Leverkusen: The global chemicals group Bayer AG of Germany, has become the first private sector company to partner with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in environmental projects for young people.

Under an agreement signed 21 June 2004 by Prof. Klaus Töpfer, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and Werner Wenning, chairman of Bayer''s management board, Bayer will provide annual funding of around EUR 1 million and additional non-financial support to promote environmental projects for young people in collaboration with UNEP, initially for a three-year period.

"As a research-based enterprise, Bayer traditionally places great emphasis on promoting science education for young people," explained Werner Wenning. "We have therefore been actively involved in environmental programs for young people for many years. Through our international cooperation with UNEP we will be continuing to support specific projects geared towards strengthening young people''s environmental awareness and improving their knowledge of the environment. This is particularly important in countries where environmental protection is not accorded the same priority as it is in Germany."

Professor Klaus Töpfer, executive director of UNEP and former German environment minister, has long-standing experience of working with Bayer. "I am delighted that Bayer has joined us in the vital task of reaching out to young people. Bayer is a particularly good partner because its activities in this area are an outstanding example of how we can involve young people in environmental projects in partnership with the private sector."

Bayer and UNEP have earlier worked together on specific projects in the Asia-Pacific region for many years. The present cooperation agreement will serve as a basis for them to step up current projects, transfer successful initiatives to other countries and develop ideas for new projects in this field.

At the heart of the partnership is the Young Environmental Envoy Program, where young people visit Bayer to learn about sustainable development and various methods of environmental protection. They are expected to pass this knowledge on when they return to their home countries.

The activities to be built up over the next few years include a range of other initiatives for children and students, local environment forums and the Environmental Prize for Media, an award for young journalists introduced last year. Cooperation will focus on the Asia-Pacific Region, Latin America and Central Eastern Europe.

Werner Wenning stressing Bayer''s commitment said, "I am certain that this cooperation is an outstanding example of far-sighted partnership directed at youth and the environment. Environmental protection remains a central issue that we need to advance across generations and national boundaries. Our commitment to environmental programs for young people is an investment in the future which encapsulates the true meaning of sustainable development." He also underscored Bayer''s dedication to sustainable development: "We endeavor to balance economic, ecological and social considerations. However, in the long term only companies that are successful - and that means commercially viable - will be able to make a contribution to ecology." Bayer currently supports more than 300 social projects around the world.