Home » Blog » Water risks: Better management needed says CDP
The think tank CDP released its latest global water report for 2016 at the UN’s COP 22 Climate Change meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco which took place this week. The report highlights how companies are managing water risks as the global climate changes and is seen as critical in meeting climate change targets now the Paris Agreement has entered into force.
Companies which did not respond to the investor request for data received an F, denoting failure to disclose. The energy sector continues to be the laggard industry on water transparency CDP said , with only 29% of those companies requested to disclose providing information to their investors via CDP this year. The report highlights Exxon Mobile Corporation, Chevron Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell as the three largest energy companies (by market capitalization) who, since 2012, have consistently failed to respond to investor requests for disclosure through CDP’s water program.
CDP’s CEO Paul Simpson said: “This year’s findings offer two clear lessons for the private sector. Firstly, that water risks can rip the rug from right under business, posing a serious threat to bottom lines. Secondly, and crucially, that water will be a fundamental global commodity in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Every drop of clean, sustainable water will be essential for the emissions reduction activities countries and companies have planned. This is a wake-up call to companies everywhere to take water more seriously.”
Meanwhile participants from 42 countries at the climate change meeting have signed up to joining the NDC Partnership which aims improve co-operation between countries so that developing countries have the support and technical expertise they need to meet their climate change targets agreed at Paris which are defined as their National Determined Contributions.
1 COMMENTS