Working with UNEP on a water-sustainable economy
11-11-2009 | CSR news
To help financial institutions understand and effectively manage water issues, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has created a number of briefings. The first report about water in agribusiness was presented during UNEP Financial Initiative’s annual meeting in Cape Town in October. Rabobank water manager Peter Vos is a core team member of UNEP’s Water & Finance Work Stream, and discusses financial institutions and a water-sustainable economy.
Water-sustainable economy
While the color ‘green’ has finally started to root itself in the consciousness of people and businesses, the color ‘blue’ is still struggling to get the consideration it deserves. We cannot have a ‘green’ sustainable world economy without having a ‘blue’ water-sustainable economy as well.
First steps to water-sustainable future
The first steps are for the global water crisis to take centre stage just as climate change has. Water become a priority on the agendas of governments and regulators, and water sustainability needs to be taught in schools and universities. Products and services also need to be benchmarked, rated and differentiated according to the amount of water used in their life-cycle and in their supply chain.
Challenges for food and agribusiness
Water is a fundamental raw input to numerous industries and business sectors. Both water quality and security of supply are essential for their long-term financial performance. This is even stronger in the sector where Rabobank is engaged: food and agribusiness. One of the main challenges ahead for financial institutions is how we will adapt to the changing water fundamentals in the sectors we finance and invest in.
Global, regional and local water issues
For the first time, a report has been presented that substantiated performance indicators for the different geographical regions where water is an issue: Australia, India, Brazil, the Mediterranean and South Africa. Some of these regions also happen to be important Rabobank markets. Therefore, Rabobank India and Rabobank Brazil have also joined together with UNEP to bring in the necessary regional focus and expertise.
Down-to-earth discussions
The UNEP water in agribusiness report forms the first good basis for financial institutions to assess the water-performance of farms and agribusiness operations. At Rabobank, we see the UNEP report as a way for high-level, strategic boardroom discussions about water sustainability to be brought down-to-earth to the relationship managers and others who are closest to our clients.
