Environment

EDUCATION AND ACTION

Disney recognizes our unique opportunity to educate and inspire diverse groups to take action for the environment, from our employees and business associates to kids, families and communities around the world.

Employee Programs

Our Disney Green Teams are active in more than a dozen countries worldwide. Our volunteer employee teams educate colleagues, build internal awareness of our environmental goals and standards, and lead environmental events and activities at the local level. This year, Disney's Global Green Team expanded to several new employee locations, including the Middle East, Moscow, Munich and Madrid.

In 2010, we held our 2^nd annual online environmental summit. This virtual conference brought together leaders from across the Company to share best practices for environmental activities, create opportunities for networking, and promote innovation. All summit videos, plenary sessions, and notes are available online so cast members and employees can visit and learn at their own pace. More than 500 cast members and employees participated in the 2010 summit, which addressed topics ranging from water to energy to commuter assistance.

Employee Commuter Assistance Program

Disney has a comprehensive commuter assistance program in Southern California with a goal of increasing the average number of riders per vehicle. We provide easy-to-access information and commute planning services. Financial incentives are also available for cast members and employees to take alternative transit to work. Disney Employee Commuter Assistance programs are in place in 11 states across the country.

Disney cast members and employees around the world practice environmentally friendly commuting. For example, cast members and employees of our German businesses in Munich and Papenburg cycled more than 11,000 km (almost 7,000 miles) from May to July 2010 as part of a "Green Cycling" initiative intended to encourage employees to leave their cars at home and cycle to work. Their efforts are estimated to have saved 2.1 tons of C02 emissions.

Employee Actions for Earth Day

During April 2010 and the surrounding months, Disney business units around the world inspired and activated our cast members and employees as well as our audiences, guests and fans to take action for the environment. The many global activities this year included "green fairs," recycling drives, speakers and workshops, tree plantings, beach cleanups, e-waste drives, commuter challenges, and much more. From the cast and guest events held at our Parks & Resorts to the "reuse-a-shoe" drive at ESPN to a "no print day" in our Asia Pacific region, business units worldwide made it a priority to get involved in Earth Month and make a difference. At Walt Disney World Resort, cast members made nearly 10,000 pledges to support oceans through their own personal actions.

This Earth Day we piloted an opportunity for cast members and employees to use technology and creativity in support of the environment. Working with Disney-owned T180 Studios, we launched an interactive social network for employees to share their ideas to improve the environment. More than 1,000 employees joined, with 50 cast members and employees taking the leap and sharing their ideas. The end result was the "Earth Day Rap," a video that was featured on YouTube and has been viewed over 60,000 times. Visit the video gallery to learn more about this program.

Guest Inspiration

The Walt Disney Company is committed to inspiring our guests, fans, viewers and audiences to take action for the environment in their own communities. To learn more about our youth programs and content, visit the Inspiring Kids and Communities and Nature Conservation sections.