This World Environment Day, we’re going beyond awareness to highlight real, tangible change. Across the globe, trailblazing individuals and organizations are tackling the climate crisis with creativity, commitment, and a strong understanding of local needs. And they’re doing it through powerful partnerships.

One such collaboration is led by Tech To The Rescue, a nonprofit that bridges the gap between technology companies and mission-driven organizations to address critical global issues. In partnership with Lenovo and other key stakeholders, they’ve launched the AI for Changemakers Accelerator Program - a bold initiative aimed at scaling social innovation through artificial intelligence.

At the center of this effort is the Lenovo AI for Social Impact Lab, which provides direct support to twelve innovative nonprofits working across climate and education. As an associate sponsor, Lenovo contributes more than just inspiration—it delivers vital technology, tools, and resources to help these organizations transform visionary ideas into practical AI-driven solutions.

“Technology has the power to improve countless lives—immediately. AI for good must become the backbone of our solutions, not just an aspiration.” - Jacek Siadkowski, CEO, Tech To The Rescue

“With the AI for Social Impact Lab, our mission is to empower grassroots initiatives by giving them not just knowledge, but also the right tools to scale effectively.” - Santiago Mendez Galvis, EMEA Head of Philanthropy, Lenovo

Today, we highlight five pioneering nonprofits from the climate sector, supported by Lenovo, who are already using AI to amplify their community impact.

Meet the Lenovo Climate Fellows Driving Global Change
Justdiggit: Restoring Land to Cool the Earth (Africa, Global)
Operating in East Africa, Justdiggit has successfully revitalized over 60,000 hectares of degraded land. Now, with AI tools, they’re building tailored recommendation engines for farmers and satellite-based monitoring systems.

“We believe AI can revolutionize how farmers learn and act—leading to a greener, cooler planet. Lenovo’s support has fast-tracked our ability to test smart, human-centered AI solutions.” - Carl Lens, Head of Digital Regreening, Justdiggit

Their work proves that climate solutions can be simple, cost-effective, and deeply impactful when placed in capable hands.

Reap Benefit: Empowering Youth to Lead Climate Action (India)
Reap Benefit is igniting civic and environmental change through youth innovation. With over 121,000 participants generating more than 560,000 data points, they are now enhancing their impact using AI.

Their vision includes an AI-powered virtual mentor that offers localized, multilingual, and personalized guidance to make climate action more accessible.

“Being part of the Lenovo AI for Social Impact Lab has allowed us to explore AI as a transformative force at the grassroots—turning access into agency for young changemakers.” - Gauthamraj Elango, Tech Leader, Reap Benefit

Their in-house AI Impact Lab is already fueling initiatives from air quality storytelling to peer-led mentorship.

Reboot the Future: Reinventing Climate Education (UK, Global)
With a network of 19,000 educators, Reboot the Future is reshaping climate education in the UK. Their focus is on nurturing compassionate leaders, not just informed students.

Using AI, they’re designing adaptive classroom resources that support teachers and amplify student engagement in climate discussions and policymaking.

“Thanks to Lenovo’s support, we’re creating AI tools that help educators inspire young people to care deeply about the planet—and act on that care.” - Bruna Bertuzzi, Head of Digital Transformation, Reboot the Future

By integrating AI into their platform, they provide educators with timely, values-based support that transforms overwhelm into action.

Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR): Building Climate-Resilient Farming (India)
WOTR has long been a catalyst for water security and sustainable agriculture in rural India. Today, they’re enhancing their outreach with AI-driven pest forecasting, adaptive climate advisories, and smart farming tools.

“The Lenovo AI Lab enables us to harness advanced technology to build resilience, support livelihoods, and expand our reach across climate-vulnerable communities.” - Ajay Shelke, IT & GIS Expert, WOTR

With AI, WOTR is making smallholder farming more sustainable—and more viable economically.

WeRobotics: Using Drones and AI for Local Impact (Global)
WeRobotics equips local experts with drones, data, and AI to tackle issues in agriculture, conservation, and disaster response. Their "Flying Labs" across regions like Uganda and Senegal are applying this technology to real-world challenges—from crop monitoring to wildlife tracking.

