กรุงเทพฯ--26 มิ.ย.--FREELAND
Last night, sustainability legend Gro Harlem Brundtland, media guru and philanthropist Ted Turner, EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard, and 150 VIP guests celebrated the first concrete outcome at Rio+20: The launch of Sustainia100. FREELAND Foundation is proud to announce that our Growing the Future program has been chosen for this prestigious list of solutions.
FREELAND Foundation’s Growing the Future program helps economically disadvantaged families in rural Thailand take up organic mushroom farming as an alternative to poaching wildlife and illegal logging. The project provides agricultural training, start-up and marketing support, in exchange for a commitment to protect forests and wildlife. Most importantly, it gives conservation a market value by connecting growers with consumers who want organic products that help protect wildlife and natural ecosystems. Support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Blue Moon Fund has made Growing the Future possible.
“Southeast Asia desperately needs a model for propagating sustainable eco-friendly livelihoods and community forest stewardship. This scalable solution could be a key part of efforts to protect the region’s remaining forests, alleviate poverty, and protect endangered species. It also contributes directly to food security,” says Mukda Thongnaitham, FREELAND's Community Development Manager.
Gathered from 56 countries spread over six continents, Sustainia100 is a complete guide to innovative and scalable solutions instrumental in creating sustainable societies. Building on ready and available solutions only, Sustainia100 is as a tangible tool for sustainability professionals — from politicians to CEOs- dedicated to create desirable and sustainable societies.
“I am very excited and inspired by this as it makes it absolutely clear that our mission is possible. That we do have the ammunition we need to tackle this challenge. That we have what it takes to create fun and attractive societies without destroying our planet “ says Arnold Schwarzenegger, Honorary Chair of Sustainia.
Individually, the solutions represent sustainable innovation in areas such as city planning, energy, fashion, water and waste management, high-tech and transportation. Collectively, they provide a guide of the building blocks available for transforming our societies.
Sustainia100 is a cornerstone in Sustainia. A construction site for the desirable society we could live in if we implemented ready and available solutions. Developed by world-leading companies, organizations and experts in close collaboration with UN Global Compact and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s initiative Regions20, Sustainia is the first holistic introduction to the attractive sustainable future.
Sustainia100 solutions are nominees for the Sustainia Award, which honours outstanding performance within sustainability. The winner will be announced at a ceremony later this year in Copenhagen.
For more information and/or photos, contact:
Seamas McCaffrey
FREELAND Communications Officer
[email protected] / +66-2-204-2720