The climate crisis is a water crisis.
Water is an integral part of the climate crisis: 90% of all natural disasters are water related. Countries such as Kenya, Bangladesh and India are increasingly confronted with extreme weather conditions and weather patterns like flooding and droughts.
This in turn puts pressure on water quality and access to water.
The water crisis: water stress in Africa and Asia
As a consequence of climate change and human consumption, water reservoirs are becoming depleted and contaminated, nearly 30% of the earth's population currently live in an area with water stress, and of these 1 in 10 people live in an area with critical water stress. This means limited access to water, lack of water security and the depletion of fresh water resources.
Women and girls disproportionately affected
Women and girls are hit harder by water scarcity: they are responsible for carrying water for their families.
The water crisis therefore impacts them directly and to a much greater extent. It is important that they are given secure access to water.
What has to happen?
The water crisis must be given a prominent place on the public agenda: in politics, the business world and for ordinary citizens. The water crisis is a global crisis. We must ensure that the right to access clean water is protected, especially for women and girls.
'We as women play an important role in solutions for climate change, because the men in this region do a lot of sand harvesting, while we as women try to protect the river and try to stop the men from harvesting this sand.'
Wat is needed
- Investment: more funding must be allocated for innovative projects in developing countries – including by the government of the Netherlands – to mitigate the consequences of climate change.
- Women-focused policy: a water policy must be devised that gives women a central place; we have to make sure women all over the world can voice their concerns and invite them to participate in a dialogue on solutions.
- Innovative projects: Simavi supports local initiatives that help women's organizations in particular launch their own climate mitigation programmes.
- Partnership: we partner with other organizations – both local and international – who speak together with one powerful voice on the global stage.
What can you do?
Sign up for our newsletter or make a donation now to help protect her water security.
By signing up for our newsletter, you will be kept informed about our campaigns, including the campaign we are planning to raise awareness that the climate crisis is a water crisis. This promises to be a unique campaign and we need your help. So stay tuned!
