In the countdown to the United Nations International Day for Biodiversity on May 22, leading aircraft manufacturer, Airbus is mobilizing its global network of more than 52,000 employees to celebrate The Green Wave, an ambitious programme established by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to encourage young people to engage with biodiversity.
As part of this worldwide initiative, the Airbus Corporate Foundation is set to launch a biodiversity volunteer program that directly involves its employees with nature, endorsed by The Ministry of Environment, India. In association with Raleigh International, Airbus will announce the first employees selected from around the world to participate in a three-year biodiversity project in India.
Airbus teams will also be involved in a myriad of events with their local communities. From tree planting in Spain, Japan and Vietnam; to creating new gardens at the Airbus Innovation School in China; and encouraging wildlife to inhabit Airbus site areas in France.
In the United Kingdom, the Zoological Society of London will play host to the touring “See the Bigger Picture” biodiversity photo exhibition of photographs taken by children around the world, from a contest partnership between Airbus, the CBD Secretariat and National Geographic. Airbus employees will also join local schools and scientists taking part in the U.K.’s second annual “BioBlitz” – a 30-hour race against the clock to identify as many species of animals and plants as possible in one area.
In Germany, Airbus teams will be setting up hives for 100,000 bees at Finkerwerder Airport. Last year, the bees produced 160 kilograms of honey – after 150,000 flights to 15 million flowers. Airbus teams are currently working on setting up a similar project in France.
Out of reach for even the longest-range Hamburg bee, Airbus Americas is partnering with the Explorium Museum in Mobile, Alabama to launch a biodiversity photography contest. The competition forms part of the build up to the forthcoming See The Bigger Picture exhibition, scheduled to visit Mobile as part of its international tour in September.
CBD executive secretary Ahmed Djoghlaf said: “In this, The International Year of Biodiversity, it is vital that major global businesses such as Airbus support us in spreading awareness of the importance of protecting the rich biodiversity of the world we live in. I hope that Airbus’ work will inspire other businesses to work with us in raising awareness and developing sustainable solutions to protect life on earth.”
Airbus president and CEO Tom Enders said: “We already put a huge effort into tackling the 2 percent that aviation contributes to manmade CO2 emissions. Our partnership with the CBD reflects our commitment to support those tackling the other 98%, such as the 17 percent from deforestation. Aeronautic engineers have been inspired by nature since the days of Leonardo da Vinci. Today, biomimicry continues to inspire solutions for greener flight. So we need to get better at learning from nature – it might just hold the key to our future as well as its own. That’s why we are using our global outreach to help the CBD raise awareness. I’m extremely proud that Airbus employees are playing their part in preserving it.”
To participate in The Green Wave on May 21 or 22, visit www.greenwave.cbd.intor www.cbd.int/2010/countriesand find out what is happening near you. Alternatively, you can visit The Green Wave Facebook page to share photos and stories (search Pages for “Green Wave”) or download a specially created Green Wave Twibbon for use on your Facebook or Twitter profile picture (search www.twibbon.comfor “The Green Wave”).
