Livelihoods: The climate and water as important resource

Our social engagement focuses on the pressing global challenges of climate action and the responsible use of water as a resource. Together with experienced partner organisations, we promote the sustainable management of water resources and measures to protect the world’s climate. Because more than two billion people worldwide have inadequate access to safe drinking water and some three and a half billion people lack basic sanitation.

We support water projects worldwide that are aimed at improving people’s living conditions – and most of these projects also have positive impacts on food security and health.

The issue of water covers the entire cycle of water as a valuable resource. The “sponge principle” (meaning water storage, distribution and treatment) is a key aspect in this regard as floods and droughts are becoming more frequent due to climate change.

In all of our funding activities, we seek to strengthen sustainable structures and build local skills and capacity with a view to improving people’s living conditions over the long term. We implement targeted approaches promoting sustainable solutions in different regions and also support accompanying awareness-raising activities that help to protect and strengthen vulnerable ecosystems and biodiversity, for instance in the area of reforestation.