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.

GIZ sets out its environmental targets in its Sustainability Programme and Environmental Programme. These targets are based on Germany’s National Sustainable Development Strategy, but the Environmental Programme also incorporates the results of several rounds of GIZ’s Stakeholder Dialogue on Sustainability.

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).