AstraZeneca to invest $400 Million in Reforestation and biodiversity to Support Climate Action and Human Health

AstraZeneca has announced a $400 million investment in its global AZ Forest program me, raising its commitment to plant 200 million trees by 2030 and ensure their long-term survival. This includes new or expanded projects in Brazil, India, Vietnam, Ghana and Rwanda that will contribute to the company’s climate action, restore nature, promote biodiversity and build ecological and community resilience, spanning over 100,000 hectares worldwide.

The investment builds on AstraZeneca’s initial AZ Forest commitment, announced in 2020, to plant and maintain more than 50 million trees by the end of 2025 in recognition of the strong connection between healthy people and a healthy planetAZ Forest is part of AstraZeneca’s flagship sustainability strategy, Ambition Zero Carbon, which is focused on delivering deep decarburization in line with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting planetary warming to 1.5°C.3. The Company is on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from its operations and fleet by 98% by 2026* and halve its entire value chain footprint by 2030, on the way to a 90% absolute emissions reduction and becoming science-based net zero by 2045 at the latest. Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer, AstraZeneca, said: “The twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss are damaging the planet and harming human health.

Through AZ Forest, we are working with local communities and ecological experts to deliver reforestation at scale, as well as support biodiversity and sustain livelihoods. Marc Palahí, Chair, Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA), said: “Forests play a key role in fighting climate change, hosting biodiversity and powering a circular bioeconomy that prospers in harmony with nature. Forests and trees are the backbone for life on our planet and the basis for human health and wellbeing. Three-quarters of land globally has been significantly altered by human activities, with profound effects on ecosystems and population health.5,6 Reforestation is a nature-based solution which can mitigate the effects of climate change as it removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and contributes to climate adaptation and resilience.