Tag: 3BL

MetLife

NEW YORK, March 26, 2024 /3BL/ – MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) today announced that it has received the 2024 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). MetLife has been honored as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year recipient for six consecutive years and continues to partner with ENERGY STAR on adopting energy-efficient practices and tracking data across all owned and managed properties. In addition to recertifying 32 existing certifications across MetLife and MetLife Investment Management (MIM) portfolios in 2023, MetLife received new ENERGY STAR Building Certifications for two buildings and MIM certified four new buildings.

ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year is the highest level of EPA recognition for corporate and asset manager’s energy management programs. To earn this recognition, companies must demonstrate superior levels of energy management with respect to exhibiting best practices, proven energy savings, and active participation and communication about ENERGY STAR programs and strategies. Organizations like MetLife, which have consistently earned Partner of the Year, are eligible for the Sustained Excellence distinction. This distinction requires that annual achievements continue to surpass those in previous years.

“Implementing energy efficiency best practices across our corporate offices and real estate investment portfolios drives operational savings that we reinvest into our business and communities, ultimately driving more value for our stakeholders,” said MetLife Vice President, Global Sustainability & Climate Lead, Josh Wiener. “Our continued partnership with ENERGY STAR equips us with the resources and data needed to manage building performance and find new opportunities for better energy management and conservation.”

MetLife leverages ENERGY STAR tools, including its Portfolio Manager, to improve data management capabilities and identify energy savings opportunities across its corporate office and managed real estate equity portfolios.

“By upholding a superior level of energy management across our real estate portfolio, we deliver value to our clients while bettering the communities and environments around these properties,” said MetLife Investment Management, Global Head of Real Estate and Agriculture, Robert Merck. “ENERGY STAR remains a resource in helping us measure, manage and improve performance across our entire real estate portfolio.”

To learn more about MetLife’s commitment to sustainability, visit MetLife.com/Sustainability. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit EnergyStar.gov/about.

About MetLife

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates (“MetLife”), is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help individual and institutional customers build a more confident future. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 markets globally and holds leading positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.

About MetLife Investment Management

MetLife Investment Management, the institutional asset management business of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is a global public fixed income, private capital and real estate investment manager providing tailored investment solutions to institutional investors worldwide. MetLife Investment Management provides public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, funds and other institutional clients with a range of bespoke investment and financing solutions that seek to meet a range of long-term investment objectives and risk-adjusted returns over time. MetLife Investment Management has over 150 years of investment experience and, as of December 31, 2023, had over $600 billion in total assets under management.1

Endnotes

1 Total assets under management is comprised of all MetLife general account and separate account assets and unaffiliated/third party assets, at estimated fair value, managed by MIM.

Contacts: 
Olivia Janicelli 
(212) 578-3547 
olivia.janicelli@metlife.com

International Olympic Committee News

Next week marks 100 years since the first Olympic Winter Games took place in Chamonix, France. Ahead of the 100th anniversary, we look into the legacies of the various Olympic Winter Games editions since.

The Olympic Winter Games have created lasting benefits for winter sport, and transformative legacies for their hosts since the first Games in 1924.

The Games have propelled their hosts – often little-known mountain destinations – onto the world map, bringing tourism and economic benefits.For example, Innsbruck 1964 boosted tourism and improved infrastructure in Innsbruck and the Tyrol region. In 2022, Tyrol’s tourism industry directly and indirectly employed 60,000 people and generated around EUR 8.4 billion in turnover. With 32.7 per cent of overnight stays in 2022, Tyrol is the most visited region of the country, according to Austria’s Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs.Olympic Winter hosts have used the benefits from the Games as catalysts to transform themselves into four-season resorts.For example, Salt Lake City 2002 served as a springboard to establish Utah as one of the world’s premier high-performance and recreational sports destinations. Since 2002, Utah has staged more than 175 international winter sports events. It is now a year-round recreational sports hub and an established training hub for world-class athletes, home to three US sports governing bodies.The hosts have also used the Games to create a variety of community benefits for their local inhabitants, such as a more active population and improved social cohesion.For example, Vancouver 2010 helped improve education, health and social inclusion. The Games also promoted Indigenous culture, enhanced literacy programmes and inspired sustainable infrastructure. These legacies continue to benefit communities in the region and contribute to the well-being of the population.The Olympic Winter Games have contributed to development of winter sports at the national, regional and global level.For example, more than 346 million people in China engaged in winter sports as a result of Beijing 2022, which created lasting, wide-ranging social and economic benefits for local people. According to the China Tourism Academy, the country’s winter leisure tourism sector is expected to welcome more than 520 million visitors and earn revenue of more than CNY 720 billion (approx. USD 107 billion) during the 2024-2025 season.

