{"id":9328,"date":"2020-09-17T14:17:52","date_gmt":"2020-09-17T14:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ceowatermandate.org\/resilience\/?page_id=9328"},"modified":"2021-05-24T17:55:42","modified_gmt":"2021-05-24T17:55:42","slug":"water-is-resilience-call-for-collective-action-on-water-access","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ceowatermandate.org\/resilience\/covid-wash-cta\/","title":{"rendered":"Water is Resilience: Call for Collective Action on Water Access"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”9329″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Amid the global response to COVID-19, the Water Resilience Coalition has partnered with WaterAid in a call for urgent and collective action to propel access to clean water to the top of the corporate agenda.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Combining the commitment of the United Nations Global Compact Water Resilience Coalition with the expertise of international water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) NGO WaterAid, we\u2019re joining forces to inspire ambitious corporate action to accelerate water and hygiene access through #WaterIsResilience<\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n

A staggering three billion people do not have access to water and soap at home, leaving them unable to wash their hands as a first line of defense against COVID-19. As the world waits for a vaccine, good hygiene \u2013 which is only possible with reliable access to water and soap – is one of the most powerful interventions for combatting transmission.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

Collective Impact<\/h3><\/span><\/div><\/div>[vc_column_text]Together with global business leaders we\u2019re spearheading a collective corporate response in this urgent time of need and leading the transition to a water resilient future for business and communities.<\/p>\n

We are calling for companies to join us in acting at speed and scale, leveraging their global operational footprints to fast-track access to water and promote hygiene awareness with employees and consumers, within supply chains and in communities where they do business.<\/p>\n

While the pandemic has had global impact, vulnerability is magnified in communities with fragile healthcare systems and poor WASH facilities \u2013 these are the systems and geographies which many globalized supply chains rely upon. COVID-19 has brought global interdependence to the fore and accelerated the underlying risks to business continuity including climate change, water security, and fragile supply chains. To overcome COVID-19 and mitigate against future global health and climate crises, a cross-border, cross-sector approach to freshwater resilience and sustainable water access at its center is critical.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

Resilience Through COVID-19 and Beyond<\/h3><\/span><\/div><\/div>[vc_column_text]Investment in water and hygiene interventions is not just an investment in COVID-19 recovery, it is an investment in long-term business resilience.<\/p>\n

Resilient companies are built on healthy communities and ecosystems. Progressive companies understand water stewardship is not just corporate social responsibility, but an opportunity to secure business continuity.<\/p>\n

The climate crisis makes access to clean water even harder: in droughts, freshwater sources dry up; in floods, water resources are contaminated; and rising seas cause increased salinity of groundwater. This, coupled with already weak WASH systems in many developing countries, is leaving billions of people vulnerable to climate and health risks. Two billion people worldwide already live in water-stressed areas. With no action, by 2050 half the world\u2019s population will live in countries under water stress, with huge impacts on their health and livelihoods.<\/p>\n

For companies with supply chains in water-stressed and WASH-vulnerable countries, safeguarding employees and local communities is paramount to both operational and financial security. There is a clear business case for the synergy resulting from investment in sustainable water solutions that benefit people, planet and, ultimately, commercial success. For every US$1 invested in WASH, an estimated $4.30 is generated in increased productivity. \u00a0COVID-19 is an opportunity to lead through water stewardship, embedding tangible WASH targets in corporate sustainability strategy to deliver long-term business resilience.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

Act Now<\/h3><\/span><\/div><\/div>[vc_column_text]\n