The Chief Executive Board meeting of the United Nations in London was a refreshing change because absolutely no one had a speech! We discussed many issues, but in particular, innovation. The message is clear. It’s not about whether the world will change, but if the UN will lead this change or remain a bystander. Huge geopolitical changes and new technologies are re-shaping our world.
The Chief Executive Board meeting of the United Nations in London was a refreshing change because absolutely no one had a speech! We discussed many issues, but in particular, innovation. The message is clear. It’s not about whether the world will change, but if the UN will lead this change or remain a bystander. Huge geopolitical changes and new technologies are re-shaping our world.
It’s a wake-up call for the UN on innovation. A survey of young and old colleagues at the UN yielded the same findings: the UN has little appetite for innovation.
We are too risk averse and have little incentive to change. The survey also found that specialized agencies are viewed as more innovative than agencies housed in the Secretariat.
Innovation is about finding ways to do what we’re doing much better and finding spectacular new ways of doing things. UN Environment needs to be doing both.
We can become an innovation hub for the environment by:
1. Developing an innovation strategy
2. Setting up an innovation unit
3. Opening our doors to outside expertise
4. Liberating staff to fail once in a while. It’s from failure that great ideas come!
5. Hiring and promoting young staff, so we are better equipped to tackle the fourth industrial revolution
Our role as innovators and as facilitators of change is where UN Environment will derive its strength and mandate in the years ahead. So let’s be less scared, change what stands in the way of efficiency, take the noise that comes with it, and move ahead.
