EU Business News- Benelux Enterprise Awards 2025 Best Climate Reforestation Initiative 2025 – Belgium CAPPS (Climate Action Plan & Park Systems) Climate Parks Priv. Found. was launched as a nonprofit organisation in 2020 as a way to give back to society. Owned by Ron Gerards and his wife, and operated by his contractor company Water, Environment & Climate Partner BV, which focuses on CO2-compensation projects within the CSRD context, it is the mission of this initiative to take national domains across Belgium and transform them into climate parks, areas designed to help improve the global climate and curb the impacts of climate change. Ron was on hand to tell us more about its aims and vision for a brighter future. It is news to nobody that our planet is currently experiencing a climate problem – CO2 emissions are too high, the average air temperatures close to the Earth’s surface have been increasing at an alarming rate (the process of global warming), and our climate is becoming more and more destabilised. The result is that events such as extreme heat, heavy rainfall, droughts, and forest fires have all become more common, impacting people across the world and painting a bleak picture for forthcoming generations. Despite awareness of these issues being greater than at any point in history – the same can also be said for the quality of the solutions available – more still needs to be done, and getting people to act remains the biggest hurdle those advocating for climate action face. Having recognised this, CAPPS Climate Parks Priv. Found. has adopted a multifaceted approach to its work in the field, with is dual mission seeing it reduce global CO2 emissions whilst working towards overcoming its impact through water retention. Utilising its comprehensive knowledge of environmental technology, water purification, and project experience to take imminent, farreaching action to save the environment, CAPPS devised an effective method to quickly create new blue-green areas that would have a three-fold impact on the planet. First, they could adapt to the effects of climate change (avoiding floods and forest fires); second, they could capture CO2 (mitigating global warming); and finally, they could serve as biodiverse areas for flora and fauna. Rather than creating these parks as standalone environments, CAPPS aims to link them with existing natural areas – creating national and even international networks that benefit people and the planet alike. Ron explained: “What we offer is a practical, standardised method of quickly creating green-blue areas with a collaborative method between people, governments and companies.” This model is financed via subsidies, green certificates, and financial contributions from companies compensating for their CO2 use. The process of creating a climate park is realised through a series of phases, with this approach striking a balance between rigour and simplicity to offer the opportunity for an advanced system to be nurtured over a period of five years. Beginning with the creation of water capture/infiltration zones and the re-greening of spaces, change is really felt during the second and third phases, where efficient water distribution, irrigation, and pump energy systems are installed, before PV panels/windmills are fitted. “Our standard method sees the creation of new green-blue areas that mitigate floodings and droughts, provide natural habitats for animals, and offer more space for local people to breathe.” Although it may have only been established less than five years ago, CAPPS has already made measurable steps in achieving its goals, with one of its most impressive milestones being accomplishing the acquisition of three plots of land in Belgium that shared an area of more than seven hectares, before setting up a robust nature conservation plan and a CO2 conservation plan built around the actions of local partners. In this way, CAPPS is working one step at a time towards what is an ambitious ultimate vision. One day, CAPPS hopes its parks will be connected with natural areas worldwide, joined by what Ron called ‘natural paths and highways’. Such a bold aim is what sets CAPPS apart from other reforestation projects, which focus only on the number of trees planted. By going further and focusing on a long-term combination of both water catch and storage – facilitating the growth of green spaces and mitigating the risk of natural disasters – CAPPS is positioning itself as the global reforestation initiative with a difference. However, this expansion would not be possible without direct, practical help from governments and nature organisations through to local companies whose vision aligns with that of the CAPPS Climate Parks Priv. Found. If this is you, consider visiting the web address below and supporting an initiative that is grounded in the belief that we all need to act locally and with urgency if we aim to solve our shared climate problem. Company: CAPPS Climate Parks Priv. Found. Web Address: https://www.climateparks.be/ AIS-Jun25195
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