2000: The UN launches its Global Compact in 2000 as a strategic policy initiative for  businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

2007: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon publicly states his commitment towards the “Organization’s direct contribution to global efforts to safeguard our planet and climate”. He subsequently addresses the General Assembly to convey his vision of a climate neutral and more sustainable UN through the “Greening the UN” initiative. In succession, the Chief Executives Board for Coordination officially decrees their commitment towards this movement. Under the leadership of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), several groups are therefore created, namely: the UN Environment Management Group (EMG), the Sustainable United Nations (SUN) Facility, and the Issue Management Group on Environmental Sustainability Management (IMG).

2012: The Rio+20 outcome document “The future we want" calls upon the United Nations system to improve the management of facilities and operations by taking into account sustainable development practices, building on existing efforts and promoting cost-effectiveness, in accordance with legislative frameworks, including financial rules and regulations, while maintaining accountability to Member States”.

2016: FAO's Director General, Jose Graziano da Silva endorses the FAO Corporate Environmental Responsibility Policy.

2017: The FAO Corporate Environmental Responsibility Strategy 2017-2020 is launched in conjunction with the FAO Strategy of Climate Change.

2019: The "Strategy for Sustainability Management in the United Nations system 2020-2030" is approved by the Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB). It is launched after ten years of continuous work in sustainability by the UN Environment Management Group (EMG), the Sustainable United Nations (SUN) Facility, and the Issue Management Group on Environmental Sustainability Management (IMG).

2021: The FAO Corporate Environmental Responsibility Strategy 2020-2030 is officially launched and inaugerated, building upon the the previous Strategy while raising the level of ambition. It serves as a mandate and outline for a 45% reduction in the absoloute amount FAO of CO2e emissions by 2030, relative to a 2018 baseline.