ABSTRACT
Water provides for many of our most basic human needs. We take our water from nature – from rainfall or rivers, from lakes or aquifers. There is increasing concern that the world is facing a water crisis, driven by global ‘megatrends’ including rapid population growth, epochal shifts in the global economy and the looming impacts of climate change. The combination of increased demand for water, pollution, poor management and climate change, together with ever-more complex and globalised supply chains, means that water-related risks arising in different parts of the planet are affecting more and more companies. Businesses can play an important role by drawing attention to the issues, encouraging transparent dialogue, implementing good water stewardship practice and providing resources for some ‘public good’ measures such as enhanced river and aquifer monitoring. Water management is often complex, especially when it comes to designing and implementing standards and measures that address shared risks.
