Thank you very much Ambassador Žbogar,
It is a pleasure to be here with all of you.
Let me, first, express my deepest condolences to the Democratic Republic of Congo and its people for the tragic events unfolding in the Country, as well as to the Troop-Contributing Countries, whose peacekeepers have been killed and injured while fulfilling their duties, implementing the MONUSCO mandate. Thanks also to the previous speakers for their presentations and again thank you particularly to the Mission of Slovenia and Ambassador Žbogar for giving impulse to this discussion on a topic Italy has long been committed to.
Since 2018, the Group of Friends for Leading on Environmental Management (LEAF), which Italy has the privilege to co-chair with Bangladesh, has brought together a growing number of Members States from across all regional groups to support the advancement of environmental management in the field. Working closely with Under-Secretary-General Atul Khare and the Environment Section of the Department of Operational Support, the Group has significantly contributed to shaping an ambitious vision for environmentally responsible peace operations, now reflected in the “Way Forward Environment Strategy for Peace Operations 2030”.
The implementation of the 2017-2023 Environment Strategy has delivered remarkable progress, strengthening data measurement and analytics, mitigating risks, and enhancing technical support capacity. Environmental sustainability in field missions has become a core priority, demonstrated by the adoption of ambitious renewable energy targets, improved waste and wastewater management at peace operation sites, and the integration of environmental considerations into Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, as well as C-34 reports. These achievements, made in under a decade, demonstrate how field missions can reduce their environmental footprint while strengthening operational effectiveness.
Beyond these immediate benefits, lessons learned from implementing sustainable practices in peacekeeping missions offer valuable insights for our collective efforts toward conflict prevention and capacity-building in vulnerable regions. By reducing dependence on fuel supply lines and mitigating the risk of asymmetric attacks on convoys, the use of renewable energy directly enhances peacekeepers’ safety and security. Field missions that address local resource challenges create opportunities for dialogue and collaboration with host countries and strengthen their long-term capacity for environmental management and green energy. Building on this progress and experience, the Way Forward focuses on scaling efforts, fostering innovation, and integrating sustainability deeper into peace operations to help ensure their lasting positive legacy.
At the same time, challenges persist. Budget constraints, complex logistics and operational requirements present significant obstacles to progress. They demand pragmatic solutions tailored around the unique contexts of each operation. And here the bottom-up approach, adopted in the Environment Strategy’s Way Forward, which incorporates input from field missions and Member States, is particularly valuable to address these obstacles.
Addressing these challenges requires innovative solutions and technical support capacity. The United Nations Global Service Centre in Brindisi plays a key role in advancing sustainable peacekeeping. Its “3Rs” program, – Return, Refurbish, and Reuse – which is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 12 – focuses on refurbishing and redeploying high-value mission assets, creating efficiencies, reducing costs and advancing circular economy practices in peacekeeping. The Centre also helps field missions turn environmental goals into practical multi-year plans and supports them with technical expertise for implementing energy, waste, and wastewater management solutions.
Training has also become a cornerstone of progress in “greening” peace operations. Achieving ambitious goals requires personnel with specialized expertise. The International Centre of Excellence on Environmental Protection, established by the Italian Carabinieri in Sabaudia, Rome, offers tailored environmental training for military, police, and civilian staff.
In this spirit, I am pleased to reiterate Italy’s political and financial commitment to advancing environmental priority goals as well as the implementation of the Environment Strategy’s Way Forward.
We are confident that the importance of these goals will be acknowledged also on the occasion of the Ministerial Peacekeeping Conference in Berlin next May.
In conclusion, let me stress that the LEAF Group remains dedicated to supporting the Environment Strategy Way Forward, integrating environmental priorities into UN decision-making, and promoting best practices for a “greener” peacekeeping. We welcome Member States to join our Group, so that we may strengthen our impact and ensure that sustainability continue to be an integral and enduring aspect of UN field missions.
I thank you.
