The Baker Hughes Foundation revealed Monday its support for United Nations World Environment Day through two grants: a $310,000 donation to One Tree Planted and a $30,000 grant to the Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation (CELF). Both organizations share Baker Hughes’ commitment to fostering a sustainable environment and society where employees live and work.
Jim Apostolides, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Operational Excellence at Baker Hughes, emphasized the company’s role in advancing the energy technology sector towards net-zero emissions and a sustainable energy future. He highlighted the significance of partnerships with organizations like One Tree Planted and CELF in progressing towards a more sustainable environment.
World Environment Day, led by the United Nations Environment Program and celebrated annually in June since 1973, serves as a global platform for environmental outreach. The grants provided by the Baker Hughes Foundation support climate education, biodiversity, and global restoration efforts.
The Foundation’s grant to One Tree Planted will aid 12 urban forestry projects worldwide, particularly in vulnerable areas. One Tree Planted’s mission focuses on reforesting the planet, promoting tree awareness, and inspiring action. The Foundation’s contributions have facilitated the planting of over 1 million trees across 17 countries.
Hank Lynch, President and CEO of One Tree Planted, expressed gratitude for the Foundation’s continued support, highlighting their significant contributions to global reforestation and landscape restoration initiatives.
CELF, dedicated to integrating sustainability into K-12 education, will utilize the grant to support a program partnership in Houston. This initiative engages over 2,000 students from Title 1 schools in Houston’s environmental justice communities, providing professional learning and student engagement programs. The programs aim to equip teachers and administrators with skills to embed environmental literacy concepts into subjects and engage students in place-based inquiry projects, fostering transferable workforce skills.
Tara Stafford Ocansey, Executive Director of CELF, expressed gratitude for the Foundation’s support, which will further develop their Civic Science: Inquiry to Action program in Greater Houston, connecting more students and teachers with local green spaces and opportunities to investigate energy consumption.
These grants align with the Baker Hughes Foundation’s mission to support communities where they operate and promote environmental outcomes and education. The donations also contribute to advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 15 on terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity conservation, SDG 4 on inclusive education, and SDG 12 on sustainable consumption and production patterns.
