14 years of climate action: 162,000 trees planted

Forests have a wide range of positive effects on the climate and the environment as a whole. The Pro Klima initiative – a joint initiative by MB Energy, Petronord and OIL! petrol stations – therefore supports, amongst other things, reforestation projects in Germany. For example, in collaboration with the Schleswig-Holstein State Forestry Authority and the Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald e.V., over 162,000 trees have already been planted in recent years. The project began in 2008 on a 100,000 m² site in Bönebüttel, Schleswig-Holstein, where 40,000 trees were planted. Further locations followed, with between 10,000 and 23,300 trees planted at each: Borstel-Hohenraden, Hemdingen, Hohenlockstedt, Bad Salzuflen, Weye, Hasloh, Forst Klövensteen and Sarlhusen. As part of further reforestation campaigns by the Pro Klima initiative, several roadside and park trees were also planted in North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria to enhance the urban landscape. Employees from the participating companies play an active role in the reforestation efforts, which also gives them an insight into the project’s progress. In addition, joint reforestation campaigns are organised with customers as well as local school classes and nurseries.

In 2020, no joint reforestation activities took place due to the coronavirus pandemic; however, the initiative took on the sponsorship of a 2,500 m² area in Löhne, North Rhine-Westphalia.

Furthermore, from 2008 to 2017, the Pro Klima initiative supported the OceanRAIN research project at the CliSAP Cluster of Excellence at the University of Hamburg, which aims to gain a better understanding of the effects of climate change through precipitation measurements and the analysis of satellite data, and to draw conclusions for environmentally friendly action.