficient systems, and electric mobility. Savings from these upgrades have supported broader initiatives, including replacing diesel waste trucks with electric vehicles operated by women in self-help groups, creating stable jobs and safer working conditions. Combined with rainwater harvesting and sustainable travel policies, UNDP India showcases a circular and energy-efficient operational model.
In Paraguay, sustainable office design, hybrid work arrangements, and electric mobility have reduced UNDP’s carbon footprint by 47 percent. Renewable hydropower powers electric vehicles, saving fuel costs and emissions, while partnerships with local businesses promote energy efficiency and cost savings of up to 80 percent, demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits of sustainable operations.
In Tajikistan, UNDP optimized transport systems, integrated electric vehicles, and reorganized fleet use, cutting overall emissions by 43 percent and fuel-related emissions by 63 percent in 2023 alone. Precise fuel tracking, efficient route planning, and staff engagement have minimized unnecessary trips, while electric vehicles and cycling initiatives reinforce sustainability and operational efficiency.
In Yemen, UNDP’s Sana’a office now runs entirely on solar energy, with 769 panels generating 457 kWp of clean power. This system avoids 625 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, saves 61,000 gallons of diesel, and ensures uninterrupted operations in a country with severe electricity shortages. Local partners were trained to maintain the system, creating long-term skills and resilience, while solar installations in schools, health facilities, and agriculture have expanded access to services, improved education and healthcare delivery, and generated significant cost savings.
Through the Greening Moonshot initiative, UNDP demonstrates that sustainable operations are not only environmentally responsible but also economically and socially transformative. By investing in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable transport, UNDP strengthens resilience, reduces costs, and ensures reliable delivery of services for people and the planet.
