To mark Earth Day today, The Independent is supporting the charity WaterAid and its vital work bringing clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene to communities around the world. The Independent has donated £20,000 in advertising to help amplify WaterAid’s message and reach new audiences.
WaterAid is an international non-profit with one goal: to change the world through water. It works alongside communities in 22 countries, setting up entire systems for millions of people.
This year, WaterAid launched its global maternal health campaign “Time to Deliver”, amplifying women’s voices around the world to demand clean water for every woman, and in every birth.
Chris Stevenson, International Editor at The Independent, comments: “At The Independent, we’re committed to helping change our world for the better. We have been working with WaterAid through our Rethinking Global Aid project to support its Time to Deliver campaign, to save the lives of mothers and babies by ensuring clean water in maternity wards around the globe – which has reinforced how vital its work is. We’re proud to work with WaterAid again, and we hope this contribution of advertising support will strengthen its campaigning and fundraising efforts.”
Jennie York, Executive Director of Communications and Fundraising at WaterAid UK, says: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with The Independent this Earth Day and are so grateful for its support in amplifying our Time to Deliver maternal health campaign during such a critical year for water.
“Earth Day is a reminder that everything starts with clean water, from safe births to adapting to climate change. Every two seconds a woman gives birth without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, leaving new mums and their babies needlessly exposed to deadly infections. And for communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis, water is where it’s already hitting hardest; through intensifying droughts and flooding that disrupt water and sanitation systems, leaving the most marginalised communities at greater risk.
“With world leaders gathering for the UN Water Conference in December, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for water. With the right momentum and investment, we can turn ambition into impact and deliver the water security people need to survive and thrive.”
An annual global moment, Earth Day was created on 22 April 1970 to force environmental issues onto the global agenda and promote conservation.
This year’s Earth Day theme – “Our Power, Our Planet” – highlights the role people everywhere play in driving environmental progress. It communicates that change doesn’t happen quietly – it occurs when individuals and communities take action. From protecting natural ecosystems to developing innovative solutions, progress is built step by step.
