Mars Teams up with Actress Victoria Justice to Urge Collective Climate Action

Mars today has teamed up with actress and singer Victoria Justice to launch a new climate action initiative, #PledgeForPlanet, urging people around the world to make pledges to protect the planet in a bid to accelerate climate ambition.

Launched to coincide with the UN General Assembly and Climate Week in New York, #PledgeForPlanet is a Mars initiative to accelerate climate action within the business, and also by mobilizing its Associates, suppliers and consumers to pledge to protect the planet and address the causes of climate change. The initiative highlights the shared responsibility of businesses, governments, and consumers to take action.

Victoria Justice, best known for her rise to fame on Nickelodeon, helped to kick things off, making her own pledge to the planet and signing a public mural commissioned by Mars. The installation illustrates what the world could look like if we all take urgent climate action to keep the planet from warming beyond 1.5°C.

Justice, who has previously performed at the Moral Action on Climate Justice Rally and partnered with the UN Foundation, said: “Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our current generation, but simple actions can make a large impact. That’s why I’m joining Mars in making my own pledge to the planet and using my voice to urge people around the world to do the same. We can all play a role in protecting our planet for tomorrow, and for future generations to come. “

Inspired by the UN’s ActNow campaign and the young leaders on the front lines of climate activism, the new initiative encourages individual actions to protect the planet and ensure it is healthy and thriving for future generations. A team of social content creators and influencers have also been recruited to drive awareness and engagement, encouraging people around the world to make their own commitments at www.mars.com/pledgeforplanet and share their commitments online using #PledgeForPlanet.

Renowned artist Steven Harrington designed the mural which stands at 7.6ft x 19ft mural, and will be on public display in the heart of New York City during Climate Week at Bryant Park (see visual) before moving to the M&M’s World store in Times Square.

Harrington, who has previously worked with a number of businesses to develop artwork aimed at provoking conversation and inspiring climate action, commented: “It’s easy for people to feel overwhelmed or helpless when thinking about climate change, but that doesn’t have to be the case. If we all commit to individual actions – big or small – we can together make a huge impact.

“Through the mural, I want to help engage and inspire people to think about climate change, and to see the hope that we can have in our planet if we all unite together to take urgent action.”

As part of the Pledge, Mars is committing to further reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its direct operations in line with the most ambitious aim of the Paris Agreement – to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Mars is also calling on all its suppliers to participate through programming such as setting science-based targets, signing on to The Climate Group’s RE100, and embracing a future with renewable energy at the center of plans for direct operations. Olam, a Mars supplier of cocoa and palm oil, has already signed on.

Mars CEO Grant F. Reid said: “Climate change is a real and tangible threat to society. For example, in our business, we already see it in the risk to livelihoods for smallholder farmers who provide most of our raw ingredients.”

“Risks to the resiliency and sustainability of our supply chain and the future of the farmers we work with is top of mind. But, as a family business that thinks in generations and aspires to make a positive difference in the world, our responsibilities and our ambitions go beyond risk mitigation. We are committed to doing our part for the good of the planet.”

Mr. Reid added: “As a business, we’ve set ambitious goals to help deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals by changing the way we operate. We’re also inspired by the youth movement demanding climate action and the role of all of us as individuals in driving change. With our #PledgeForPlanet initiative, we are calling for simple, everyday actions that anyone can take today to help create a better tomorrow.”

The new initiative follows Mars’ investment of $1bn towards its Sustainable in a Generation Plan to accelerate progress against a range of global threats by looking beyond its own direct operations and into its extended supply chain. The Mars plan also includes a drive towards reducing total GHG emissions across its value chain 27% by 2025 and 67% by 2050.