UPM turns Munich children into climate ambassadors together with Plant-for-the-Planet
- Munich schoolchildren take a stand for climate justice
- UPM supports Plant-for-the-Planet Academies
- Saving the planet starts at home: The Biofore company raises awareness of climate change
For those using Fridays to demonstrate for their future, Saturdays are also a time for action. Last Saturday, Plant-for-the-Planet, an initiative for children and young people, organised one of their Academy events at the Grundschule an der Bäckerstraße primary school in Pasing, Munich. Here, children and parents were shown practical and simple methods to help save the planet at a tangible local level. 30 young climate warriors took part and, among other activities, planted 30 trees near to their school. UPM promotes and supports the activities of Plant-for-the-Planet all over the world, and primarily under-financed Academies in developing nations. Sustainability Manager Dr Stefanie Eichiner was also there with her family to lend a hand.
Campaign based on the motto: “Stop talking. Start planting.”
Following a presentation and a game on the subject of protecting the environment and equal distribution, it was time for children and parents to get their hands dirty. True to the motto of the Plant-for-the-Planet campaign “Stop talking. Start planting.”, they joined together to plant trees and plan their first projects in the name of saving the planet. Before the Academy event came to a conclusion, the children were officially appointed Plant-for-the-Planet Climate Justice Ambassadors with the job of passing on their new-found knowledge to friends and relatives.
Saving the planet with global thinking and local action: UPM supports Academies all over the world
The Plant-for-the-Planet charity supports organisations around the world to campaign for more climate justice. The initiative’s projects include the Plant-for-the-Planet Academies that make children and young people into climate ambassadors. “Our Academies are held all around the world to familiarise children with the problems relating to the climate and justice and to promote sustainable thinking and an awareness of the environment,” says Maximilian Schmid from Plant-for-the-Planet. “We organise over 140 seminars every year including Pakistan, Nepal, Nigeria and Ghana. Around 50 Academies take place every year in Germany alone.”
UPM plants over 50 million trees per year
Dr Stefanie Eichiner, who is responsible for sustainability projects at UPM and is also the Managing Director of the 'Biodiversity in Good Company' Initiative e. V., visited the event at the Grundschule an der Bäckerstraße in person. This academy was made possible by the support of another company. Similar action days, mainly in developing countries where local supporters are lacking, are made possible by UPM. “Saving the planet is a topic that inspires children and young people all over the world, as we have seen over the past few months,” says Dr Eichiner. “Hundreds of thousands took to the streets at the Fridays for Future demonstrations in a drive for change. This is their future. The Plant-for-the-Planet Academies offer them the chance to take action, too. At UPM, we see it as our responsibility to preserve our planet for generations to come. That is why we are working on a future without fossil fuels and engaging in projects that transfer knowledge about protecting the environment and sustainability to children and young people.” The Biofore strategy at UPM is based on the versatile use of renewable wood biomass, driven by a commitment to innovation, resource efficiency and responsibility. The company plants around 50 million trees around the world every year, which equates to some 100 seedlings per minute.
For further information, please contact:
Dr Stefanie Eichiner, Manager Sustainability, Stakeholder Relations, UPM, +49 821 3109 348