Annex 2. Information about UN City

UN City, which opened in April 2013, is the home of 10 United Nations agencies in Denmark. Approximately 1200 staff from 104 countries work there. The building is shaped like an eight-pointed star, reaching in all directions.

The building earned the European Commission’s esteemed Green Building Award in 2012 and was the first United Nations complex to receive the platinum certificate for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). To be eligible for the prestigious platinum LEED, UN City had to satisfy several environmental criteria, including using sustainable building materials, reducing waste, minimizing impact on surrounding ecosystems, and promoting indoor air quality, energy efficiency and smart water use.

The wood used in the construction of UN City was harvested from sustainably managed forests located within 800 km of the building site to reduce emissions from transport. The building employs environmentally friendly technologies, such as the collection and use of rainwater for toilets, which contributes to a 60% reduction in water use; in addition, 1400 solar panels line the roof of the building, thereby reducing the electricity needed from the grid (which itself uses green electricity from windmills, thus contributing to sustainability). Taking advantage of the building’s location in the harbour area, cold seawater is pumped into its cooling system, which further reduces electricity needs. Solar shades on the building’s facade prevent overheating while maintaining natural light in offices and open areas. Vegetation covers 2% of the total surface. As a result of these measures, UN City uses 55% less energy than other office buildings of a similar size. Recycling systems are in place to reduce and reuse waste, and bicycling as a primary mode of transportation is encouraged, with 500 parking places made available for bicycles.

Making the 69th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe a “green” event

The location of the WHO Regional Office for Europe in this impressive, environmentally friendly building is an incentive to make the 69th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe a truly “green” event.

To support this aim, the Secretariat will not distribute hard copies of documents. Participants are encouraged to use their smart devices to download documents from the Regional Office’s website.Participants are encouraged to use their smart devices to download the RC69 app for quick access to documents and all practical information they need. Documents can also be downloaded from the Regional Office’s website. Meeting participants who do not have access to the Internet can go to the documentation desk, where Regional Office staff will process print requests, including delivering the documents to the meeting room. The intention is to use as little paper as possible and save trees.

During the event, water will be served in bio-degradable packets; the coffee that will be provided originates from sustainable coffee plantations.

When selecting venues for social events, a major consideration was proximity to UN City and to the hotels listed in this Guide, in order to reduce travel time and carbon footprint.