REMARKS BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT GENEVA UPON THE RETURN OF THE ZERO EMISSIONS RACE TO THE PALAIS DES NATIONS

Following are the remarks made today by Mr. Sergei A. Ordzhonikidze, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, upon the return of the "Zero Emissions Race" to the Palais des Nations:

"It is a great pleasure to welcome back and congratulate the teams of the Zero Emissions Race, as they have now concluded their remarkable journey across the world. Their trip has not only served to raise awareness of the environmental challenge that we face. It has also shown, in a very practical way, how innovation and creativity can be integrated in our common efforts to address this challenge.

The Secretary-General continues to emphasize that we need to combine cutting-edge technologies, the best science and entrepreneurship to build a safer, cleaner, greener and more prosperous world. The Zero Emissions Race brings all those elements together.

Energy efficiency, low-carbon development and green technology are all part of the answer to the environmental challenge. If we are to make full use of their potential, we will all need to make serious changes: in our mindsets, in our lifestyles and in our economies.

The United Nations Office at Geneva has for a number of years been setting an example in sustainable management of these premises – making concrete changes in how we do business because it does make a difference. We are pleased to have this opportunity – again – to show together with our colleagues from the United Nations family our collective commitment to sustainability.

These cars have raced around the world. As the human family, we are also in a race. Sometimes, it is a race against time to confront climate change, to reverse the loss of biodiversity and to institute environmentally sound practices for a sustainable future.

Today, we will award prizes to the three driving teams – based on their performance. In the race that we are in, we will all be winners if we confront our shared environmental challenge effectively – but we will only win if we race together.

I have no doubt that the spirit of the driving teams here and their commitment to sustainability will spur us on in our race.

We must all lead by our own actions.

Welcome back!"


For use of the information media; not an official record

DG11/002E