We run numerous small and large projects throughout the world to support our aim of establishing a future society in harmony with nature. They include organising reforestation and tree planting, green urban schemes and other environmental initiatives at our own sites and externally.
Our goal is to promote conservation of nature around the world, in order to achieve our dream of a society where people live in harmony with nature.
By 2030 our goal is to realise 19 “Plants in Harmony with Nature” (12 in Japan and 7 around the world), as well as implement harmony-with-nature activities in all regions where Toyota is based, in collaboration with local communities and companies.`
In addition, we will continue to contribute to biodiversity conservation activities in collaboration with NGOs, and we will expand initiatives both in-house and outside to foster environmentally conscious people who take responsibility for the future of the planet.
... as part of the Toyota Grant Programme to assist the actions of NGOs ...
In 2016 we started supporting the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to enrich the IUCN Red List.
... engaged in the Toyota Education for Sustainable Development programme.
Encouraging children to discover the world outdoor
In Europe we are connecting with future generations by providing materials that are developed by Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London. Kew Gardens is home to the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world, from lush tropical rainforests to the resilient vegetation of the deserts. The materials developed there are disseminated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to participating schools across Europe.
Since 2015, young children aged 6-12 have learned how to explore nature near their schools, allowing them to become more aware about biodiversity in a fun and engaging manner tailored to their age group.
In 2015, 30,000 pupils in 655 schools engaged in the programme. In 2017, the number of pupils increased to 77,000.
Picture courtesy of Naoise Culhane Photography Ltd
Helping to prevent the extinction of key species
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a global authority specialising in species assessment through the “Red List”.
Toyota has established a global cooperation with IUCN to double the number of species assessed, so as to understand which species are in danger of extinction. From 80,000 species on the list in 2015, the plan is to increase the number to 160,000 by 2020.
In Europe, this partnership is supported by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Kew’s most recent research covers coffee species, and it reveals that 60% of all wild coffee species are under threat of extinction due to deforestation and climate change. This includes Coffea arabica, the world’s favourite and most widely traded coffee.
Kew’s work is not undertaken with the aim of presenting bleak prospects for crop species like Arabica coffee, but is instead about understanding risk so that appropriate intervention and planning measures can be put in place.
Picture courtesy of Alan Schaller, Union Hand-Roasted Coffee