“Lenovo’s partnership strengthens our ability to explore how AI can improve drone data interpretation, enabling faster and smarter field decisions.” - Diego Paolo Ferruzzo Correa, WeRobotics

AI is enhancing the precision and inclusivity of their field operations—advancing everything from agricultural planning to emergency response.

From Ideas to Impact: A Collective Future
These organizations aren’t just imagining possibilities—they’re implementing solutions today, powered by pro bono collaborations with technology partners. Whether it’s regenerating ecosystems or rethinking education, they’re proving that AI can serve humanity and the planet in powerful ways.

This World Environment Day, we honor not only their vision but also the concrete tools and innovations they’re building. Because the future of Earth must be a shared effort—co-created in classrooms, refined in farmlands, and realized in communities everywhere.

Mike Shantz, Senior Category Manager for Griffith Foods’ Global Alternative Proteins division, understands the critical role alternative proteins play in complementing traditional animal-based proteins.

"As the global population is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, it is vital to find ways to enhance food production while using fewer resources," Mike explains. Alternative proteins provide a sustainable solution that supports both human health and environmental well-being. They are nutritious, cost-effective, and widely accessible. Griffith Foods' Alternative Protein Portfolio is designed to meet consumer expectations for taste, texture, and variety.
Explore our Alternative Protein Portfolio by visiting our website.

At Griffith Foods, our purpose defines our identity, our mission, and what sets us apart in the industry. We collaborate with our partners to meet the changing needs of consumers in a way that respects and sustains the planet. Through innovation and a balance of global reach and local impact, we aim to nourish both people and the planet.

Our commitment to sustainability is guided by three key pillars: People, Planet, and Performance.

We prioritize the well-being of our employees and the communities we serve.

We recognize our shared responsibility for the environment and take proactive measures to protect it.

We uphold ethical business practices and strategic operations to create lasting, positive impacts for our company and everyone we work with.

Protecting Our Most Vital Resource
Water stands as one of the most valuable resources on our planet. Each person consumes around four liters daily, and water is essential not only for human consumption but also for agriculture, industry, and the very sustenance of life.
 
The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) positions itself as a "trusted water partner for life," focusing on providing water and wastewater services to ensure the health and sustainability of communities. OCWA manages the treatment of water and wastewater while offering a range of technical services to 750 client facilities across Ontario, Canada, which include municipalities, First Nations, and various commercial, industrial, governmental, and institutional clients.
 
OCWA’s municipal clients vary significantly in size, with populations ranging from 1.5 million in the Region of Peel to just 2,400 in Moose Factory, a community in Northern Ontario. This extensive experience allows the agency to effectively address any challenges that may arise, regardless of the scale or type of treatment process involved. Consequently, OCWA has expanded its municipal client base consistently over the past three decades.
 
Following the Walkerton crisis in May 2000, the Canadian government introduced stricter water quality monitoring requirements, prompting OCWA to develop a customized remote monitoring system. This solution served the agency well for over 20 years, but by the 2020s, modernization became necessary. OCWA established three key objectives: standardizing data from various equipment across different plants, streamlining compliance reporting to avoid labor-intensive processes during network disruptions, and expanding its service offerings to add more value for clients.
 
Achieving New Heights
To meet these objectives, OCWA implemented an industrial IoT solution utilizing Cisco industrial routers. Applications on these routers convert data from each facility into a standardized format for compliance and business reporting, eliminating the need for costly custom solutions—reports generated for one facility can now be applied across all facilities. Ciprian Panfilie, Director of Operational Systems at OCWA, stated, "Standardizing monitoring in this manner is powerful. Instead of having a specialist for each facility, we've created teams that provide specialized services to all facilities across the province, enhancing our efficiency."
 
This solution not only enables OCWA to meet regulatory standards but also reduces the risk of data gaps due to network outages. In instances where a facility's connection to OCWA's offices fails, the router stores the data locally, transferring it to the cloud once connectivity is restored. "We explored numerous solutions, but only Cisco’s worked flawlessly," Panfilie remarked.
 
Additionally, OCWA has introduced an advanced energy management solution to its services. The routers offer a standardized network and cybersecurity framework for energy management, facilitating baseline assessments, forecasts, and real-time energy oversight. Another focus of service enhancement is near real-time asset performance monitoring and predictive maintenance, leveraging LORAWAN sensors and gateways.
 
