Link Water, Energy and Climate in Global Talks, Business Urges

Istanbul, 19 March 2009 - Business leaders from some of the world's biggest companies today called for water, energy and climate change to be linked in global negotiations, such as the international climate talks due to culminate in Copenhagen in December.

The business leaders were speaking at the launch of a report by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development at the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul. The forum is expected to produce a ministerial statement calling for proactive policies on water issues.

"Water is everybody's business. It is used to generate energy, and energy is used to provide water. Climate change will affect the use and availability of both. It is important that we get the policies right," said Björn Stigson, president of the WBCSD.

"The World Water Forum in Istanbul has done a lot to focus attention on water, energy and climate change. But there is still a significant gap in addressing all three together at a global level. We must link them in the climate negotiations to have any real hope of finding a solution."

The report, Water, Energy and Climate Change: A contribution from the business community ( 1.8 MB), says water, energy and climate change are inextricably linked.

"Water plays a central role in many of the world's most pressing issues, among them climate change, energy security and the need to spur economic growth. The time has passed for commitment alone – we must act," said Steve R. Loranger, CEO of ITT Corporation and co-chair of the WBCSD Water Project.

"The search for solutions must involve all players – government, NGOs, multilateral institutions and, importantly, the private sector. We believe the five recommendations of this paper will make that search more effective and, ultimately, more fruitful."

Mark Garrett, CEO of Borealis and co-chair of the WBCSD Water Project, said: "Climate change, water and energy are interlinked challenges. It is essential, for business and government alike, to integrate water and energy efficiency in measurement tools and policies."

And Joppe Cramwinckel, sustainable development leader at Royal Dutch/Shell, which led the development of the report, said: "Governments, industry and society need to work together to start to address these systems – water, energy and agriculture – in a more strategic and integrated way."

"We need to use a broader perspective."

The WBCSD's Water Project brings together more than 60 companies from mining and metals, oil and gas, consumer products, food and beverages, infrastructure services and equipment sectors. The broad representation reflects the knowledge that all businesses will face water challenges in the years ahead.

The paper lists five important policy recommendations from business to climate negotiators and policy-makers. These are:

• Provide reliable climate change risk data, models and analysis tools.
• Integrate water and energy efficiency in measurement tools and policy.
• Bring water issues into the mainstream, and ensure that water authorities and institutions have staff trained to deliver common management practices, education and awareness raising.
• Integrate and value ecosystem services (the benefits that nature provides to society, such as water and forest products) into cross-border decision-making.
• Encourage best practice through innovation, appropriate solutions and community engagement.

It also includes 25 case studies showing how business is already linking water, energy and climate across their operations.

Download

• Water, Energy and Climate Change: A contribution from the business community ( 1.8 MB)

Editors' notes
The WBCSD has updated its Global Water Tool with more recent water datasets, due to its successful uptake since its launch in August 2007. The Global Water Tool is a free and easy-to-use tool for companies and organizations to map their water use and assess risks relative to their global operations and supply chains. The tool, which was developed by CH2M HILL and an advisory board of 22 WBCSD member companies, aims to help corporations better manage their water use. It is downloadable from www.wbcsd.org/web/watertool.htm.

About the WBCSD
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a unique, CEO-led, global association of some 200 companies dealing exclusively with business and sustainable development. The Council provides a platform for companies to explore sustainable development, share knowledge, experiences and best practices, and to advocate business positions on these issues in a variety of forums, working with governments and non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations. http://www.wbcsd.org

For further information contact

• Moira O'Brien-Malone, Media Relations, WBCSD, Tel: +41 79 377 7958

Author WBCSD Publication Date 19 Mar 2009 Document Type WBCSD news Issue/Topic Energy & Climate Water Company Borealis AG ITT Corporation Royal Dutch Shell plc. Source WBCSD Include In RSS WBCSD News & Updates