Improving health, biodiversity and gender equality in southern EthiopiaOur carbon offset project provides clean drinking water in Ethiopia's Central Province through the installation, rehabilitation, and maintenance of boreholes. By providing safe water, the project helps to reduce diseases such as cholera, as poor water quality is one of the main causes of these infections. It also ensures that households consume less firewood during the process of water purification, and as a result, fewer emissions will be released into the atmosphere – saving about 60,000 tonnes of CO2 every year. This further contributes to the health of the population, as the water is usually boiled over open fire, resulting in heavy smoke.
Girls and women are particularly affected by poor water conditions which is why our project also has an impact on gender equality: Providing clean water through boreholes reduces their time spent collecting water and firewood which can now be used for education or generating additional income.