The EMG Environmental Management Peer Review process was established in 2012 to help UN entities strengthen the environmental sustainability of their facilities and internal operations. Inspired by peer-review approaches used by organizations such as the OECD and UNECE, the process was based on voluntary participation, mutual trust, independent assessment and non-binding recommendations rather than traditional environmental audits.
Peer Review teams composed of representatives from UN entities, international organizations and other stakeholders assessed participating organizations’ environmental performance, identifying achievements, challenges, good practices and opportunities for improvement. Reviews covered greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and travel, together with areas such as procurement, waste and water management, ICT, meetings, local transport and staff awareness.
The process resulted in reviews of a range of UN organizations and locations, including UNIDO and other entities at the Vienna International Centre, WMO, UNEP, IMF, WFP, UNDP and UNRWA offices in Amman, several UN entities in Beijing, and UNHCR operations at Kakuma Refugee Camp. The reviews provided participating entities with practical recommendations while generating lessons and good practices that could support improved environmental management across the wider UN system.