Looking to the Future
Currently, Cisco’s industrial IoT solution is operational in over 165 facilities monitored by OCWA, and the agency aims to implement this solution in the majority of its remotely monitored facilities by 2030. OCWA is also investigating further long-term possibilities, including the potential use of machine learning applications on Cisco routers to anticipate and address issues before they arise, such as unexpected changes in wastewater effluent quality.

A recent study published in Science highlights the importance of environmental conservation in mitigating and possibly reversing biodiversity loss. The study found that while over half of conservation actions had a positive impact, they were not always sufficient to halt the decline in biodiversity. This underscores the need for a diverse range of conservation efforts to effectively address this issue.
 
World Nature Conservation Day is an opportunity to reflect on our responsibility to appreciate and protect the planet's biodiversity, which is crucial for the stability of ecosystems. At Cisco, building resilient ecosystems is a core focus of our *Plan for Possible*, an advanced environmental sustainability strategy. We encourage you to explore the meaningful work of our nonprofit partners in this area, as they demonstrate that every effort matters and collaboration is key to improving the health of our planet.
 
Reconnecting Northland 
Reconnecting Northland, an NGO in Te Tai Tokerau (Northland, New Zealand), unites communities, organizations, and resources to support vibrant ecosystems and restore biodiversity for the benefit of nature and future generations. In response to environmental degradation, local taiao (environment) groups are actively working to protect biodiversity and improve ecosystem health by eliminating invasive species, planting native flora, installing fencing, and restoring wetlands. However, these groups often face challenges in securing the funding, expertise, skills, and support needed to carry out complex restoration projects. Efforts are frequently disjointed, leaving communities and agencies struggling to achieve their goals.
 
Reconnecting Northland developed their flagship program, Te Kete Hononga (The Basket of Connections), to strengthen the capacity of community and Indigenous groups in their efforts toward socio-ecological regeneration across the region, benefiting climate, freshwater, and biodiversity. The Cisco Foundation supports this program, which empowers communities to create, implement, and assess their own ecological solutions.

Te Kete Hononga provides tools such as monitoring systems, project management resources, and story mapping, as well as services like business development, leadership training, communications, and research. The program has led to increased collaboration among diverse community groups, agencies, and iwi (Māori tribes), greater government engagement and funding for community-led initiatives, enhanced knowledge sharing, and the development of more sustainable practices at the community level.
 
Pettania Hohaia, a Te Kete Hononga Kairaranga (Community Weaver) for the Waimamaku area, shared her experience: “You supported us as kaitiaki (guardians) to become resilient and self-sustaining, and you did it by empowering us to lead and make our own decisions.”
 
NetHope’s Climate Intersections Grant Program
NetHope’s Climate Intersections Grant program, a collaboration between NetHope and Cisco under the Digital Breakthrough Initiative, is dedicated to advancing digital solutions for climate adaptation and resilience. One of its partners, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), is leveraging digital innovation to further global conservation efforts.
 
WCS, in partnership with Birdlife International and the World Wildlife Fund, is involved in the Trillion Trees initiative, which focuses on the protection and restoration of forests worldwide. Central to this effort is FORMAPP, an advanced monitoring system developed by WCS’s Conservation Technology team for the Trillion Trees partnership. FORMAPP enhances data management efficiency and resource accessibility for reforestation projects through a smartphone app, database, and online portal, utilizing the ConSoSci toolkit.
 
With support from the Climate Intersections Grant, Trillion Trees upgraded the data integration technology behind FORMAPP and translated all materials—website, training resources, video tutorials, and forms—into French and Spanish. Accurate field data is crucial for measuring the climate and biodiversity benefits of restoration efforts.
 
Through strategic partnerships and technological innovation, WCS and its collaborators continue to empower communities and drive significant progress in conservation. The integration of digital solutions not only enhances their impact but also strengthens resilience in the face of climate challenges, demonstrating the transformative power of initiatives like the NetHope Climate Intersections Grant Program.
 
