25 Years GREEN
A quarter of a century. That’s how long our employees have been working with local youth to help them better understand their impact on local watersheds.
This year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of our signature watershed education program, GM Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN).
Each year we mentor approximately 9,000 students through water monitoring events, classroom visits and student-driven watershed improvement projects.
Working with community environmental groups and schools, GM employees and students don waders to retrieve, test and analyze water samples from local rivers and streams to assess their water quality. They then channel findings into a sustainable action plan addressing water quality issues in their communities.
GREEN has made a huge impact over the past 25 years, engaging more than 142,000 students and more than 3,000 employees. We have forty-two sites that participate in the program – including all of our U.S. manufacturing plants – with more joining each year.
GREEN sharpens problem-solving skills, improves knowledge of science and the environment and encourages community involvement. The program proves how resource conservation can benefit everyone – including students, teachers, environmental groups and GM employees, a testament to the program’s sustainability and growth.
At General Motors, we are committed to conserving water throughout our operations. Between 2005 and 2010, we reduced water use per vehicle produced by 32 percent and committed to another 15-percent reduction by 2020. Employee dedication to community outreach further makes an impact in protecting this critical resource.
We recognize the important role companies have not only in their own environmental stewardship, but in working with communities to arm the next generation of leaders with an appreciation for civic engagement and preserving natural resources.
