REDUCING LOCAL CARBON FOOTPRINT

UMW Toyota Motor to collaborate with Ministry of Education to raise awareness among students

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has collaborated with Ministry of Education to raise awareness among students on reducing its carbon footprint.

UMWT deputy chairman Akio Takeyama, in a meeting with students in Melaka recently, said environment protection is an integral part of the carmaker’s corporate social responsibility.

In a statement, he said the Toyota Eco Youth programme will have real impact when the participating students become leaders making appropriate decision with a care for the habitat.

Toyota Eco Youth was first introduced in 2001. The conclusion for this year’s Toyota Eco Youth programme will be in October.

The event will include a threeday event entailing exhibition of the projects by select schools.

“As of today, 235 schools, close to 1800 students and more than 700 teachers and principals have participated and contributed towards the success of Toyota Eco Youth initiative,” said Takeyama.

“We hope to see the biodiversity intact, the ecosystems preserved and natural habitat conserved for our future generation,” he added.

“Our objective of inculcating the right attitude is yielding results as more students are now aware and are outspoken about caring for the environment,” said Education Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof.

UMWT president Ravindran Kurusamy said the group remains committed to the continuation of this programme and has invested RM 6.3 million since it was conceptualised in 2001.

UMWT successful implementation of this CSR activity annually is to instil an awareness and interest among students to orientate their lives towards the benefits of carbon footprint reduction over the years. “We are all investing now for the future.”