The Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) have partnered to launch a global webinar series – the "Climate Engagement Programme for Postal Sector Stakeholders".
As climate-related disruptions intensify, ranging from record-breaking heatwaves to rising urban energy demands, the need to transition towards low-carbon, climate-resilient postal systems has become increasingly urgent. In response to these mounting pressures, the UPU and the UNITAR have partnered to launch a global webinar series – the “Climate Engagement Programme for Postal Sector Stakeholders”.
The programme was developed in response to a growing demand from postal stakeholders to adopt renewable energy solutions and promote sustainable mobility across the sector. Through a series of webinars, postal operators, regulators, utility authorities, and policy-makers from the transport, energy, and communications sectors are coming together to exchange insights, share best practices, and explore practical solutions to the environmental challenges facing the postal industry, thereby supporting its green transformation on a global scale.
The first webinar, held on 28 April 2025, addressed a critical hurdle faced by postal fleets transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs): the capacity constraints of local and national power grids. Experts from the postal sector, regulators and technology providers discussed this challenge from multiple perspectives, including postal operational realities, regulatory frameworks, and technological innovations. As shared by DHL’s Clean OPS Technology Centre, smart charging strategies and tailored approaches to local energy mixes are essential for credible decarbonisation. From a policy standpoint, speakers emphasised the need for evolving regulatory frameworks that support grid-resilient electrification, while also recognising the value of emerging innovative business models for EV charging.
Complementing the online series, the UPU and UNITAR convened an onsite stakeholder consultation and capacity-building programme in Bangkok from 27 to 30 May 2025, aimed at improving climate finance access for the postal sector.
The Bangkok consultation brought together local and national stakeholders to validate and advance three project tracks currently under development with Thailand Post: e-waste management and reverse logistics; green transport and renewable energy integration; and digital postal infrastructure to support climate-resilient services. Together, these efforts are helping ground global climate discussions in national action.
This collaboration brings together the UPU’s leadership in the postal sector and UNITAR’s expertise in capacity building and stakeholder engagement. While the UPU leads the development of technical content and ensures alignment with broader postal and climate goals, UNITAR plays a key role in shaping learning outcomes and mobilising regional participation. Building on the partnership, the programme will continue throughout 2025, with upcoming webinars in June and October that feature topics shaped by participant feedback and evolving sector priorities. By maintaining open dialogue and encouraging cross-sector coordination, insights from these webinars, together with outcomes from the Bangkok consultation, will inform the development of practical tools and guidance to support postal operators in implementing low-carbon and climate-resilient solutions.