UNFCU announced that it has become a carbon neutral organization. Only one other credit union in the US with assets of more than $4 billion has achieved this status. Carbon neutrality – which mitigates impact on global climate change by reducing net organizational greenhouse gas emissions to zero – is one of eight goals that UNFCU outlines in its first sustainability report covering its strategy, initiatives, and progress in 2016. Going forward, UNFCU will focus on the 5 year sustainability plan it has developed to guide its environmental performance improvements through 2020.
“We are proud of UNFCU for demonstrating active engagement in sustainability and transparency,” said Shoa Ehsani, Sustainability & Climate Neutral Strategy Officer, United Nations Environment Program, UNEP-Nairobi, and a focal point for the Sustainable UN (SUN) Team at Greening the Blue, an international movement of UN entities focused on the organization’s climate neutrality.
UNFCU’s efforts reinforce its commitment to its members to operate as a good corporate citizen of the world and are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report draws from best practices in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 Guidelines. It includes among other data, environmental sustainability performance metrics that have been independently reviewed by sustainability experts from Envision Realty Services and Kosmenko & Co.
“We hold ourselves to a high standard for measuring and mitigating carbon emissions,” said Pamela Agnone, executive sponsor of the UNFCU Global Sustainability Program, who added that UNFCU’s report was the culmination of extensive analysis, benchmarking, and the making of sound business decisions. “Inspired by our Board of Directors’ vision and our members’ humanitarian purpose, we are pleased to become a leader within the credit union industry on sustainability and look forward to sharing ideas and strategy with credit unions in the US and abroad to expand our positive impact.”
Accomplishments highlighted in the report:
78% Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design-certified office space; LEED Gold for existing buildings, Long Island City, NY headquarters; LEED Silver for Washington, DC branch
19% reduction in paper use globally; 9.25% reduction in electricity use per member for operationally-controlled facilities
EPA Green Power Partner Program recognition for supporting clean, renewable energy