According to its first worldwide survey, the Universal Postal Union estimates that Posts in its 191 member countries generated at least 26 million tonnes of CO2 in 2008 through the operation of postal vehicles and buildings.

These Posts, employing more than five million people, operate a global network of more than 600,000 post offices and almost one million postal vehicles. They represent the planet’s largest physical distribution network. The United Nations Environment Programme estimates total annual worldwide greenhouse gas emissions at 38 billion tonnes, meaning that postal operations produce 0.07 per cent of these emissions.

The survey showed that Posts in industrialised countries emitted around 11 million tonnes of CO2, or 41 per cent of the total, while those in the developing and least developed countries released 15 million tonnes – 59 per cent of the total.

A commitment

On the flip side, many Posts have environmentally friendly practices, with thousands of letter carriers delivering mail on foot or using bicycles. In France, for example, it is estimated that La Poste’s 100,000 letter carriers cover the equivalent of 50 trips around the world every day. La Post uses 28,000 bicycles, Japan Post uses 10,000 and the Belgian Post 4,200 bicycles. Posts are also increasingly investing in alternative vehicles.

UPU Director General, Edouard Dayan, said: “This first global inventory is a major step forward in our efforts to combat climate change. The UPU will work with all its partners, including the United Nations Environment Programme, to encourage the polluters of today and tomorrow to reduce their environmental impact in the long term. Sound management of environmental issues can drive growth. In taking up the challenge of green growth, businesses can rethink their logistics chain processes, improve their efficiency, plan long-term energy saving measures, develop new products and services less harmful to the environment and project a responsible business image.”

Broken down by region, the 26 million tonnes of CO2 are generated as follows: Americas (6.5 million tonnes); Europe (8 million tonnes); Africa (1 million tonnes); Asia (10 million tonnes); and Oceania (0.4 million tonnes).

For more information on postal initiatives to combat climate change, visit:  www.upu.int/climate_change/en