Viatris’ Indore manufacturing site has received certification for International Sustainability Rating System (ISRS), 9th Edition – Process Safety, from DNV, a global service provider for managing risk and supporting safe and responsible business performance.

The independent endorsement places the India facility alongside the highest rated facilities in the global pharmaceutical industry who have adopted this certification system.

This milestone reinforces our ongoing commitment to protecting the health and safety of our people and the environment, as part of working to advance responsible and sustainable operations. Process safety systems are an integral part of Viatris’ overarching safety management control program.

Congratulations to the team at Indore and all who supported this thorough assessment and implementation of best practices as we continue to deliver on our mission of empowering people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life.

Soap For Hope™ (S4H) program recycles discarded soap bars from local hotels helping underserved communities around the worldThe Pebbles Project has created a partnership to support sustainable sanitation and engage, train, and empower unemployed young adults and women to implement S4H as a small business

JOHANNESBURG, March 26, 2024 /3BL/ – Dow (NYSE: DOW), Diversey – a Solenis company and Pebbles Project launched today the Soap For Hope™ program in Cape Town, South Africa. This initiative was one of the seven awarded by Dow within its Business Impact Fund. The annual fund brings together NGOs, nonprofit organizations, and Dow customers to help solve global issues using Dow technology and employees’ expertise.

The Soap For Hope™ program, initiated by Diversey in 2013, has expanded to more than 50 countries globally. Through the recycling of discarded hotel guest soap, this program not only supports local communities by offering livelihood opportunities but also contributes to mitigating infant mortality rates associated with insufficient access to proper sanitation conditions.

Through its extensive network of local farm operations, the South African NGO Pebbles Project, will launch the Soap For Hope™ program in Cape Town with these goals:

Divert 10,000 kg of soap bar waste annually away from landfills and incineration towards recycling.Distribute recycled soap bars in communities with a need for hygiene resources and provide training on sanitation best practices.Train and empower young adults to manage the recycling operation as a small business.

“As a materials science company and supplier of raw materials that serve the cleaning market, Dow is proud to be a key collaborator of Soap For Hope that enables sustainable cleaning solutions whilst helping the local communities,” said Kevin Pillay, Dow´s country leader Southern Africa.

“Soap For Hope is a program that directly engages the local people in helping their own community. At the same time, it helps our hotel customers with diverting tons of solid soap waste to the local landfill. This will contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment in South Africa and create shared value for everyone involved – our company, our customers, and our communities,” said Mariette Van Vuuren, sales director South Africa, Diversey, a Solenis Company.

“The recycled soap will be made available to communities that do not have access to proper hygiene tools today,” said Sophie Warner, founder & CEO, Pebbles Project. “We will train unemployed young adults and women on entrepreneurship to upskill and empower them to run the recycling project as a small business.”

“Premier Hotels & Resorts are proud to partner with Dow, Diversey and The Pebbles Project for the Soap For Hope initiative. Recycling and green initiatives along with building the communities in which we operate is extremely important to us. We are proud to join the Soap For Hope Project and look forward to helping this initiative take flight in making a difference in the local community”, said Richard Bray, Group Operations manager at Premier Hotels & Resorts.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employ approximately 35,900 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $45 billion in 2023. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com.

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For further information, please contact:

Mary Fournier 
+1 989-636-7475 
mkfournier@dow.com

Claudia Granadeiro Tagliavini 
Phone +34 91.7407845 
cgtagliavini@dow.com

Like all students, Michael Templeton and Taggart Bougerolle are excited to head home to Chetwynd for their spring break. But these Grade 12 students are especially pumped as they’ll return from Dawson Creek proudly knowing they’ve built a house!

Yes, Templeton and Bougerolle helped construct a house as part of their carpentry program at Northern Lights College.

