Trees, a Remarkable Innovation, the Unsung Heroes of Mitigating Climate Change

When you really think about it, trees are an amazing innovation.

Trees:

• Clean the air we breathe.
• Filter the water we drink.
• Provide habitat to more than 80 percent of the world’s plants and animals. 

Forests provide jobs to more than 1.6 billion people, and they serve a critical function for humanity: they absorb carbon from the atmosphere. 

But, record breaking temperatures and extreme weather of late have fueled massive wildfires around the world, damaging the forests we depend on. It confirms what scientists have been predicting: that fires will become more frequent and more intense as climate change accelerates.

Cutting emissions in half by 2030 is a global challenge bigger than any single country or company. The climate decade is upon us, and we intend to play our part driven by who we are and what we do and our place in the IT ecosystem. We’ve made it a priority at VMware to define our own path to net zero carbon emissions and embedding sustainability into our business. 

Nature-based solutions, like restoring forest ecosystems, are one of the unsung heroes in mitigating the impacts of climate change. So, we’re planting more trees. And to mark the launch of one of our new solutions in a way that reflects our values, we’re supporting reforestation.

One of our new offerings, VMware Tanzu, is particularly special because of its meaning, which is “branch” in Swahili. The Tanzu portfolio will support businesses globally in their digital transformation. 

Like in nature, a branch is part of a larger system that connects components of the tree to the surrounding forest ecosystem. In many ways, ecosystems are like the operating system of the earth. Yet, earth’s operating system is damaged. 

While this is a global challenge, we’re convinced that we can be part of the solution to reboot the earth using not only digital technology, but also investing in one of the most transformative technologies– the mighty tree.

Building on our commitment to being a force for good, we’re celebrating the Tanzu launch with a contribution to critical reforestation efforts by planting a canopy of 50,000 trees. 

Trees have the power to regenerate and restore forests and ecosystems. The science is clear; now is the time to act. We’re committed to driving technology forward through innovation, partnerships, and collaboration on important issues like climate, so that we will leave our world in better shape for the generations that follow.

If you’re inspired to contribute additional impact, visit vmware.com/go/plant-a-tree.