Programs & Administration

Assessment of environmental impacts

Activities

The Eurimages Fund team operates out of the Agora Building in Strasbourg, France. From this HQ, the Eurimages staff coordinate activities across all programming areas.

Key activities in 2019 included:

• Day to day office activities in support of Eurimages programmes on co-production and exhibition support;
  
• Processing and signature of documents related to the applications, review, award and repayment of financing support from the Fund;
• Coordination of Eurimages gender equality and diversity & inclusion programmes.

65% of the Eurimage's expenditure in this activity area goes to the engagement of experts to review applications for co-production financing and organizational partners to implement programmes. Few opportunities exist to green these core Eurimages activities.

.

This assessment focuses on six focal areas where Eurimages can play an active role in improving the environmental impact (Box 4).

Emissions from these activities resulted in 5.6 tCO2e, 4% of the Fund's total carbon footprint. While the emissions are relatively low in this area, action can be important to engage and motivate staff. Success in these areas can also be multiplied across the Council of Europe to greatly scale up the positive impacts.

.

Spotlight: The Agora Building

Electricity

Electricity use by the Eurimages team at the Agora Building accounts for just 3.2 tCO2e, 2.3% of its total carbon footprint, in part thanks to France's low-emission national electricity grid.

During COVID restrictions, emissions from electricity consumption did not drop significantly, reducing by only 10%, despite Eurimages staff on 50% teleworking arrangements.

Refrigerants

Air conditioning in the Agora building emits only 0.34 tCOe2, 0.25% of the Fund's total carbon footprint. Modern high-efficiency heat pumps are used for heating and cooling. The heat pumps use R-407C, a non-ozone depleting gas with a global warming potential 1774 times greater than CO2.

Refrigerant refills have tripled from 2019 to 2021. This may be simply be due to different timings on when maintenance is performed or can indicate higher cooling needs due to warmer temperatures. Further monitoring is recommended.

GHG Emissions

Waste Management

A waste separation system has been in place in the Agora Building since 2010. Waste is separate into two bins:

• classic garbage can for non-recyclable waste that is deposited in the Eurometropole's bins to be incinerated,
• a cardboard collector for recyclable waste (i.e., paper/cardboard, plastic bottles, soda cans, and other authorized waste.

Waste separation stations are placed throughout the building in public areas, such as the Atrium, social areas, meeting rooms, cafeteria and in each staff office.

In 2015, the system was expanded to allow separation of batteries, electric and electronic equipment, glass, wood and non-hazardous construction waste.

Staff Commuting

Staff commuting is a green achievement for the Eurimages team, generating only 1.7 tCO2e, 1.3% of its carbon footprint in 2019. 87% of Eurimages staff bike or walk to work. The high uptake of green commuting is possible due to the fact that most staff live close to the Eurimages office (between 1 to 13 km).

In 2021 during COVID restrictions, staff shifted to a 46% teleworking rate (117 days average per year per staff). Staff commute emissions are estimated to have reduced to 0.9 tCO2e.

Printing and Digitization

Eurimages has been transitioning to paperless office procedures. In 2019, paper use by Eurimages staff was 10,917 sheets annually - equivalent to typical French office statistics.

By 2021, paper consumption had reduced by 50%, down to 5,148 sheets per staff annually.

25,550

This reduction may be the result of the digitalization process in place in 2020.

• A digital signature system introduced in 2020 allows co-production agreements to be signed digitally rather than printed and couriered to all signatories.
• A new digital records system was put in place in June 2020, which transitioned Eurimages operations from paper to electronic filing.

These systems make a positive impact by reducing both printing needs and emissions from shipping documents for signature. (see Box 7)

10,917

5,148

As Eurimages continues its digitalization process, it will be important to raise awareness and adoption by staff on Green IT practices.

The Council of Europe IT division is now working on a Green IT strategy. It focuses on three areas:

• prolong the lifespan of IT hardware from 3 to 5 or 6 years;
  
• optimize IT infrastructure and usage patterns;
• raise awareness of users to adopt Green IT practices.

Achievements have already been made:

• removal of one on-site data center;
  
• launch of Green IT user awareness programs
  
• sustainability criteria inserted into IT supplier contracts;
  
• environmental impact of all IT applications is being assessed to optimize the Organization's cloud migration strategy.
  

10,917

5,148

Box. 7 Green IT Practices and Tips

As use of digital tools progresses, more attention will be needed to promote good file storage and emailing practices across Eurimages staff.

Tips for Green IT office practices:

• Avoid attachments when you can replace them with a link
• Limit the number of emails sent each day
• Reduce the number of recipients per email
• Use instant messaging over email
• Prefer a simple text signature rather than an "image"
• Use shared folder capabilities (e.g. TEAMS) in the company's network to collaborate on and share documents
• Unsubscribe from threads, newsletters, and other notification systems (when necessary)

See the 3rd edition of the Green IT Guide for more tips.

Adopting these Green IT practices can make a measurable difference. Each email sent requires electricity from the device it is written on, the network it is sent, the data center it is stored on and the device it is received.

4

gCO2e

one standard email

35-50

gCO2e

email with attachment

0.2-9

gCO2e

instant messaging apps

Air & Water Quality

The Council of Europe recognizes that cleaning services can consume a lot of water and electricity. In order to reduce water consumption, cleaning wipes pre-impregnated with water and dosed with the right amount of cleaning product are stocked on all carts of custodial staff. The goal is to consume the minimum amount of water necessary.

Cleaning companies are encouraged to use eco-labelled cleaning products (EcoReflex nature / safety, Ecocert.) to minimize pollution from the discharge of dirty water after cleaning services.

Air quality testing is performed regularly at various points in the Agora building. Indoor plants are positioned around the office space.

The Council of Europe has signed the charter "All united for more biodiversity" issued by the city of Strasburg. To date, 11 out of the 20 criteria have already been implemented at their headquarters.

• Stopped the use of phytosanitary products for the maintenance of green spaces
  
• Reduced mowing, by leaving certain grassed areas in their natural state
• Reduced watering and mulching of flower beds
• Reduced light pollution
• Increased conservation of existing trees and planting of trees
• Promoted planting of local species and add labels
• Planted of melliferous meadows, field hedges, and fruit trees
• Promoted the protection of fauna by the installation of refuges, nesting boxes, and insect hotels
• Installed green facades and roofs

The Strasbourg City Council has also published a guide highlighting 10 nature walks. The green facade of the Agora and the Human Rights Building are showcased in one of these walks.

Biodiversity

Council of Europe

Eurimages

Agora Building

Allée des Droits de l'Homme

F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex

+33 3 88 41 26 40 (switchboard)

eurimages@coe.int

Study completed by