Environmental management

As a service provider for sustainable development, GIZ has set itself demanding environmental targets. In realising them, it works to the highest level of certification.

Sustainable development requires responsible treatment and use of the environment and natural resources. This is the only way to ensure that future generations have opportunities for development. GIZ has therefore drawn up its own Environmental Mission Statement. We will continue:

• to systematically avoid or reduce the company’s environmental impact
• to use scarce resources such as energy and water sparingly and increase the use of eco-efficient technologies and materials;
• implement our strategy of becoming a carbon-neutral company;
• to plan and implement projects and programmes in an environmentally sound manner;
• to engage in participatory environmental communication with our Staff and raise their awareness of environmental issues;
• to further develop our Environmental Mission Statement in open dialogue with colleagues inside and outside the company;
• to inform our partner companies, service providers and suppliers about the mandatory nature of our Environmental Mission Statement.

GIZ also undertakes to steadily improve its environmental performance and comply with all applicable environmental regulations at locations covered by the European environmental Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).

EMAS compliant environmental management system

In Germany, GIZ aligns its environmental management with the requirements of the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). EMAS audits the sustainability of individual company sites and is the world’s most exacting certification for corporate environmental management. It sets clear standards, requires ongoing improvements in environmental performance and provides incentives for GIZ’s environmental management work.

Outside Germany, environmental management is organised on a decentralised basis and is the responsibility of country directors and project or programme managers. It is implemented using the company’s own Corporate Sustainability Handprint® (CSH).

Biodiversity in corporate environmental management

The GIZ offices in Germany can directly contribute to conserving and promoting species diversity: for example, there are individual biodiversity concepts for all GIZ new-builds. This ensures that outside areas and, where appropriate, roofs are planted with native species and that sealed surfaces are kept to a minimum. The efficient use of water, energy and paper and the avoidance of waste and emissions are further fundamental components of the company’s approach to environmental management.