By Jim Rex-Lawson Moses
In commemoration of this year’s World Environment Day and in line with Nestlé’s broader global mission of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, Nestlé Nigeria volunteers, planted 1,000 trees at the Nestlé Dairy Demonstration farm in Abuja in collaboration with CbiIL, to mitigate the impact of adverse weather conditions.
Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1973, World Environment Day is the largest international event focused on the environment, coordinated by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Millions of people from governments, businesses, civil society, and educational institutions participate annually to raise awareness and take action on environmental issues, aiming to protect the planet’s future.
The theme for 2024, “Our Land, Our Future. We are #GenerationRestoration,” emphasizes the importance of restoring land, combating desertification, and enhancing resilience to drought as currently, up to 40% of the world’s land is degraded, impacting around 3.2 billion people globally due to desertification. Moreover, projections suggest that by 2050, over three-quarters of the world’s population will be affected by drought.
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Contributing to Nestlé’s broader global mission of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, while acting on their commitment to environmental stewardship, Nestlé Nigeria employees under the global employee volunteer platform, Nestlé Cares, joined forces with volunteers from Convention for Business Integrity Innovations Nigeria Limited (CbiIL) to plant 1,000 trees at the Nestlé Dairy Demonstration Farm in the Paikon-Kore grazing reserve, located in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This initiative aims to mitigate the impact of adverse weather conditions on the farm and enhance climate resilience.
Since its launch in Nigeria in 2019, Nestlé Cares has provided a platform for employees to give back to society by donating their time and talents to make a positive impact on individuals and families, on communities and the environment. Nestlé employees have lived out their passion for caring for their communities and the planet through various projects including beach cleanup exercises, orphanage outreaches, market cleanup activities and mentorship programs for youth. The tree planting is further demonstration of their commitment to building a sustainable future for all.
Trees play a pivotal role as natural carbon sinks with the capacity to absorb about 20KG of carbon dioxide/annum, hence they actively contribute to carbon sequestration. Planting 1,000 trees within the dairy demonstration farm therefore serves a dual purpose: fortify ecosystem resilience and eventually act as effective windbreakers, mitigating the impact of adverse weather conditions on the farm and safeguarding the well-being of the animals which no doubt aligns with the World Environment Day 2024 theme.
During the tree-planting ceremony, Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria, highlighted the significance of the event, stating, “Every year, hundreds of Nestlé employees from around the country generously donate their time and talents to activities that positively impact local communities and the planet. By planting a thousand trees today, we are collectively demonstrating our commitment to climate action, both as individuals and as one Nestlé.
This marks the beginning of more ambitious tree-planting campaigns as we accelerate action towards improving climate change resilience within our communities. We are grateful to have volunteers from the implementation partner of our dairy development program, CbiIL as well as representatives from the Department of Animal Husbandry Services of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) planting trees with us here today.”
Hajia Umma Abubakar, Director of Animal Husbandry Services Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), expressed her support, stating “We are thrilled to witness the collaborative efforts of Nestlé Nigeria and CbiIL, volunteers in planting 1,000 trees at the Nestlé Dairy Demonstration Farm in the Paikon-Kore grazing reserve. This initiative aligns perfectly with our vision for environmental conservation and demonstrates the power of collective action in building a sustainable future. The trees planted today will not only
Reduce the impact of climate change but will also be beneficial for the livestock. We commend Nestlé Nigeria and its partners for their commitment to climate action and look forward to further collaborations in environmental conservation”.
Nestlé Nigeria has consistently been at the forefront of environmental protection, collaborating with relevant stakeholders to safeguard the climate for future generations. Actions include caring for water, achieving plastics neutrality, transitioning to green energy, and promoting regenerative agriculture.
