Climate change is affecting every country on every continent. 2019 was the second warmest year on record, with atmospheric concentrations of CO2 projected to continue rising. Factoring in the global COVID-19 pandemic, the UN’s SDGs slogan ‘Leave No One Behind’ is more relevant than ever.
The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest economic and social crisis in generations. The global community shut down in an unprecedented stance to stop the spread of the disease. Causing death, illness and economic despair, COVID-19 ruthlessly highlighted the stark vulnerability of rural poor communities experiencing water insecurity and poor health resulting from traditional dirty cooking methods across the developing world.
Access to safe water and good hygiene is essential to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 throughout the world, but particularly across the vulnerable areas within which we operate.
Despite the global challenges and restrictions, CO2balance continued our project work safely during a global pandemic. Vital lifesaving services continued to be delivered to the most vulnerable and helped prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our project areas.
Extensive assessments of the presented risks to identify precautionary measures which could be adopted to ensure the safety and protection of field staff and communities to allow project activities to continue. Where necessary, the rehabilitation of non-functioning boreholes continued, WASH (Wash, Sanitation and Hygiene) trainings were conducted whilst maintaining safe distances and handwashing stations were installed across our project areas. Field staff were supplied with sufficient protective equipment such as masks and gloves, as well as sanitiser to disinfect their hands, materials and surroundings where operations were taking place.
2021 will see CO2balance Working towards a stronger, fairer and greener world, tackling the ever-spreading COVID-19 virus is now up there on the frontline with the need to tackle climate change and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.