The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has claimed the lives of millions. Limiting the spread of the virus, alongside an effective vaccination rollout, is a key part of the overall strategy to end the pandemic.
But as Figure 1 illustrates, COVID-19 vaccinations are not evenly distributed, with many communities in the Global South still unable to access their first vaccine. In fact, 75% of vaccine doses delivered across the world have gone to just 10 countries (The Guardian). The countries left behind are often those with less resilient health systems, which means millions of the most vulnerable remain at risk around the world, with economic and social fallout expected to drag out over the rest of the decade (The Economist).
This makes vaccine inequity a critical issue that must not be ignored while the world continues to focus on other important issues, like equitable, inclusive climate action.
Persons Fully Vaccinated per 100 of the Population (WHO, 23 Sep 2021)
At South Pole we are committed to acting today for a better tomorrow, as seen in the work we deliver to tackle climate change every single day.
But we also support initiatives in humanitarian action and disaster relief. This year, we asked staff to vote on how to allocate €25,000 from South Pole's annual Humanitarian Relief Fund. We're proud to share the impacts this could make below:
The impacts of our funding
We know this is only a small contribution, and the great challenge of vaccine inequality must still be addressed through urgent action at scale. But for a company of our size, we consider that to be €25,000 well spent! If you're reading this as someone in an SME, perhaps you could try a similar CSR initiative yourself to find out how your employees would like to help make the world a better place.
To learn more about the initiatives we helped, see their websites below:
To find out more about our internal sustainability efforts, here's a link to our
UNGC sustainability report. Or if you'd like to learn about how we help clients deliver climate action, here's what we do.
“Get in touch with our Internal Sustainability Lead to learn more about South Pole’s CSR initiatives.”