“It’s pretty awesome—I’ve learned how to build a house from foundation to roof. Honestly, that was a game changer because I really enjoyed the course I’m doing,” says Templeton.

“I’ve been doing carpentry stuff all my life—building cabinets, building doors. It’s something I’m good at. To expand upon my skills was a great opportunity,” adds Bougerolle.

The two high school students are in their final months of their Enhanced Carpentry Foundation program, where they’ll get carpentry credits for an apprenticeship certification. That’s happening a month before they even graduate from high school in June.

Templeton and Bougerolle’s carpentry program is part of the dual credit programs, which offer Grade 11 and 12 students a chance to take post-secondary courses while still in high school. The students can enroll in trades courses or other post-secondary courses of their choosing to kick-start their chosen career early.

That’s because School Districts (SD) in the Peace River South (SD 59), Peace River North (SD 60) and Fort Nelson (SD 81), Chalo First Nation School, Northern Lights College, and industry partners formed a partnership called Northern Opportunities—providing young adults with a smooth progression from secondary to post-secondary training.

The tuition fees for the dual credit programs are covered by the students’ schools. However, other expenses such as living costs and school supplies needed in the programs must be shouldered by the students and their families.

“Quite often, students have to leave their communities to access training, and leaving their home is already tough. So, the scholarship helps to cover their financial worries in terms of transportation costs, residence fees, and the purchase of necessary tools and materials for their courses,” says Brian Campbell, SD 60 Principal.

To help alleviate financial barriers, Enbridge has supported Northern Opportunities through a scholarship, providing students with financial support to help them complete their dual credit programs. For almost 20 years now, Enbridge has allotted about $40,000 every year to the Northern Opportunities Enbridge Bursary.

Students enrolled in the dual credit program must apply for the scholarship by March 15 for spring intake. The application form is available through a high school’s dual credit coordinator. In addition to the application form, the applicant must submit a short essay, a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor, a copy of the latest transcript, proof of admission to Northern Opportunities program, and a budget to support their training.

“Enbridge has always believed in investing in our communities, especially the youth who will continue the work we do,” says Dean Freeman, Enbridge’s Director of Field Operations for Westcoast Energy, an Enbridge subsidiary that operates BC’s major natural gas transmission system.

“I encourage those in high school to consider this program and submit their application. If you need more time, there’s another chance to apply for the fall program with a deadline on October 15. This gives you a chance to really consider your options and seize the chance to invest in your future as well.”

Last school year, more than 49 students in northern BC were awarded the Enbridge bursary, which included Templeton and Bougerolle.

“It is a big investment coming into dual credit programs. So, I definitely suggest looking into scholarships like the Enbridge bursary,” says Bougeralle.

“A lot of our parents never had this opportunity when they were in high school. Fortunately for us, we have the chance to get ahead in life and start work early practising our craft,” adds Bougerolle.

At Quest for 2 years, Marissa McGhee, Patient Services Representative (PSR 1) in Stamford, Connecticut, has grown to have a bit of a local following amongst some patients.

Recently, one of those patients shared their experience with Marissa, saying that she “exhibited customer first” during a life insurance paramedical exam.

“Marissa is a warm and familiar voice to many patients. In speaking with others in the waiting room, they say they come to this PSC because of her,” the patient said.

During the “comprehensive” exam, the patient said Marissa “didn’t skip a beat” in taking their diagnostics information.

“When she finished taking my blood pressure, I saw her eyes go ‘!!’ My blood pressure was unusually high, and I started to panic. Calmly, she said we would stop, wait, and take it again. She made me feel comfortable, and we even had a good laugh too,” the patient said.

After Marissa took the person’s blood pressure again it was still high. She then asked if the patient had any coffee or used the stairs on the way in. The patient said they did both, “unconsciously as it’s a habit.”

Marissa then asked if they could reschedule the person’s appointment for the following week and reminded the patient not to drink coffee or walk up the stairs. She then rescheduled the appointment, and the individual went about their day.

“She looked out for me during my visit, and I am sure she takes care of others this way too,” the patient said.

Marissa’s manager, James Cueto, Patient Services Supervisor, North Region, described her as “very reliable” and doing an amazing job working with patients “with the hustle and bustle atmosphere that is Stamford.”

