International environmental reporting and data non-profit CDP has released new research in partnership with global infrastructure firm AECOM revealing that $9.5 billion worth of city water projects are now open for investment.
Released for World Water Week (27 August – 1 September) the new infographic report, Who’s Tackling Urban Water Challenges?, shows the first-ever comprehensive dataset of global water action by cities and companies produced.
Using information gathered from 569 cities and 1,432 companies, each reporting their water management activity, it illustrates how global cities and companies are responding to the escalating challenge of climate change and water security.
Regions most concerned about their water supply lie in Asia and Oceania (84 percent), with significant risks also identified in Africa (80 percent) and Latin America (75 percent).
Together with $14 billion of water impacts reported from companies, such as loss of production last year, 62 percent of cities are now working with companies to address water and climate change issues with 80 cities seeking $9.5 billion for 89 water management projects.
Water investment opportunities are greatest in Latin America ($6.7 billion), where Quito, Ecuador is looking for $800 million to manage their water supply.
The city aims to build three hydropower stations and address the contamination of 246km of Quito’s rivers and streams.
We are seeing critical shifts in leadership from cities and companies in response to the very real threat of flooding, for example, to local economies.
Combined with innovation and financial capital, this puts the tipping point for a sustainable economy in reach, and this data shows how important investors are in making this happen,” said Morgan Gillespy, Head of CDP’s Water Program.
“In thinking about the immediate flooding and future water scarcity issues through a resilience lens, we are helping cities to address issues of socio-economic disparity and environmental justice, in addition to solving their technical challenges.” Explore how cities and companies are acting on water, the CDP infographic report ‘Who’s tackling urban water challenges’, with case studies and full data available at www.cdp.net/cities.