Everyone’s getting green these days. No one want to die. Smaller cars, less paper, better recycling – it’s finally sinking in. One dude that’s been ahead of the curve vis a vis the elimination of greenhouse gases is Sting, and as much as wiseacres once teased him as a strident do-gooder, they’re thanking now him for being on the case. Each year the singer and his wife Trudie Styler corral an array of musicians at Carnegie Hall and put on a fundraiser to further one of their prime concerns, repopulating rainforests around the world. This year it takes place in on Thursday, May 8. Feist, Billy Joel, Brian Wilson, James Taylor and many other are on board. Here are the show specifics. In a recent chat, Sting filled us in on a few facts about the subject that’s so close to his heart. Ready for five intriguing quotes?

1. “You can’t save the rainforest all at once; you have to save bits of it at a time, and hope the idea will grow. And it kind of has. We’ve raised $25 million over the past 20 years. We’re now on four continents – Asia, Africa, Central and South America. And we’re helping indigenous people to protect themselves.”

2. “It’s important that we conserve energy where we live, and it’s important that we reduce transport emissions. But greenhouse gases are caused by deforestation – by a lot. That comes from real facts. What’s warming up the planet is the destruction of the rainforest. More and more, people around the world are getting the idea that this is one planet and what we do one part of it effects all of us. It’s a growing realization – particularly among young people.”

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