Month: June 2023

By Dan Lambe

I’m proud to share that the Arbor Day Foundation has helped plant 500 million trees over our 51-year history.

The number can be a little tough to wrap your head around. But when you look past the monumental number and consider each individual tree, the full picture of the impact of this milestone starts to take shape.

These trees have found homes in front yards and back yards all over the U.S. They’ve taken root in National Forests and National Parks. They’ve restored critical habitats for wildlife in more than 50 countries around the world. These 500 million trees have worked to right the wrongs of environmental inequities and nurture neighborhoods attempting to recover from natural disasters. Whether standing alone or among a bountiful forest, each of these 500 million trees has served to enrich the well-being of our climate and our communities.

At the Arbor Day Foundation, we make sure every tree we help plant is put in the ground with intention. Our team is motivated by purpose and the mission to better the planet. For us, 500 million is not simply a total sum. These 500 million trees represent our legacy and our longstanding commitment to a healthy environment.

Of course, this landmark occasion is also a reminder that our work is a team effort.

Planting 500 million trees is no small feat, and the achievement is a testament to the unwavering support of our corporate and planting partners. Throughout the last five decades, the Arbor Day Foundation has been fortunate to grow its network to include world leaders like the United Nations, federal organizations like the U.S. Forest Service, and environmental nonprofits like the World Wildlife Fund. Our longstanding connections with grassroots changemakers in local communities and our expansive membership network have also played a key role in reaching this milestone. These relationships have expanded our resources and knowledge and, in turn, furthered our ability to plant more trees where they’re needed most.

But as proud as we are about planting 500 million trees, we know it’s still not enough.

Climate change is worsening the impact of natural disasters, threatening food and water supply and it’s claiming lives. A report from 2021, says about 5 million deaths can be linked to climate change annually. Ultimately, it’ll take time for humanity to significantly reduce greenhouse gases enough to stop climate change in its tracks. But we can be working right now to slow its effects. Planting trees is one of the most effective nature-based solutions to mitigating the impact of a changing climate.

There’s an urgent need for another 500 million new trees. And the Arbor Day Foundation is already on its way.

Last summer, the Arbor Day Foundation announced its ambitious goal to plant 500 million new trees by June 2027. The world needs leaders to step up and accelerate the impact trees and forests have today. The Arbor Day Foundation is uniquely positioned to be part of that effort by planting trees with focus and at scale. By leveraging technology and our vast network of partners, we’re working to put our next 500 million trees in the neighborhoods and forests where they’re needed most.

We already know that 500 million trees can be a game changer.

Imagine what 500 million more could do.

Dan Lambe is CEO of the Arbor Day Foundation, the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. He can be reached at dlambe@arborday.org. 

C-suite leaders and other private- and public-sector leaders will convene at The Conference Board Sustainability Summit: Thriving Amid the Global Energy Transition on July 13 and 14 in New York City to discuss how to prepare for the fundamental transformation of business to net zero, and we hope that you can join them.

Topics will focus on how your company can prepare and prosper during a broader sustainability transition of the economy that emphasizes environmental and social responsibility and which promises to match the scale, scope, and impact of the digital revolution.

As a 3BL subscriber, we wanted to extend a $500 discount when you register by Friday, June 16. Sign up with code 3BLVIP to lock in savings today.

World-leading speakers who will share their expert insights include:

Eloiza T.B. Domingo, VP, Human Resources and Chief Inclusive Diversity & Equity Officer, AllstateKaren Jarmoc, Chief Sustainability Director, AllstateMneesha Nahata, SVP, Legal & Chief Sustainability Officer, American TowerOlivia Wassenaar, Partner, Head of Sustainable Investing and Head of Natural Resources, Apollo Global Management, Inc.Brian Halweil, Strategic Associate, Astanor VenturesAnn Tracy, Chief Sustainability Officer, Colgate-PalmoliveMercedes García Pérez, Head of Global Issues and Innovation, Delegation of the European Union to the United StatesHugh Welsh, General Counsel, Secretary & President, DSM North AmericaLouis Gritzo, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer, FM GlobalBrian Singer, Managing Dir. & Global Head of GS SUSTAIN, Global Investment Research, Goldman SachsKaren Y. Johns, CEO, GOOD InstituteVeena Jayadeva, Head of Enterprise ESG & Chief of Staff to the Chief Information and Operations Officer, Guardian LifeZoë Beck, Assistant Vice President of Sustainability, HCA HealthcareLisa Fewins, Corporate Sustainability Director, HDREdan Dionne, VP, Environmental, Energy and Chemical Management Programs, Corporate Environmental Affairs, IBMMitrankur Majumdar, SVP and Global Head – Services, InfosysPeter Cherukuri, CEO, LeaderBoard MediaCeleste Warren, VP, Global Diversity & Inclusion, Center of Excellence, MerckPatricia Hargil, VP, Performance Transformation and D&I Officer, Messer AmericasKara Fulcher, Dir. of Sustainability, North America, MichelinJeffrey Whitford, Vice President of Sustainability and Social Business Innovation, MilliporeSigmaCatherine Roggero-Lovisi, CEO, Modern MeadowJohn Gibson, VP, External and Multicultural Affairs, Motion Picture AssociationCharles Neidenbach, Lead ESG Advisor, NasdaqRick Fraumann, Dir. of Sales, Okapi Environmental ServicesTessa Recendes, Ph.D., Asst. Professor of Management and Organization, Penn State UniversityNick Anstett, Managing Dir., PollinationRoman Kramarchuk, Head, Future Energy Analytics – Commodities Insights, S&P GlobalAnna Pierce, Dir., Sustainability, Tate & LyleAlexander Heil, Ph.D., Sr. Economist, The Conference BoardErin McLaughlin, Sr. Economist, ESF Center, The Conference BoardSteven Rochlin, CEO, IMPACT ROI, and Program Director, The Conference BoardDana M Peterson, Chief Economist and Center Leader, Economy, Strategy & Finance, The Conference BoardPaul Washington, Exec. Dir., ESG Center, The Conference BoardDave Armon, CEO, 3BL MediaRyan Fitzpatrick, Senior Director of the Climate and Energy Program, Third WayChris Gray, SVP, ESG/Sustainability, UnitedHealth GroupDavid Livingston, Sr. Advisor, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, U.S. Department of StateClaudia Toussaint, SVP, Chief People and Sustainability Officer, Xylem

Register now to join executives from Fortune 500 companies and other noteworthy global organizations like Bristol-Myers Squibb, Corning, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Hess, Merck, NextEra Energy, Procter & Gamble, Rockwell Automation and more.
To receive a $500 discount, register now with code 3BLVIP before this offer ends on Friday, June 16th.

We hope to see you there!

Kind regards,
The Conference Board Programming Team

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