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Matt Damon’s Extensive Work on Global Water and Climate Issues

Free News Reader  ·  August 13, 2026

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Matt Damon's Extensive Work on Global Water and Climate Issues

  • Matt Damon co-founded Water.org in 2009, an organization that has since positively impacted the lives of 92 million people by providing access to safe water and sanitation.
  • Damon has consistently advocated for environmental causes, including appearing on the Showtime series "Years of Living Dangerously" and launching the "Get Blue" initiative in July 2026.

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Actor and humanitarian Matt Damon has been a vocal advocate for environmental and social issues for many years, with a particular focus on the global water crisis. His dedication stems from experiences traveling with his family in Mexico and Guatemala during his youth, where he witnessed poverty in developing countries. This led him to establish the H2O Africa Foundation in 2006 to raise awareness about safe water initiatives.

In 2009, Damon co-founded Water.org with Gary White, an organization dedicated to providing access to safe water and sanitation globally. Water.org has reportedly changed the lives of 92 million people by offering microcredit loans to connect homes in developing countries to reliable water resources. Damon has emphasized that “you cannot solve poverty without solving water and sanitation.”

Beyond his work with Water.org, Damon has actively participated in raising awareness about climate change. He appeared on the Showtime series “Years of Living Dangerously,” which explores the impacts of climate change on communities worldwide. In June 2026, he launched the “Get Blue” initiative to further his mission of bringing clean and accessible water to communities. Damon has also expressed that the climate emergency makes a “dystopian future” seem less like fiction. His efforts have earned him recognition, including being named to TIME magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people and receiving the World Economic Forum Crystal Award.