The Santa Ana River Watershed. Source: CEO Water Mandate

Setting and working towards water-related sustainability targets (such as increasing water efficiency, or decreasing water pollution) is an important component of corporate water stewardship. Given that each basin has a unique set of challenges associated with water resources, companies must take local context into consideration when setting those targets.

A context-based approach to corporate water stewardship can provide meaningful risk reduction by addressing multiple dimensions of water risk, and can contribute to long-term water security by ensuring that corporate water strategies are aligned with water policy from the local to global level.

Pacific Institute, in collaboration with CDP, World Resources Institute, WWF, the Nature Conservancy, and UNEP-DHI, has been developing a methodology for utilizing context-based metrics and setting targets. In 2017, the project team released a concept paper outlining our initial thinking. In 2018, we are pilot testing the draft methodology in basins around the world.

As part of this process, we are engaging companies with operations in the Santa Ana watershed to test the methodology in a “clustered pilot.” This work will be developed in collaboration with the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA), and other regional water providers.

The purpose of the pilot is to help participating companies understand the local water context and engage with peer companies, public sector water agencies, and other stakeholders in the basin to align measurement systems, set meaningful targets, and prioritize actions and investments that address the key water challenges in the region. Our ambition is that this pilot will serve as guidance for other basin-scale corporate collaboration around the world.

Project lead: Pacific Institute | CEO Water Mandate

To learn more: Contact Cora Kammeyer, Pacific Institute – ckammeyer@pacinst.org