Bayer and UNEP establish global partnership for youth environmental projects

Our Corporate Bureau
24 June 2004

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.