In early April, the 2008 weather effect known as La Niña faded suddenly and more than expected. This has brought much-needed rainfall to a parched nation. However, the drought in Georgia, USA remains a profound crisis which even prolonged torrential rains only will begin to address. What’s to be done? We can’t just raze millions of structures and replant the forests which used to occupy that territory but we can engage in something almost as good and Delta Airlines is helping to lead the effort.
With its Force For Global Good initiative, Delta Airlines not only has embraced international corporate social responsibility but taken a very forward position, much like General Electric has with its Ecomagination program. Well done, folks!
If Delta cannot address the drought in Georgia, USA, its corporate home base, directly, what are its alternatives? Well, the Force For Global Good initiative is commendably broad and the environmental component is achieved in cooperation with an excellent organization, the Conservation Fund. Here’s how it works. When you book travel through Delta Airlines’ website, you can make a contribution to The Conservation Fund’s Go Zero program to plant trees to offset the carbon emissions which result from your flight.
The first major planting of trees through this partnership between Delta Airlines and the Conservation Fund is in Kansas, at a national wildlife refuge named Marais des Cygnes, which is French for marsh of swans.
Now, let’s be clear, air travel is a gigantic source of air pollution and global warming gases which are expected to increase significantly year over year. Nevertheless, Delta Airlines is one of a very small number of commercial carriers embracing international corporate social responsibility to this impressive extent and kudos are in order.
How will planting trees more than 800 miles to the west help alleviate the horrible drought in Georgia, USA? The effect will be neither immediate nor direct. However, trees play a vital role in the ability of our atmosphere to regulate temperate and rainfall patterns. By expanding the tree cover in Kansas, we improve the odds that the Atlanta area will receive more rain. Even if you are dubious about such an initiative, remember this: trees are vital to the larger effort to reduce global warming and they do, in fact, help offset some of the environmental impact of air travel.
More importantly, though, is the fact that Delta Airlines has embraced international corporate social responsibility, sustainability and reforestation as corporate policy and is investing hard currency in promoting their efforts. Not only that but Delta Airlines has begun an aggressive recycling effort which constitutes a small but very significant step toward curbing another source of pollution. In the end, Delta’s efforts fall short of reversing the huge sums of greenhouse gases which their operations generate but they have begun to address their role and I am very proud to tell you about their program. Now, let’s hope that the drought in Georgia, USA relents for everyone’s sake.
Sustainable Justice For All!
Corbett Kroehler
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