Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Compliant
In India the law designates that corporations must allocate a portion of their profits to fund Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects. Funding may be allocated to charities, partnerships, volunteer programs, NGOs, working with government agencies, or non-profit organizations.
In conjunction with conserving biodiversity being a national responsibility (as designated by the government of India), and a global responsibility (as designated by the XI Conference of Parties Convention on Biological Diversity (Hyderabad, India 2012)), more and more corporations are finding ways and means to support the conservation of animal genetic biodiversity resources.
This is especially important now considering that the United Nations development agency has launched an ambitious new global strategy to combat unprecedented levels of biodiversity loss. At the recently concluded 11th CoP - Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at Hyderabad, India there were calls for “significant" increases in biodiversity investments in 100 countries – while at the same time aiming to foster economic growth and create jobs in addition to protecting endangered species and habitats.
Example of a CSR Funded Project - Airbus Bio-Gas Units Reduce CO2 and Restore Local Forests and Fauna.
In India, corporationscan incorporate biodiversity conservation as part of their corporate social responsibility mandate. They can also forge partnerships with relevant government / non-government, non-profit organizations, and other charitable organizations. This India initiative aims to encourage companies to build biodiversity into their corporate social responsibility plans.
As the initiative was in line with an Airbus corporate social responsibility program and its commitment to promote biodiversity, Airbus employees have now embarked on their third biodiversity project in India. Recently, a group of 16 Airbus volunteers left for a three-week expedition to India, as part of a biodiversity program, launched by the Airbus Corporate Foundation in 2010.
The program runs in partnership with Raleigh International, the Indian government, the UN's Development Programme and several Indian non-governmental organizations. Five biogas units have already been built in Kudimery village in Tamil Nadu state, Southern India. These plants powered by cow dung/cow manure are fully operating today and have significantly contributed to improve the community's life, socially and economically. Furthermore, by reducing the households' wood consumption, the biogas units (biogas plants) resulted in reducing CO2 emissions and helped to protect and restore local forests and fauna.
"The India bio-diversity project is an immensely popular way for Airbus volunteers from all around the world to help communities and at the same time learn about environmental awareness, how to be innovative, and to manage natural resources in eco-efficient ways"
- Andrea Debbane, Head of the Airbus Corporate Foundation
The current group of Airbus volunteers, originated from France, Germany, Spain, UK, China, India, and the US are aged between 22 and 55, and will now build another set of plants in neighbouring Kadalakoly village in Tamil Nadu state, Southern India. Upon return, the volunteers have committed to share their experience not only with their colleagues but also with local organizations and schools with whom the Airbus Corporate Foundation has built relationships. At present six biodiversity projects with local youth are underway in France, Germany, Spain and the UK. The Airbus Corporate Foundation aims at facilitating charitable activities worldwide under one roof within an international network of employees, associations and international organizations. Social responsibility coupled with a greater responsibility to take care of the environment has been at the heart of the Airbus business activities for a long time. The Airbus Corporate Foundation focuses its support on three themes: Humanitarian and community support, Youth development, Environment.