London Stock Ex-change starts with water - WaterAid takes over global markets with powerful clean water campaign
WaterAid opened trading on the London Stock Exchange today, flooding screens to make the power of water impossible to ignore - spreading the message that clean water changes everything, ahead of World Water Day next week.
In the UK, access to clean water is something many take for granted, but almost one in ten people across the globe still do not have access to clean water close to home and climate change is making the situation worse. More extreme droughts and floods are threatening water sources, spreading disease and robbing communities of their lives and livelihoods.
Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur, Country Director of WaterAid Ghana and Josette Vignon, Country Director of WaterAid Madagascar had the honour of ‘pushing the button’ to open the markets as WaterAid’s message disrupted the screens at the iconic daily market opening ceremony.
They were joined by global business leaders, climate activists from Kenya to Bangladesh and representatives from across WaterAid’s global programmes who came together in solidarity with WaterAid’s mission to ensure everyone, everywhere has clean water and decent sanitation.
Andy Green, CBE and Chair of WaterAid UK was also in attendance. He said:
“WaterAid is changing the world through water - working alongside communities on the climate frontline to bring clean water to millions globally. But we cannot do this alone. To reach hundreds of millions more, we need global governments, multilateral banks and the private sector to work together to unlock investment and implement solutions to tackle the climate and water crises.
“Today’s event at the London Stock Exchange is a testament to the power of cross-sectoral collaboration to raise awareness of the water crisis and acknowledge that by working together we can change the world. All of us have to act now. Governments, businesses, communities – we’ve got to play our part.”
The opening of the stock exchange follows the launch of a major new report from the international non-profit, which unveils dramatic shifts in global climate patterns – namely flooding and droughts - deepening inequalities for urban populations and exacerbating threats to clean water access worldwide. These changes also have a direct impact on supply chain operations and increase corporate risks.
WaterAid also hosted a pivotal roundtable for private sector leaders on Thursday called ’Driving Change’ where they discussed how businesses can drive impactful investments, policies and collaborations to build water-secure, climate-resilient cities.
Find out how at wateraid.org/change-starts
ENDS
For media queries, please contact either Katherine Roberts, Senior Media Officer [email protected]
Or call WaterAid’s press line on 020 7793 4537, or email [email protected].
Notes to editors
About WaterAid
WaterAid is an international non-profit with one goal: to change the world through water. Along with decent toilets and good hygiene, a reliable supply of clean water is essential for health, dignity and a life full of opportunity. We work alongside communities in 22 countries, setting up entire systems that deliver clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene for millions of people. Since 1981, WaterAid UK and its Country Programmes have reached 28.9 million people with clean water, 29.2 million people with decent toilets and 28.7 million people with good hygiene.
For more information, visit our website wateraid.org/uk; follow us on BlueSky @wateraid.bsky.social or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.
- 703 million people in the world – almost one in ten – don’t have clean water close to home.
- 2.2 billion people in the world – more than one in four – don’t have safe water.
- Almost 2 billion people in the world – one in four – lack soap and/or water to wash their hands at home, if they have a place at all.
- 1.5 billion people in the world – almost one in five – don’t have a decent toilet of their own.
- Almost 400,000 children under five die every year due to diseases caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene. That's more than 1000 children a day
- Investing in safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services provides up to 21 times more value than it costs.3
1: WHO/UNICEF (2023), Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2022: special focus on gender (accessed 11 Jul 2023)
2: WHO (2023), Burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene: 2019 update (accessed 24 Jul 2023)
3: UNICEF (2016). Collecting water is often a colossal waste of time for women and girls. (accessed 09 Jan 2024)
