Our path to net zero: supporting global biodiversity efforts
August 15, 2024
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The health of women depends on the health of our planet. And while climate change affects everyone, it has a disproportionate impact on women and girls. That is why Organon is committed to implementing environmentally sustainable practices and initiatives across our operations to build a brighter future for her.
We are supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy, with the long-term ambition to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in our operations and through our supply chain. We are making incremental progress through our carbon reduction and offsetting efforts, including our focus on biodiversity projects.
Through a partnership with Climate Impact Partners, a specialist in carbon market solutions for climate action, we have selected two projects that restore and conserve biodiversity and support communities.
These projects enable us to offset 2023 GHG emissions from our major office locations*, which account for nearly half of our total emissions from all offices and labs worldwide.
“We are proud to work with organizations like Organon to deliver action on climate change and create a more sustainable world. Our partnership approach helps organizations address their environmental impacts through high-quality carbon market solutions that also deliver positive impact for nature and local communities,” said Frederieke Barber, Senior Manager Client Solutions, Climate Impact Partners.
Organon is supporting two nature-based projects:
The Mississippi Valley Reforestation Project in the United States
As a result of sustained deforestation and agricultural land use conversion, over 75% of dense forest cover was lost in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. This project aims to reforest one million acres of this land through the voluntary enrollment of local landowners who commit to planting and protecting trees, reducing nearly 100 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per hectare.
The Three Rivers Grassland Restoration Project in China
The region of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang Rivers, also known as the Three Rivers in the Chinese province of Qinghai, has suffered grassland degradation over the past few decades due to overgrazing and warming. This restoration project covers over 160,000 hectares of degraded grasslands by seeding three species of native grass, which provides biodiversity benefits in a key biodiversity area which is home to endangered species such as the steppe eagle, saker falcon, and alpine musk deer.
In addition, more than half of the twelve thousand local herders employed as part of the project are women. By receiving training in sustainable grassland management skills and participating in community activities together with men, these women are empowered to choose outdoor work versus working in the home which is customary locally.
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“The impactful nature-based projects we’ve selected in close collaboration with Climate Impact Partners go beyond carbon reduction – they restore vital ecosystems and protect endangered species, perfectly aligning with Organon’s net-zero ambition and biodiversity goals,” said Sofie van Steerteghem, Senior Specialist, Environmental Sustainability Programs at Organon.
The Mississippi Valley Reforestation project is verified under the American Carbon Registry while the Three Rivers Grassland Restoration project is verified under Verified Carbon Standard. Offsetting our 2023 GHG emissions from our major offices via carbon offset certification bodies ensures credibility, transparency, and measurable impact on our carbon reduction efforts.
* Major office locations refers to our largest offices based on square footage
Photo credit: Climate Impact Partners