BAT Vietnam - BAT Vietnam and Gaia join hands in response to climate change
BAT Việt Nam và Gaia chung tay ứng phó biến đổi khí hậu
BAT Vietnam has teamed up with Gaia Nature Conservation in a bid to combat climate change and protect biodiversity in Vietnam involving afforestation projects in Ca Mau and Dong Nai from 2022-2024.
Vietnam is one of the countries most heavily affected by climate change, so one of the most sustainable and practical solutions right now is to plant new forests and restore Special Use Forests (SUFs) such as those in Ca Mau and Dong Nai.
This project between BAT Vietnam and Gaia is expected to cover 4 hectares in the Dong Nai Culture and Nature Reserve and convert 120 hectares of alluvial ground into forests in the Ca Mau Cape Natural Park. This is proof of BAT Vietnam’s commitment to reaching carbon neutrality for Scope 1 & 2 by 2030, and further promoting its Environment, Society and Governance (ESG) mission.
To officially launch the project, ESG Day was first held in July in Dong Nai and August in Ca Mau with the participation of more than 100 employees who contributed more than 100 hours of free labour. With the help of Gaia volunteers, the management agencies at the national parks, the government, and local people, members successfully planted 1,000 trees across an area of 2 hectares in the Dong Nai Culture and Nature Reserve, and transformed 40 hectares of alluvial ground into forests in the Ca Mau Cape National Park to meet the target set for the first year of the project. The trees will be monitored by Gaia in the following years to ensure a survival rate of 80%. Based on the results of the first year, plans will be altered by BAT Vietnam and Gaia accordingly along with updates to the forests’ status in each area.
Talking about the collaboration, Ms. Do Thi Thanh Huyen, Founder and General Director of Gaia Nature Conservation, said: “Gaia appreciates the companionship and vision of BAT Vietnam in their strategy for sustainable development. I believe if we all act together, we can cover Vietnam with trees and reverse climate change.”
In addition to environmental-oriented goals, BAT Vietnam also wants ESG Day to become an annual event to help employees directly contribute to ESG activities in a practical way, and at the same time increase cohesion among members.
