Médecins Sans Frontières - Carbon reduction target

Unique Identifier Code / URN MSB73259

Date taken / Date Recorded 06/05/2021 8:43 AM

Country Switzerland

Commissioning section MSF-SWITZERLAND

Photographer / videographer / producer Pierre-Yves Bernard

Usage Rights (MSF) External Media, MSF Fundraising, MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available no

Editor's rating ★★★★★ (C)

Video format h264 (Main) (avc1 / 0x31637661)

Duration 2m41s

Maximum Size 1080px × 1080px 374.44 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist Webclip Steve – Carbon emission

SUBTITLES:

That's the greatest tragedy in all of this, is that the more developed and Western countries are responsible for the lion's share of CO2 emitted over the last 50 years and the people that are suffering the most along the equatorial belt around the world, those most affected have the smallest footprint.

TEXT ON-SCREEN:

MSF commits to reducing its carbon footprint.

TEXT ON-SCREEN:

WHY?

TEXT ON-SCREEN:

Stephen Cornish
MSF General Director
Operational center of Geneva

SUBTITLES:

We know that climate change is going to be the greatest existential threat to our patients, and we also know that as a medical operation, we are contributing to releasing CO2. As we're trying to live by a do no harm principle, I think it's very important that we do our part to reduce our contribution and we ensure that we're bringing about a whole culture of change to be environmentally friendly in our operations.
All organisations, all companies, all governments are going to have to do their fair share.
And as a medical organisation, it makes only good sense that we do our share as well.

TEXT ON-SCREEN:

We will reduce our Co2 emissions by 50% by 2030

SUBTITLES:

I think it's really important that we set a public target and we set the bar high. T his way we'll be able to have the transformation that we need to see in order to halve our CO2 by 2030.

TEXT ON-SCREEN:

How we will do this?

SUBTITLES:

Just by trying to improve the way we ship our goods to the field and ensuring to use maritime transport more than air transport, and we're able to make a very large drop in our CO2.
But there are other things that we've already tested as well. We've tested solar generators that we know reduce our diesel by 30 percent, our “pièces détachées” by 30 percent, and extend the life of the generators. So it actually makes good sense, saves money and is environmentally friendly. And I think there are a number of other solutions like that.
Our medical departments are talking about reducing single use items and plastic items and looking at more local purchase. So I think there are a number of promising avenues and if we really put our minds to it, we'll find those ways and we'll transform the way we work.

TEXT ON-SCREEN:
Will this impact the delivery of medical care?

SUBTITLES:

I don't see it as an either or. I think there is just like we saw in our medical freight, there are things that we can already do and change just in the way we operate to start being more environmentally friendly. And then indeed, we might have to wait for technology to catch up before there are solar airplanes or electric vehicles in the last mile in the DRC. But we're not going to concentrate on what we can't change. We'll concentrate on what's already out there and what we can do.
And I'd be very comfortable explaining both to our people, to our donors and to people at large that we were only able to get so far because the last mile still needed to be done by airplane or by means that we're not carbon friendly in order to save lives.

Carbon reduction target - WEBCLIP ENGLISH

Carbon reduction target - WEBCLIP ENGLISH