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An article [i] on the European Parliament news site states that climate change is already affecting the entire world. We have all seen some of the consequences, such as floods, droughts and heat waves but there are more far-reaching consequences of the rapidly changing climate, including rising sea levels, ocean acidification and loss of biodiversity.
In order to limit global warming, carbon neutrality by mid-21st century is essential. This target is also laid down in the Paris agreement signed by 195 countries, including the EU.
One of Don Whitley Scientific’s (DWS) corporate goals is to support this initiative and aim to be carbon neutral by 2050. To this end, DWS signed up with Oblong Trees four years ago to start to make a difference in the world and help combat deforestation and climate change. The annual initiative involves planting trees, all over the world, on behalf of each employee at DWS.
It is estimated that on behalf of DWS, Oblong Trees [ii] has now planted trees in countries such as Australia, Indonesia, North America, DR Congo, Malawi, Peru, and the UK. As a company who has a comprehensive environmental plan in place and has obtained accreditation to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, initiatives like Oblong Trees help us to go one step further.
As well as being part of this programme, we also recycle what we can, invest in more environmentally-friendly packaging, reduce waste at every opportunity, hold online meetings instead of travelling, and have begun to use electric vehicles when travel is essential. But these are just some of the ways we actively aim to be more conscious of our carbon footprint.
The average global temperature is now 0.95 to 1.20 °C higher than at the end of the 19th century. Scientists consider an increase of 2°C compared to pre-industrialised levels as a threshold with dangerous and catastrophic consequences for climate and the environment. [iii]
Don Whitley Scientific is proud to sponsor Oblong Trees. As well as playing a role in enabling the charity to achieve its carbon positive goal, this is a practical way in which DWS can help to combat climate change.
Photographs courtesy of OblongTrees.com
Top: Tree planters in Malawi.
Middle: A sapling ready to plant.
Bottom: Vilcanota Forest Restoration Project, Peru.
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[i] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20190926STO62270/what-is-carbon-neutrality-and-how-can-it-be-achieved-by-2050
[ii] https://www.oblongtrees.com/
[iii] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20180703STO07129/eu-measures-against-climate-change
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