NEW DELHI, India, July 22, 2009 -- A number of schools and municipalities in India are benefiting from improved water and sanitation, thanks to the efforts of the beverage giant Coca Cola.
A member of the UN Global Compact since 2006, Coca Cola was the first organisation from the private sector to support UN-HABITAT in the global effort to improve access to water and sanitation. In 2007 UN-HABITAT and Coca-Cola India signed an agreement aimed at spearheading clean water and water conservation efforts in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal in India and in a number of municipalities in Nepal. For details, visit http://www.unhabitat.org.
Background
New Delhi, 22 Jul 09 -- The collaboration has introduced rainwater harvesting in 16 schools across Madhya Pradesh and created awareness among school children on environmental issues. In Kolkata, West Bengal the partnership will ensure adequate sanitation and supply of clean drinking water to 150 schools. In Nepal, UN-HABITAT and Coca Cola are supporting the "Partnership for Safe Water" Campaign to improve water management, sanitation and hygiene in 5 municipalities.
In relation to Water Conservation the stated goal of Coca Cola is "to return to the communities and nature an amount of water equivalent to what we use in all our beverages and their production." Mr. Ahment Bozzer President, Coca Cola Eurasia and Africa Group in a recent visit to India reviewed the progress of work under the partnership and applauded UN-HABITAT's work in involving more and more partners and creating a "ripple effect."
During the meeting held in New Delhi, Mr. Andre Dzikus, Chief Water and Sanitation Section II, representing UN-HABITAT observed that the Coca Cola's support in the global effort to improve access to water and sanitation provides an example of good practice that needs to become more widespread across the private sector if the water and sanitation crisis in an increasingly urbanising world is to be addressed.
In another meeting between UN-HABITAT and Mr. Jeff Seabright, the global head of Environment and Water Resources of the Coca Cola Company, the partners agreed to explore the possibility of embarking on a wider global collaboration that will take the partnership beyond India and Nepal.
About UN-HABITAT
The United Nations Human Settlements Program, UN-HABITAT (www.unhabitat.org), is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.
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