Through an interactive online portal at TeamEarth.com, the campaign prompts individuals to make a commitment to "do more" or "do less" to address five key issues, beginning with climate change and moving on to water, food, health and waste. The Web site contains a targeted list of manageable changes people can make, identified by scientists from Conservation International and the non-profit organization, Rocky Mountain Institute, that have the potential to yield significant results. These scientists are a compilation of the most credible and experienced in the field of conservation, namely forest and energy preservation. The suggestions they outlined are some of the most impactful actions individuals can take, while still being easily implemented in our everyday lives. Examples include making pledges to "use less" paper and "use more" CFL bulbs.
"Team Earth and the 'Do More, Do Less' campaign are about bringing people together through a joint commitment to help ensure that our world has clean air, fresh water, and a stable climate for everyone. When each of us makes a personal contribution, the cumulative impact is huge," said Conservation International chairman and CEO, Peter Seligmann.
Team Earth will be working with leading brands to tackle the five key issues through targeted outreach campaigns. The first campaign begins with Team Earth's newest partner, eBay Inc. Now through Earth Day on April 22nd, for every person who takes eBay's Green Team challenge (committing to buy pre-owned, vintage or gently-used products when possible), eBay will protect an acre of threatened forest. Individuals will be able to choose to protect an acre in one of three forests in either Mexico, Brazil or the Democratic Republic of Congo. Taking measures to preserve forests is an essential step in tackling climate change.
Making a difference can start with small, simple efforts. This month, Starbucks and Conservation International are launching a new Starbucks Card made with 80 percent post-industrial recycled materials. Each time you pay with the "Preservation" Card (from March 9 through December 31, 2010) Starbucks will donate 5 cents to Conservation International to help save forests. Over the next six months, Team Earth will continue to roll out innovative corporate initiatives that support the “Do More, Do Less” campaign.
Both the eBay and Starbucks campaigns will allow consumers to support the Team Earth action to "protect an acre" of rainforest. The world's tropical forests contain huge quantities of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that causes climate change. Their destruction causes stored carbon to be released as carbon dioxide, threatening the ability of forests to filter rivers and provide homes for everything from parrots to jaguars. The damaging effect of deforestation is far greater than all the world's cars, trucks, and planes combined. Every year, the world loses some 32 million acres (130,000sqkm) of tropical forests—an area the size of England. The result is changing rainfall patterns, rising ocean levels and increased drought.
Last fall, in partnership with Dell, Harrah's, SC Johnson, Starbucks, and Wrigley, Conservation International introduced Team Earth at an event in New York City with the help of actor and CI board member, Harrison Ford and the President of Guyana,Bharrat Jagdeo. Team Earth is a global effort to unite businesses, non-profit organizations, scientists, educators, and individuals around collective action initiatives. Conservation International applies science when developing Team Earth's campaign challenges and actions. Team Earth's founding partners serve an integral role in the “Do More, Do Less” campaign with their pledged commitment to engage employees and consumers to help build membership.
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