"Importance of Climate Change, Children Should Know Too" Mercedes-Benz Social Contribution Draws Attention

"The average temperature in the Arctic is rising, causing glaciers to melt rapidly and polar bears to lose their homes. In Australia, droughts have led to wildfires, making koalas sick. This is due to climate change, and it is a serious issue that is not a distant problem but one that is approaching us directly."

The Mercedes-Benz Social Contribution Committee has been conducting an environmental education program called ‘GreenPlus Kids’ since February last year, targeting lower-grade elementary school students with content tailored to their level. This is because they recognized that climate change is not only a problem for the older generation to address but also something the younger generation needs to be aware of early on.

Children are sorting recyclables at the Green Plus Village, a children's environmental education experience camp recently conducted by the Mercedes-Benz Social Contribution Committee.

The committee has been carrying out a social contribution activity called ‘Mercedes-Benz GreenPlus’ since 2021 to protect the environment. So far, more than 25,000 people have participated. While adults take the lead in practical environmental cleanup activities, children are approached differently by fostering their awareness of the environment.

GreenPlus Kids informs children about the importance of the environment and encourages them to participate in actions to protect the Earth themselves. Although not everyone can become an environmental activist, the program was started to at least raise awareness about the importance of the environment. It consists of modular education divided into two stages?carbon neutrality and climate action?followed by experiential learning.

Mercedes-Benz Social Contribution Committee's Children's Environmental Education Experience Camp Green Plus Village

This year, an environmental education experience camp for children was held last month, with about 350 lower-grade elementary students from across the country participating. The children made eco-friendly flower pots by recycling coffee grounds and produced reusable handkerchiefs to replace wet wipes. They also learned about national certification environmental marks such as organic, pesticide-free labels, and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, as well as how to properly separate waste for recycling.

The company stated, "We will strive to create an atmosphere that can lead to participation along with changes in public awareness," and added, "We will carry out various environmental projects targeting children to instill proper values and to foster interest and concern about environmental issues."

The committee’s social contribution activities targeting children are not limited to the environmental field. The German headquarters introduced a children’s traffic safety education program called ‘Mobile Kids’ in 2001. So far, about 1.6 million people have participated in 13 countries worldwide. It has been conducted domestically since 2014. In cooperation with the Green Mothers’ Central Association, they signed an agreement and produced special flags to promote traffic safety and prevent traffic accidents in school zones, which were delivered to elementary schools and police in 14 districts of Seoul. Additionally, they held a campaign called ‘Play the Safety,’ where children can learn traffic safety through experiential activities, and a children’s drawing contest on the theme of traffic safety rules.