Water scarcity and pollution
Clean water is vital to healthy communities, thriving ecosystems, strong economies, and climate resiliency. We support investors and companies that are turning responsible water management into a business fundamental; advancing solutions to address the financial impacts of growing demand, overuse, pollution, and worsening weather extremes.
%
of global water demand will be unmet by 2030 unless action is taken.
$TN
of global GDP will be exposed to high water stress by 2050.
$TN
annual economic value of water and freshwater ecosystems.
Investors
Investors are increasingly aware of the challenges that pollution and dwindling water supplies pose to communities and the economy. Ceres educates and supports investors to address water risk within their own investment strategies and with the companies they invest in.
Valuing Water Finance Initiative
The Ceres Valuing Water Finance Initiative is a voluntary initiative for investors to engage companies to act on the financial impacts of water risk and protect water and freshwater ecosystems.
Water and High-Tech Working Group
The Water and High-Tech Working Group is a forum for investor education and idea-sharing on water issues within the high-tech industry and supporting industries such as data centers and semiconductor manufacturing.
Investor Water Toolkit
Developed in collaboration with more than 40 institutional investors, the Investor Water Toolkit is a comprehensive resource for investors—from pension funds to endowments to asset managers—to evaluate and tackle the water risks in their investment portfolios.
Explore the company benchmark
Using publicly available disclosures, the Valuing Water Finance Initiative Benchmark provides a comprehensive view of focus companies’ vulnerabilities, opportunities, and strengths when it comes to managing water. The benchmark provides a line of sight into how companies can better protect the water supplies their operations and supply chains depend on.
Explore our water reports
We support companies and investors with the latest research and resources to make the business case for the private sector to protect global water supplies and act on water as a financial risk.
Events and webinars
Join a Network
Our networks of investors and companies drive change and advocate for innovative policies to build a stronger economy.
Our commitment to water
For more than a decade, Ceres has been committed to building the scientific and financial cases for investor and corporate water action.
Water and High-tech Working Group
Ceres launched a Water and High-tech Working Group, a hub for institutional investors to learn more and share ideas on integrating water risk within the high-tech and supporting industries, including data centers and semiconductor manufacturing, in decision making and strategy.
The Valuing Water Finance Initiative
Ceres launched the Valuing Water Finance Initiative, a global investor-led effort to engage companies with a large water footprint to value and act on water as a financial risk and make the necessary large-scale changes to better protect freshwater resources and build business resiliency.
The Valuing Water Finance Task Force
Ceres and investors formed the Valuing Water Finance Task Force, an advisory body for the Valuing Water Finance Initiative. Task Force members supported the development of the Corporate Expectations for Valuing Water, providing investors the foundation to work with companies in addressing their broad water impacts and dependencies. The Task Force continues to guide the initiative's priorities by providing feedback and support to ensure it is driven by investor priorities and achieving its objectives.
The Global Engagement on Meat Sourcing
In collaboration with the FAIRR Initiative, Ceres facilitated the Global Engagement on Meat Sourcing, an investor engagement focused on the intersection of water and climate issues with fast food giants Chipotle Mexican Grill, Domino’s Pizza, McDonald’s, Restaurant Brands International, Wendy’s Co., and Yum! Brands. The engagement grew to include over 90 investors with combined assets of $11.4 trillion. A testament to the success of the initiative, all six companies have publicly stated they have already set, or will set, global GHG reduction targets approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative. This initiative was retired in 2022.
The Investor Water Toolkit
Ceres released the Investor Water Toolkit, the first-ever comprehensive resource for investors to evaluate and act on water risks in their portfolios. The toolkit was developed in collaboration with more than 40 institutional investors from across the globe and remains the ultimate resource on water integration written for investors by investors.
The AgWater Challenge
The AgWater Challenge, led by Ceres and World Wildlife Fund, engaged major companies with significant agricultural supply chains on water stewardship. The effort spurred some of the world’s most influential companies to make stronger, more transparent, time-bound and measurable commitments that better protect our limited freshwater resources. This initiative was retired in 2022.
Feeding Ourselves Thirsty
Ceres’ Feeding Ourselves Thirsty was the first-of-its kind benchmark report and investor tool that sounded the alarm for food companies to mitigate risks and ensure long-term profitability in our rapidly warming world. The report, which was released every other year through 2021, ranked the largest global food companies based on their management of water risks in their operations and agricultural supply chains. It also provided insights to companies on opportunities for improvement and empowered investors with guidance and relevant data to evaluate the water risk management of these companies.
Connect the Drops
Ceres’ Connect the Drops initiative brought together 35 companies with strong leadership in corporate water stewardship to identify policy engagement opportunities to drive water sustainability in California. Advocacy and engagement of Connect the Drops corporate members contributed to passage of Water Use Efficiency Bills AB 1668 and SB 606, the Open and Transparent Water Data Act (AB 1755), and the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund (SB 200), among others. This initiative was retired in 2019.
Ceres Aqua Gauge™
Ceres Aqua Gauge™ was a tool to help equity investors interpret and evaluate information provided by companies on their management of water issues and to provide a framework to guide investor engagement and dialogue with companies. Built on the foundation outlined by The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability, the tool fed into development of the first edition of the Feeding Ourselves Thirsty company benchmark and the Investor Water Toolkit currently utilized by investors to evaluate and act on water risks in their portfolios
Support our work to protect water
With data-driven research and expert analysis, we inspire investors and companies to advocate for market and policy solutions to address water scarcity and pollution. Our work to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and resilient economy depends on contributions from our generous supporters.
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