The Ceres Aqua Gauge: A Framework for 21st Century Water Management

The Ceres Aqua Gauge: A Framework for 21^st Century Water Management report was released last week by Ceres in collaboration with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Irbaris and the IRRC Institute (Executive Summary attached). It aims to bridge the gap between investors and companies by offering a framework for better water risk management, and guidance on developing water strategies.

Building on the experience of leading companies in the area, the report analyzes growing water risks for business and steps for managing those risks. Importantly, the report is meant to foster informed conversations between companies and the investment community by proposing a water management framework. Leading investors have already committed to using it to engage companies and industry sectors.

The Ceres Aqua Gauge is designed to enable investors and companies to better understand water risks and the practices used to manage them. The Ceres Aqua Gauge can benefit a range of decision-makers across the investment value chain:

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  • Portfolio managers and analysts
  • Governance specialists
  • Financial and ESG data providers

Companies that seek to develop more robust water management strategies will also find value in the Ceres Aqua Gauge. Specifically, it can help with:

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  • Self-assessment and strategy development
  • Investor communications and engagement
  • Supplier and industry engagement

The Ceres Aqua Gauge was developed through a nine-month consultation process with input from 50 investment and financial institutions, companies, conservation groups and other organizations active on water-related issues. It shows that competing freshwater demands and limits to supply pose a wide range of material risks to companies’ bottom lines and investment portfolios.

For more information, contact:

• Ceres Brooke Barton (barton@ceres.org)
• WBCSD Anne-Leonore Boffi (boffi@wbcsd.org) 

Contact information	Anne-Leonore Boffi Water Project World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) 4, chemin de Conches l 1231 Conches – Geneva l Switzerland (email: Boffi@wbcsd.org) Phone: +41 (0)22 839 31 93 l F: +41 (0)22 839 31 31
News type	Inbrief
File link	http://www.wbcsd.org
File link local	aqua-gauge-executive-summary.pdf (PDF, 111 Kb)
Subject(s)	POLICY-WATER POLICY AND WATER MANAGEMENT
Geographical coverage	n/a
News date	25/10/2011
Working language(s)	ENGLISH