OMV Move & Help 2008: Initiative for Saving Energy
The international social program OMV Move & Help, established in 2004, concentrates on current, socially relevant concerns. With Caritas, SOS Children’s Villages and UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) as partners, the focus of OMV Move & Help this year is on the environment and energy efficiency.
- Austria-Wide Fuel Saving Campaign in Cooperation with “klima:aktiv”
- Support of International Partner Organizations
- Panel Discussion Honoring World Environment Day
“This year we are concentrating our Move & Help activities in the area of energy efficiency and in cooperation with experienced partner organizations we are implementing education projects for children and teenagers,“ says OMV CEO Wolfgang Ruttenstorfer. “In order to direct greater attention to the program both internally and externally, in 2008 the program is even more closely integrated into OMV business activities and the individual business segments of the group. Sustainability should be targeted in everything the company does.“
Austria-Wide Fuel Saving Campaign in Cooperation with “klima:aktiv”
OMV Move & Help is a partner of the klima:aktiv initiative of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, and supports the Fuel Saving Campaign 2008. Its key focus is a fuel-saving competition in all of the Austrian federal states, culminating in a final event in Vienna.
The focus on saving fuel is also an important element of OMV
filling station activities this year. In addition to providing
clean, sulfur-free fuel and concerning itself with biofuels,
OMV also promotes sensible, climate-friendly and safe driving.
Thus Austrian drivers get useful tips on saving fuel at OMV
filling stations and are invited to participate in a prize
contest.
Support of International Partner Organizations
With financial contributions totaling EUR 300,000 to the aid organizations Caritas, SOS Children’s Villages and UNEP, the Move & Help program is dedicated to supporting activities concerned with the environment and energy efficiency. A further EUR 100,000 from the OMV Move & Help Education Fund provides assistance to children and teenagers at SOS Children’s Villages in Austria.
Caritas Austria
Environmentally Friendly Mobile Care
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Brochure on saving energy
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CNG vehicles for Caritas’s mobile care
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Training on saving fuel for employees
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“OMV Move & Help Hardship Cases Fund“
Working with Caritas, OMV Move & Help has started a pilot project on “Environmentally Friendly Mobile Care.” Core activities here are the provision of CNG vehicles and special training on saving fuel for employees, carried out in conjunction with klima:aktiv. The “OMV Move & Help Hardship Cases Fund“ provides support to Austrian families in need. With Caritas’s assistance in major purchases of appliances and repair work in their own homes, these families are able to save money and energy on a long-term basis and therefore also help protect the environment. In addition, a jointly prepared brochure gives low income households easy to follow tips on how to save energy in their homes and cars.
SOS Children’s Villages
Saving Energy Is Child’s Play
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CNG vehicles and training on saving fuel for the mothers of SOS Children’s Villages
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OMV Move & Help Education Fund
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Brochure: Children and teenagers from SOS Children’s Villages give tips on how to save energy
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New, environmentally friendly oil furnace for the SOS Clearing House in Salzburg
The focus of this year’s partnership with SOS Children’s Villages is on “Energy Saving & Mobility“ in Austria. OMV Move & Help’s support includes the purchase of CNG vehicles and training on saving fuel for the mothers of SOS Children’s Villages, carried out in cooperation with the klima:aktiv initiative. Moreover, OMV Move & Help is also making a contribution to support the conversion to energy efficient heating systems.
In mid 2006 the OMV Move & Help Education Fund was set up in collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages. As in the past, this year OMV will also provide financial support for the education of disadvantaged children and teenagers. Selection of the children and allocation of funds are carried out jointly with SOS Children’s Villages mothers and experienced educators. Activities financed include educational coaching, courses for children with special talents, and tuition fees and materials for study at colleges or other institutions of higher education. This year the OMV Move & Help Education Fund is also supporting a campaign on saving energy geared for children. Under the motto “Saving Energy is Child’s Play,” children and teenagers from SOS Children’s Villages give easy to follow tips on saving energy in an illustrated brochure.
UNEP – Projects:
International Education Program
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World Environment Day
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“Move4Nature Training Tour” in Hungary, Romania and Iran
In its first cooperative project with UNEP, the United Nations Environmental Programme, OMV Move & Help 2008 is initiating a “Move4Nature Training Tour“ in Hungary, Romania and Iran. This focuses on the development and support of eco education networks. Under the motto “Teach the Teachers,“ a roadshow will travel to some 50 schools in each country to provide training for teachers. Serving a multiplier function, these teachers will then assume responsibility for environmental education in the schools in their region. This special training covers such subjects as conservation of nature and proper waste management. Up to the end of 2009, teachers and students will receive instruction based on specially prepared teaching materials in English and the languages of the respective countries.
Another dimension of the program was support of UNEP on World Environment Day. This special day was called into being by the United Nations (UNEP) and since 1972 has been celebrated in different countries each year on June 5. New Zealand was the host country for the main activities this year, the slogan of which was “Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy.“ In cooperation with “Die Presse,” a leading Austrian newspaper, OMV Move & Help and UNEP addressed this topic in Austria. In a top level panel discussion, prominent participants explored the subject from different perspectives.
Panel Discussion Honoring World Environment Day
To mark the 36th World Environment Day of UNEP (United Nations Environmental Program) on June 5, a panel discussion for OMV employees and readers of "Die Presse" was held at the United Nations Office in Vienna on May 26, 2008.
How can we achieve a lasting reduction of greenhouse gas emissions? How can the transition to an environmentally friendly lifestyle and a climate friendly economy be accomplished? What can Austrians do, what framework conditions must be established by political means and what contributions can business and industry make? All of these topics were discussed by Helga Kromp-Kolb (climatologist, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna), Ernest Rudel (Head of the Department of Climatology, Vienna Hohe Warte), Wolfgang Ruttenstorfer (CEO, OMV Aktiengesellschaft), Stefan Schleicher (Professor at the Wegener Center of the University of Graz) and members of the audience.
This program was organized by the Move & Help partners UNEP and OMV to support environmental protection.