“She has always shown care and empathy with her patients as well as explained the process to them in a way they can easily understand. She is ALWAYS in a positive mood when she comes to work, and she knows how to handle each situation that she is faced with,” James added. “She genuinely cares about each patient that sits in her chair.”

Marissa’s actions are a prime example of demonstrating The Quest Way and many of the behaviors we value at Quest, our 5Cs: Customer First, Curiosity, Care, Collaboration and Continuous Improvement.

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 26, 2024 /3BL/ – Inogen Alliance, denxpert and HPC have been shortlisted for our ESG Pre Screening Tool in the Environment Analyst (EA) Sustainability Awards for the category of Digital Innovation: Recognizing products and services accelerating ESG goals through digital innovation. Environment Analyst’s Sustainability Delivery Awards recognise ESG innovation, achievement and leadership, and celebrate those organisations who have made significant advances in progressing towards a sustainable transformation and achieving climate and net zero goals. Find the full shortlisted entries here.

We are also excited to announce two more Associates of Inogen Alliance who have been shortlisted for the 2024 EA Awards including Antea Group USA (Transformational Partnership award) and Tonkin + Taylor, New Zealand (Sustainability Impact, Creating Resilient & Sustainable Communities, and Transportation Project of the Year).

​The submission for Inogen Alliance, denxpert and HPC jointly is for our ESG Pre Screening Tool which launched in the fall of 2023. The content of the tool was created with the expertise of HPC AG and brought to life through the digital solutions developed by denxpert. This tool has been strategically marketed globally through Inogen Alliance, and can be found on our global resources page here.

The ESG Pre Screening Tool can support companies from all sectors and sizes in a rapid way in achieving their environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. By improving the accessibility, transpar-ency, and comparability of ESG efforts, it enables a quick overview or “snapshot” of associat-ed ESG risks and areas for improvement. Our vision is to drive positive change in companies by promoting responsible business and sustainable practices among industry peers. The tool is free and available for anyone globally. Companies who submit the questionnaire automatically receive within minutes a free snapshot of their ESG performance indicating risks and opportunity areas including recommendations for improvement via email. The tool follows our global privacy policies so companies can be sure of the secure handling of their data.

We have been able to evaluate the ESG performance of at least 100 companies, in over 33 countries around the world, with positive user feedback.

“Thank you for the tool, it helped us to get an overview of the topics we need to invest more, our focus was more on the E part but we realized we needed to give more attention also to the S and G in ESG. This helped us to bring it to the discussion table with management,” – an international automotive client.

We look forward to the Awards Ceremony in Boston, Massachusets on 25, June, along with the Global Summit.

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn.

ST. LOUIS, Mo., March 26, 2024 /3BL/ – Today U.S. Soy announced the national innovative winner of the NEXTILE: The Soy in Textiles Design Challenge. In its inaugural year, the NEXTILE Design Challenge invited design students across the country to leverage their creative and problem-solving skills to produce the next sustainable innovation in textile design. The catch? Students must create their products using one versatile ingredient — soybeans. Each participating individual or team received a design kit including seven sustainable, soy-based materials: soy thread, soy leather, soy French Terry, organic pigment and other soy products. Project submissions leveraged one or more of these ingredients to produce new textile threads, dyes, paints, designs and more.

U.S. Soy has long been a key ingredient for product innovation, going all the way back to Henry Ford who used soy-based paints, textile materials and plastics for automobile design. And today, U.S. Soy is used in more than 1,000 products on the market — from tires and shoes to fabrics and artificial grass. As a renewable crop grown on U.S. farms, and replenishing the soil annually with each growing season, soy is an important frontier for biobased products.

We are proud to announce the national winner is Kasandra Wright from University of Arkansas, for her stunning moth design textile sample, symbolizing transformation, survival and new beginnings.

“Throughout this experience, I learned about the importance of what soy-based products can provide in the apparel and textile industry,” Wright said. “Soy fiber has an excellent drape and is a beautiful alternative to protein fibers as a sustainable material for apparel.”

As the winner, Wright will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

“I was very impressed with the whole thought process of Kasandra’s end product using the soy-based material that was provided,” said Kathryn Phillips, chief curator at Springs Creative Product Group who served as a judge of the competition. “I truly believe this soy-based textile design has a broader commercial appeal in apparel as well as home products.”

