Bayer - Eco-Minds - Youth Environment Partnership

About Eco-Minds

Bayer and UNEP: Partners for Youth and Environment

Eco-Minds is a project in the Asia-Pacific region, in which Bayer and UNEP encourage students to develop scientific solutions to sustainable development problems.

Bayer became the first private-sector company to partner with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in environmental projects for young people. Under an agreement signed by Prof. Klaus Töpfer, the former UNEP Executive Director, 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.

UNEP and Bayer AG - Partners for youth and the Environment

Bayer and UNEP have worked together on specific projects in the Asia-Pacific region for many years. The 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. At the heart of the partnership is the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Program, where young people visit Bayer to learn about sustainable development and various methods of environmental protection. They are expected to pass on this knowledge when they return to their home countries. The activities to be built up over the next few years include a range of other initiatives for children and students, local environment forums, and a program for young journalists. Cooperation will focus on the Asia-Pacific Region, Latin America and Central Eastern Europe.

"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 to strengthening young people's environmental awareness and improving their knowledge of the environment."