Guided by the XIII District Local Patriots Association, ABB Hungary employees volunteered to assist in the natural revitalization of the Rákos stream in District XIII.
The XIII District Local Patriots Association has chosen the area between Göncöl Street and Váci Road as the location for the joint work, with plans to implement an ambitious project to return nature to this stretch of the stream, which will be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
The work consisted of several phases. First, the nearly 30 ABB volunteers selectively collected all the litter and green waste from the floodplain, and then removed the litter from the banks of the stream. They cleared the stream bed of metal debris using magnetic fishing.
The Association’s goal is to create an ecological corridor, providing a suitable habitat for protected fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates and plants, and a more natural area for residents and visitors to enjoy in an urban environment. The project would replace the existing concrete stream bed with a meandering habitat. This section would be filled with native plants, sloping the steep banks for easier access, and stepping treads would be placed in the stream bed.
"Working together to make the surrondings of Rákos stream a liveable place is a great support to nature because everyone can benefit from the restoration of the ecosystem, plants, animals and people alike. We are very happy that ABB, one of the tennants of Váci út office corridor, is also taking responsibility for the protection of its environment, including the green environment of District XIII," said Tamás Szabó, Vice President of the XIII District Local Patriots Association.
"Once again this year, we enthusiastically participated in a nature conservation project with our colleagues. For several years, we have chosen environment-related corporate community programs to contribute to protecting natural resources. This cooperation showcases how ABB integrates sustainability principles into local actions, reinforcing our global sustainability agenda through community involvement and environmental stewardship. As part of ABB's Sustainability Agenda, we are committed to creating a more prosperous and sustainable future for the communities in which we operate through more sustainable operations and environmental improvements around our facilities," said Dóra Kalapáti, ABB's Marketing and Communications Manager in Hungary.
Revitalizing natural ecosystems like the Rákos stream helps sequester carbon and improve local climate resilience. This aligns with ABB's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting a low-carbon society. ABB aims to reduce its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 80% by 2030 compared to a 2019 baseline, and its scope 3 emissions by 25% by 2030 compared to a 2022 baseline.
The XIII District Local Patriots' Association is a non-governmental organisation with ties to the XIII District of Budapest, which is committed to local interests and values, wants to do something for the district and preserves the district's traditions.
