As long as the relationship has been, the Coca-Cola Company only recently joined the conservation community. In 2007, Coca-Cola joined with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to support WWF Arctic research and conservation efforts. Over the years, Coca-Cola has realized just how much help the polar bears need so this year they’ve decided to go the extra mile.
Coca-Cola is helping establish a safe refuge for the polar bear through the Arctic Home project. This project will help to ensure the polar bear has a place to call home in the future. According to Arctichome.com, the Arctic Home project helps to further WWF’s global vision to protect the Arctic; this includes working with local Indigenous communities, supporting cutting-edge research, and carrying out additional conservation work with partners. Currently, “WWF works with Arctic residents developing a plan to ensure a future for all ice-dependent animals such as the polar bear—a plan built around a natural ‘safety net’ of ice high in the Arctic archipelago (chain of islands) of Canada and Greenland that will likely persist longer than anywhere else in the world. If successful, this ice area could cover roughly 500,000 square miles and is twice the size of Texas."
The Arctic Home project shows a lot of promise; however, funding is always an issue in conservation so that is where you come in. It is predicted that this project will cost $10 million over the next five years and will depend mainly on donations. In order to help fund the Arctic Home project, Coca-Cola pledged $2 million and also agreed to match up to $1 million of consumer donations made to Arctic Home by March 15, 2012. Wondering how you can help?
During this holiday season, Coca-Cola is turning their iconic red cans white in honor of the polar bears. On these now white cans is a product code that allows the consumer to make a matched donation through Arctic Home. Simply text the product code to 357357 and you can make a matched $1 donation. Donations can also be made at Arctichome.com.
Disappearing sea ice is the biggest threat facing polar bears today due to climate change. The ice is where a polar bear hunts, lives, and breeds; it is essential to the polar bear’s survival. Be a part of the solution and donate today.
*All facts and information concerning the Coca-Cola Company and the Arctic Home project from Arctichome.com