The judging panel was so impressed with the competitors, they elected to award a $500 scholarship to the second-place runner-up, Anna Stuffelbeam of North Carolina State University for her foliage appliqué sample inspired by the plants that made up her fabric’s materials — soy, pomegranate and madder.

The national winner was chosen from a pool of students who advanced past the first round of judging, which included students from six schools across the country. Judges from Levander Design, Springs Creative Products Group, United Soybean Board and Modern Meadow chose the winner and runner-up.

“It’s been incredible to see how our soybeans come to life in the creative hands of these talented students, especially Kasandra and Anna,” said Carla Schultz, Michigan soybean farmer and United Soybean Board director who served as a judge of the competition. “I’m so impressed with their designs — they were artful, progressive and captivating. I’m beyond excited by the creative thinking we saw in the inaugural NEXTILE Challenge. I’m excited for the future of each competitor who participated and for the future of soy.”

U.S. soybean farmers and industry partners consistently push the limits of innovation to discover and deliver solutions to the biggest challenges our world faces, such as food security and climate change. NEXTILE was created to put sustainable soy materials into the hands of the brightest young minds in design to create the next generation of eco-friendly textile solutions.

Learn more about NEXTILE, the participating schools and students, and the next round of U.S. Soy-based sustainable innovation at www.ussoy.org/nextile.

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About U.S. Soy

Representing the positive global human impact of soy grown in the United States, the U.S. Soy brand exists to carry forward soy’s promise to transform global nutrition, provide climate-forward solutions, and support progress for people and their communities. U.S. Soy is powered by the innovation of the industry; the unsurpassed quality, reliability and sustainability of the soybeans grown by our farming families who invest through checkoff dollars; and the commitment of the organizations that raise awareness, build demand, develop new markets and discover new uses for soy and soy products. U.S. Soy envisions a world where soy is a fundamental ingredient in solving the broad challenges of humanity. To learn more about U.S. Soy visit ussoy.org.

One of my favorite things about Covia is the people. Since I was hired back in 2014, I’ve been able to work alongside such a reliable, open, and supportive group of Team Members. Working with them to find big picture solutions to environmental challenges has inspired me to be a better employee and more collaborative person. They give me the confidence I need to be the best version of myself so that I can make a real difference at Covia and in its communities.

Collaborating to Make an Impact

Before I started at Covia, I worked in an environmental role at a processing plant in Torreón, Mexico. A friend of mine who worked in the mining sector told me about the opportunity at Covia. They said Covia was looking for an environmental auditor and that I should pursue the opportunity. It worked out because my husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, was working in Monterrey, Mexico, where the Covia position would have me relocate to. Nine years later, I am so glad I made the move. Covia has changed and grown a lot since I joined. The leadership team has really helped create a tight-knit employees. This includes the team that I work with, as we have grown to be close. They are reliable, open, and supportive. Because our relationships are built on trust, I have always been able to talk with supervisors and leadership to discuss anything. I am appreciative of my mentors from the leadership team as they have encouraged me to grow and express my ideas freely. In my current role, I travel to the company’s different sites in Mexico to determine if there are any environmental concerns and I take the opportunity to communicate any safety situation that might need addressed to meet Covia’s standards. I work closely with EHS supervisors and plant managers to help them follow a Safety First mindset – ensuring they follow best practices to stay compliant. Another part of my job, and the job of my team, is to obtain necessary environmental permits from local governments so Covia can continue operating at certain locations. Much of my work involves collaborating with others. I try to empathize with them to understand their ideas so we can find the big picture solution to environmental challenges. I really enjoy this part of my job as it’s important to be open to finding new ways to tackle a problem. Collaborating with others truly is the most rewarding part of what I do.

Project Highlight: Reclamation & Expansion

I’ve known that Covia was deeply passionate about protecting the environment since my first day. I’ve seen how much effort we put into reclaiming the lands where we operate – not only due permit compliance, but because we believe it’s important to Act Responsibly. One project that I am proud to have worked on was my first permit for our expansion into Canoitas. While working with my team on this project, I had the opportunity to learn a lot about federal and state regulations. It was also a great opportunity to collaborate with several Covia Team Members, including geologists, operations, and legal. The process was challenging because for most of us, it was our first permit application and first time dealing with Federal and State authorities. While it took some time, our team worked together and successfully attained the permits needed to expand. It was an especially rewarding experience working as a group to accomplish everything we need to for the expansion.

