Plant for the Planet
| Issue | Environment |
|---|---|
| Aim | To support an initiative by the local community |
| Area | Germany |
Duration
Since 2006, ongoing.
Organisation
Plant-for-the-Planet Initiative and Toyota Deutschland (TDG)
Funding
€40,000 by TDG
€10,000 by TFfE
€10,000 by TFfE
Testimonial
“As a grandparent I am very pleased that the youth are inviting the older generations to work together on practical steps in response to the challenges of the global ecological crisis”
Klaus Toepfer (former Executive Director UNEP and Patron of Plant-for-the-Planet)
Plant for the Planet
The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) launched Plant-for-the-Planet in November 2006 as part of its commitment to prevent climate change and raise awareness of the issue. To date over 2.2 billion trees have been planted worldwide as part of this initiative. The goal is to reach 7 billion by 2009.
Plant-for-the-Planet took hold in Germany in 2007 when students at the Munich International School took up the challenge and began planting trees. Toyota Deutschland (TDG) and its dealers started to support the Plant-for-the-Planet activities at schools around the country in the same year.
TDG’s commitment to Plant-for-the-Planet received a huge boost when the company invited 10-year old Felix Finkbeiner to a Toyota and Lexus dealer meeting. Felix gave a child’s perspective on climate change and of the importance of tree planting. His speech was so compelling that participants at the meeting spontaneously pledged €11,000 in donations for Plant-for-the-Planet. This was in addition to the funding already allocated by TDG. Felix has since been elected as a member of the UNEP Junior Board (http://www.unep.org/tunza/children/inner.asp?ct=jnr_board) which represents children who are actively involved in environmental issues around the world.
As part of the Plant-for-the-Planet initiative, students plant trees to show that when people of the world work together, the climate crisis can be fought successfully. Young people demonstrate that they are responsible by taking their future into their own hands. Each tree is a symbol of their call for climate justice and youth participation. In the words of Felix Finkbeiner: “…when we cross the street, our parents take our hands but as we go into the future, we have to take the hands of our parents.”
TDG is the largest corporate sponsor of the programme in Germany, donating €40,000 a year to the German secretariat of Plant-for-the-Planet. This helps to fund the salary of a full-time staff member and the production and distribution of brochures and other communications material.
TDG also supports Plant-for-the-Planet by calling on its dealer network to sponsor tree-planting at schools in their local areas. Around 120 dealers have participated in this programme. Employees at TDG have donated additional money to fund the planting of 2,700 trees.
Plant-for-the-Planet took hold in Germany in 2007 when students at the Munich International School took up the challenge and began planting trees. Toyota Deutschland (TDG) and its dealers started to support the Plant-for-the-Planet activities at schools around the country in the same year.
TDG’s commitment to Plant-for-the-Planet received a huge boost when the company invited 10-year old Felix Finkbeiner to a Toyota and Lexus dealer meeting. Felix gave a child’s perspective on climate change and of the importance of tree planting. His speech was so compelling that participants at the meeting spontaneously pledged €11,000 in donations for Plant-for-the-Planet. This was in addition to the funding already allocated by TDG. Felix has since been elected as a member of the UNEP Junior Board (http://www.unep.org/tunza/children/inner.asp?ct=jnr_board) which represents children who are actively involved in environmental issues around the world.
As part of the Plant-for-the-Planet initiative, students plant trees to show that when people of the world work together, the climate crisis can be fought successfully. Young people demonstrate that they are responsible by taking their future into their own hands. Each tree is a symbol of their call for climate justice and youth participation. In the words of Felix Finkbeiner: “…when we cross the street, our parents take our hands but as we go into the future, we have to take the hands of our parents.”
TDG is the largest corporate sponsor of the programme in Germany, donating €40,000 a year to the German secretariat of Plant-for-the-Planet. This helps to fund the salary of a full-time staff member and the production and distribution of brochures and other communications material.
TDG also supports Plant-for-the-Planet by calling on its dealer network to sponsor tree-planting at schools in their local areas. Around 120 dealers have participated in this programme. Employees at TDG have donated additional money to fund the planting of 2,700 trees.
Results
Globally more than 2.2 billion trees have been planted through Plant-for-the-Planet since 2006. In Germany, TDG and Toyota dealers have supported the planting of more than 90,000 trees so far. By the end of 2009, students aim to plant further 1 million trees together with Toyota.