Farmers for Forests 
A 2023 report on deforestation revealed that India ranks second globally in deforestation, having lost 668,400 hectares of forest cover over the past 30 years. Another recent study highlights a sharp decline in large farmland trees in India over the last decade. Climate change and deforestation are interconnected issues, each influencing the other. The resulting imbalances can lead to wildfires, disrupted water cycles, extreme weather events, and habitat changes.
 
Through the Cisco India Cash Grant program, Cisco partnered with Climatesense Pvt Limited, also known as Farmers for Forests (F4F), via an accelerator with Villgro. Farmers for Forests is a nonprofit dedicated to mitigating the effects of climate change on both the environment and human well-being by increasing India’s natural and biodiverse forest and tree cover.

Utilizing advancements in geospatial and drone technology, F4F is implementing and monitoring agroforestry projects. By employing drones, satellite data, and modified open-source AI algorithms, the organization is able to measure carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and water savings in forests and agroforestry plantations, allowing for accurate valuation of the ecosystem services provided.
 
The accelerator program helped F4F develop a tech-driven tree detection platform that assesses various tree parameters—such as species, count, and height—enabling more informed digital monitoring, reporting, and verification processes for carbon projects. This platform currently supports the management of 2,500+ acres of land under ecological restoration, with more land to be added as the organization expands.
 
Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN)
Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) is a nonprofit organization operating across 14 provinces in Indonesia, working to protect nature and preserve the biodiversity of an archipelago that includes 17,500 islands stretching 5,000 kilometers from east to west. Indonesia's fisheries, reflecting the country's rich marine biodiversity, are an integral part of coastal culture. Market surveys reveal that Indonesia's fisheries encompass over 873 species of bony fish and more than 137 species of sharks, rays, and chimeras. Unfortunately, many of these fisheries are overexploited, and some have little to no data on their status or life history, with some species even being new to science.
 
With support from the Cisco Foundation, YKAN is utilizing an innovative software application called FishFace (Fish Facial Identification Technology) to assist the government and local fishing communities in assessing the status of fish stocks and devising strategies to manage these fisheries for the benefit of both people and nature.

In collaboration with Geeks Without Frontiers and PT Intelion, YKAN is developing a new approach to tackle these challenges. Early trials have shown that the AI-powered FishFace system surpasses trained observers, achieving 99% accuracy. Combined with software that automatically captures images of fish as they pass through a digital camera’s field of vision, FishFace has the potential to revolutionize fisheries research and management in Indonesia. It offers real-time data collection and generates more accurate datasets on fish stocks, providing valuable insights for local fishery regulations that aim to protect the region's natural resources and biodiversity.
 
Thank you to the organizations that have shared their experiences with us. As we face the ongoing challenges of climate change, embracing innovative solutions and fostering global partnerships can help safeguard our ecosystems and pave the way for a more sustainable future.

We're expanding our GroMoreGood initiative and strengthening our Pollinator Promise by launching a new bee yard, or apiary, at our Marysville, Ohio, campus. This project, a collaboration between ScottsMiracle-Gro, Ortho, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, and the Central Ohio Beekeepers Association (COBA), aims to provide educational opportunities for beekeepers of all experience levels.
 
The opening was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by ScottsMiracle-Gro associates, members of the Ortho team, and representatives from COBA and Union County. During the event, COBA volunteer and beekeeper Rich Herman shared insights about the hive and introduced a new beekeeper course. The apiary, along with the surrounding pollinator garden, will serve as a hands-on learning environment where participants can gain a deeper understanding of the critical roles pollinators play in our world.
 
Katherine Dickens, Director of ESG and Social Impact, highlighted the importance of pollinators, stating, "With pollinator populations declining globally, we are committed to protecting these vital creatures that not only enhance our gardens and communities but also support the health of our global ecosystem and food supply."
 
This is COBA's fourth apiary and their first in Union County, which will focus on lab education, particularly 5-frame hives and strategies for helping bees survive the winter. The new apiary will not only serve as an educational resource but will also enhance local ecosystems and improve overall pollinator health.
 
Additionally, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation is offering a grant to The Central Ohio Beekeepers Association Charitable Foundation to support their beekeeping school scholarship fund for U.S. veterans. Our company has a deep commitment to supporting veterans, and we are excited to assist veteran beekeepers in Union County.
 
Looking ahead, we plan to expand our educational outreach, extending the benefits of this apiary beyond our immediate community.