Sanofi Vietnam’s general manager Emin Turan (white shirt) participates in a tree planting event at a secondary school in HCM City. — Photo Courtesy of Sanofi Vietnam

HCM CITY — On the occasion of World Environment Day (June 5) and the action month for the environment, Sanofi-Aventis Vietnam Company Limited (Sanofi Vietnam) in partnership with Gaia Nature Conservation Centre (Gaia) launched a project called "Expanding Green Spaces for HCM City" for the 2024-26 period.

This co-operative endeavor aims to improve the urban environment and promote sustainability by planting 100 trees at selected schools throughout the city.

HCM City faces a concerning lack of green spaces, with only 0.55 square metres of greenery per person, far below the government's recommended standard of 15 sq.m.

Many schools in the city require more green spaces, as children and teachers frequently want more shade to avoid bright sunshine and a fresh learning environment.

Therefore, this project seeks to establish a healthy learning environment that benefits both teachers and students' physical and mental health.

In addition, the initiative creates student-led tree planting clubs, arranges tree learning competitions, and encourages more than 4,000 students to participate in all project activities, such as tree planting, monitoring, and maintenance.

This year, Sanofi Vietnam and Gaia will plant 27 trees in four schools in District 12, engaging thousands of students and teachers.

The trees selected by Gaia are fast-growing and will be carefully nurtured for the first two years. After that, the responsibility will be handed over to the schools, and Gaia will periodically monitor them to ensure their continued growth.

They are expected to absorb up to 2,000 tonnes of CO2 over the next 50 years.

Emin Turan, general manager of Sanofi Vietnam, said the company reaffirms its commitment to sustainable development through the tree-planting initiative.

This project aims to mitigate carbon emissions by expanding green spaces, particularly in crowded areas, such as schools.

“Beyond contributing to the company's net-zero emissions goal, the initiative fosters a culture of environmental stewardship among employees, emphasising the importance of environmental considerations and protection,” he said.

Globally, Sanofi focuses on implementing its Planet Care strategy, which encompasses a range of initiatives to reduce the negative impact of climate change and improve the environmental profile of our products and services.

It aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and reduce emissions across its entire value chain by 2045, contributing to the global effort to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Sanofi Vietnam is partnering with non-profit organisations, NGOs, and global partners to implement activities that bring value to the community.

World Environment Day, initiated by the UN Environment Programme, calls on nations to take collective action for the environment. Tree planting and reforestation are among the practical activities aimed at realising the United Nations' goal of reducing carbon emissions. — VNS