Source – AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca has made a significant announcement of a $400 million investment in its global AZ Forest program, reinforcing its dedication to plant 200 million trees by 2030 and ensure their long-term survival. This commitment includes the initiation or expansion of projects in Brazil, India, Vietnam, Ghana, and Rwanda, contributing to the company’s efforts in climate action, nature restoration, biodiversity promotion, and the development of ecological and community resilience. These projects will span across more than 100,000 hectares worldwide.
This substantial investment builds upon AstraZeneca’s initial AZ Forest pledge, which was announced in 2020 with the goal of planting and maintaining over 50 million trees by the end of 2025. The company recognizes the strong correlation between a healthy environment and the well-being of individuals. Progress in tree planting has been made in Australia, Indonesia, Ghana, the UK, the US, and France, encompassing over 300 tree species and facilitating the restoration of biodiversity and natural habitats. Additionally, this expanded program will yield positive impacts on local communities, benefiting an estimated 80,000 livelihoods.
AZ Forest is an integral part of AstraZeneca’s flagship sustainability strategy, Ambition Zero Carbon, which aims to achieve significant decarbonization aligned with the Paris Agreement’s objective of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The company is on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its operations and fleet by 98% by 2026 and aims to halve its entire value chain’s environmental footprint by 2030. AstraZeneca is committed to achieving a 90% absolute emissions reduction and attaining science-based net-zero emissions by 2045 at the latest. Through the AZ Forest initiative, the company aims to remove any remaining emissions from its activities starting in 2030.
AZ Forest projects are collaboratively designed with planting experts, local communities, and governments to facilitate natural forest restoration and agroforestry. These initiatives offer co-benefits such as the creation of new skills and employment opportunities, the protection and recovery of endangered species, and improved public health. The projects will undergo rigorous audits and assessments conducted by renowned delivery partners and independent third-party experts, including the European Forest Institute (EFI).
In line with its commitment to reforestation, AstraZeneca has joined forces with the EFI and the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA) to publish a pioneering, science-based framework known as the CBA Principles for Regenerative Landscapes. This framework aims to foster sustainable, resilient, and locally appropriate landscape regeneration, enabling the development of circular bioeconomy value chains and the restoration of biodiversity.
