Welcome

Conflicting Reporting Systems May Hinder Companies’ Water Risk Strategies

Water risks such as floods, scarcity and pollution are increasingly chipping into corporate bottom lines. The financial sector is taking notice–and taking action. Calvert Investments asked Hanes Brands to evaluate its losses from cotton-supply shortages due to the 2011 US drought, determining that the company lost $5.2 billion. Trillium Asset Management is now asking companies […]

Step-by-Step Guidance on Corporate Water Disclosure

Investors need to understand a wide variety of business and market risks facing the companies in which they invest. In the 21st century, that includes water risks. An increasing number of companies are experiencing detrimental water-related business impacts, including operational or supply chain disruptions and property damage from flooding, to name a few. These impacts […]

What’s the Difference Between Water Use and Water Consumption?

In January, Brian Richter, director of freshwater strategies at The Nature Conservancy, spelled out four water resolutions through a thought-provoking series of blog posts. One of those resolutions was to better understand and communicate the differences between water use and water consumption. This is a particularly important issue, as there has been a lot of […]

In the Face of Growing Risks, Every Day Is a World Water Day

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the first World Water Day, an international celebration designed to draw attention to the importance of freshwater resources. However, for a large and growing proportion of the world’s population, every day is a World Water Day. Difficult, complex water challenges including drought, groundwater depletion, pollution, and clean drinking water […]

New Study Raises Question: What Don’t We Know About Water Scarcity?

A new study from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reveals troubling news: The aquifers that millions of Americans rely on for freshwater are being depleted at an accelerating rate. In fact, aquifer depletion in the years between 2004 and 2008 was nearly triple the historical average. Population growth and increasing demand—in particular for irrigating crops—are straining these underground […]

A NEW GLOBAL INITIATIVE FOR SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

GOALS INCLUDE: Preservation of Indonesia’s virgin tropical rainforests Conversion of degraded land into new sustainable certified oil palm plantations Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and loss of biodiversity from forest clearing Development of opportunities for local communities Improvement of sustainable and legal logging through adoption of certified forest management guidelines Increased viability of certified wood […]