Greening Guide for Participants

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Government of Mexico are committed to having a high social impact, low environmental impact 2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. This guide provides a list of actions that all participants and guests are encouraged to take. These actions can be showcased on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Instagram with the hashtag #MEXICOGP2017.

Reduce Waste, “Paper Smart”

The Global Platform will be paper-smart. All key conference documents will be available on the mobile phone-friendly Global Platform website and app. Participants are encouraged to bring smartphones, tablets and laptops, and to utilize the many on-site computers to read conference materials.

Participants are strongly discouraged from bringing printed materials (tables will not be made available to set out such materials) and rather encouraged to create/update a profile and upload documents via the UNISDR website: www.preventionweb.net/english/submit/. If a document is new and for launch at the Global Platform and this is mentioned in the uploaded submission, documents will also appear on the Global Platform website. Rapporteurs will also submit all Global Platform documentation electronically.

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Participants are encouraged to stay onsite, use the shuttle buses available between many of the local hotels and the conference venue, and to carpool whenever possible.

Off-Set Carbon Emissions

Participants and guests are encouraged to calculate their carbon emissions at https://carbonfund.org/calculate-your-footprint/ and to off-set the equivalent amount at https://offset.climateneutralnow.org/register

Reduce Consumption of Water & Electricity

Participants and guests are urged to respect the environmental, cultural, social and historical values of the local community. Among other specific actions, the conference venue will be set to 25 degrees Celsius to reduce the use of air conditioning. We therefore recommend that participants:

  • Do not wear suits and ties, but instead opt for business casual or traditional attire for warm climates, such as guayabera shirts.
  • Reduce water consumption, including by re-using hotel room towels/linens, where possible.
  • Save electricity by turning off any air conditioners, lights and TV when leaving the hotel room and avoiding the use of elevators where possible.

Local Dining and Catering

Participants and guests are encouraged to dine at local establishments and use local vendors to support local communities and reduce carbon emissions.

Reducing Resource Consumption & Waste Generation

Participants are urged to reduce resource consumption and minimize waste generation by sharing print materials, using recycled and biodegradable products, and separating waste to facilitate recycling and reuse. Participants should recycle or reuse any promotional materials and, where a suitable local partner can be identified, donate books and publications to these partners. Participants should, if possible, use biodegradable materials for any exhibit materials.

Additional Sustainability Elements of the 2017 Global Platform

The Venue: Moon Palace Resort

The venue of the Global Platform, the Moon Palace Resort, has undertaken many efforts to improve the environment impact of the facilities. Sustainability efforts include the use of low-energy consumption technologies such as LED lights, solar panels, and comprehensive recycling and composting programs and policies. The Moon Palace Resort also utilizes technologies to reduce water consumption, treats water through a hydroponic system of bio-conversion and ultimately reuses 90% of the waste water. In addition, extensive flora and fauna conservation efforts have been undertaken through extensive ecological studies to protect the ecosystem surrounding the resort.

The Host Municipality: Benito Juarez

The municipality of Benito Juarez is very committed to environmental conservation and has many different programs in the field of urban development and ecology to contribute to planned growth and environmental conservation. The municipality created an environmental blog as a tool to provide continuous analysis of the development trends. Efforts also include the design, establishment and management of protected natural areas; maintenance and conservation of flora and fauna and in particular protection of endangered species in order to strengthen the capacity to store and maintain native plants; the increase of green areas and reforestation; and actions to protect and conserve the species of sea turtles and blue crab that nest on the beaches and mangrove swamps of the municipality. Other important local actions include the development of a culture among the population of environment protection, recycling, consulting and awareness programs.

For questions email: houghton@un.org