An Adventurous Spirit

Outside of work, I enjoy taking time out of my day to seek out new experiences, spend time with my family, and learn new things. For instance, I have been studying English for some time to better connect with my colleagues and I just recently started doing yoga. Travel is also important to me, and I am always excited to see new places. While most of my travel is back and forth between Covia plants or to visit my family in Torreón, I have plans for an upcoming educational trip to India with a group that I am a part of. I am always willing to try something new and go out of my way to find an exciting opportunity to explore.

Working Together Toward a Bright Future

I am so excited about all the changes happening at Covia. There are always new challenges to meet, goals to achieve, and innovative ways to approach environmental initiatives. I am happy to help Covia move into the future as we tackle emission and reclamation goals as a part of our ESG responsibilities. I can see how committed Covia Team Members are to the success of the organization and each other. Every person here wants to support Covia’s mission and that is really exciting to me. As we continue to give new employees the training and support they need to thrive, Covia will continue to grow and succeed. My advice to those young leaders is to be patient and respectful. I realized that actively listening to others and showing empathy is a key aspect of personal growth and development. Make sure to connect with the people around you and create relationships built on trust. You will find that there are more opportunities to succeed when you have friends by your side.

Every part of Haiti is now facing “crisis” levels of hunger, with five million people dealing with acute food insecurity and 1.64 million people just one step away from famine. This according to a new report from the IPC, the group responsible for assessing hunger levels in countries around the world.

We asked Martine Villeneuve, Haiti Country Director for Action Against Hunger, to tell us more about the crisis and what can be done.

Why is hunger rising in Haiti?

Haiti has long been one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere. In recent years, a breakdown in government and increasing violence has led to a growing crisis. Approximately 362,000 people, including 180,000 children, have fled their homes.

Additionally, the violence has forced the airport and shipping in Port-au-Prince to close, creating ripple effects across the country. To compound matters, unsafe conditions have made it extremely difficult for humanitarian organizations to get food and other supplies to those most affected.

How many people are in need today?

The situation has deteriorated rapidly, with another 532,000 more people food insecure than what we saw in the IPC’s last report. Today, half the population—nearly five million people—are in a food crisis. That means they are dealing with acute food insecurity. About 17% of the population, or 1.64 million people, are in “emergency” conditions, or IPC’s Phase 4, which is one step away from famine.

The IPC is the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), an independent committee of food security and nutrition experts from the United Nations, governments and NGOs, including Action Against Hunger, a global nonprofit leader in the movement to end hunger, which has been operating in Haiti since 1985.

How does this relate to water and disease?

Crisis and displacement jeopardize access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). For vulnerable populations, that increases the risk of water-borne diseases such as giardia and cholera, which is known as the disease of inequity. Although preventable, when left untreated, cholera has devastating symptoms and can kill within hours. It is so contagious, even one case needs to be treated like an epidemic.

According to the recent Water Funding Gap Report from Action Against Hunger, only 36% of requests to fund WASH programs were met in 2023, leaving a 64% funding gap.

What role does climate change play?

While the current crisis in Haiti is related to political instability and violence, climate change is an underlying factor that leaves people far more vulnerable. Around the world, changing weather patterns and more frequent natural disasters are making food production increasingly difficult. In Haiti, below-normal rainfall has lowered agricultural yields. Ironically, rural populations can be particularly hard hit by climate shocks, since they are no longer able to grow enough to feed themselves or to sell for essential income and a more diverse diet.

What can be done?

Action Against Hunger is urging local, national, and regional actors to arrange expedited humanitarian supplies and food shipments through secondary ports and airports, notably Cap Haitien. While smaller ports may not be a perfect solution, new approaches are essential to help address the current crisis.

In the long term, we need greater funding for programs that reduce reliance on imports and can help strengthen food security in the region. For example, Action Against Hunger provides seeds and supplies to help people plant nutritious foods that are fast-growing and require little maintenance. Investing in cash crops can provide a sustainable source of income and food for those facing food insecurity.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

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Photos by Christophe DaSilva