Disney broadened its environmental outreach and conservation initiatives in 2007, reflecting heightened concern over global environmental conditions. An Environmental Council, made up of senior representatives from each of the Company's business segments, was established to analyze and implement sustainable strategies for minimizing Disney's impact on the environment.
The Council's work will feed into the Company's Environmentality™ program, which has been in place for 17 years and governs Disney's efforts in energy and resource conservation, waste minimization, the use of alternative power and fuels and wildlife protection. Among last year's initiatives were the installation of zero-emission engines on the new Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland and the conversion to cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel for the steam engine trains at Disneyland and certain vehicles used by Disney Cruise Line in the Bahamas. Further, conservation programs at various Disney facilities continued to cut energy usage and waste.
The Environmentality team also conducts educational outreach through programs in California, Florida, the Bahamas and Hong Kong to teach fifth grade students environmental stewardship. In addition, outreach efforts at ESPN's X Games and in other forums educate youth on the benefits of recycling. In the UK, Playhouse Disney collaborated with The Woodland Trust and the Hundred Acre Wood to develop a guide called Playing for the Planet that encourages young children and families to plant trees.
Disney VoluntEARS and their families gathered at Ajusco Medio in Mexico City to plant 115 native species of trees in an environmental educational project with Pronatura.
