Integrating water stewardship into corporate sustainability can result in a more integrated, effective approach to climate adaptation, nature-based solutions and regenerative agriculture, according to a new report on the future of water.
Trellis data partner GlobeScan, along with the World Wildlife Fund, surveyed over 350 water and sustainability experts, and found that more than two-thirds of respondents believe it’s “extremely important” to integrate water stewardship into corporate sustainability initiatives.
The majority of experts also feel it’s at least “somewhat important” to integrate water stewardship into social initiatives such as farmers’ livelihoods, human rights and social justice, and women’s empowerment.
Corporate sustainability programs on water, climate and nature are often conceived and implemented in siloes with limited consideration of the many interdependencies and important trade-offs that can undermine outcomes and have unintended consequences. Carbon tunnel vision, for example, is one of the biggest obstacles to more progress on water priorities and when it comes to climate, experts continue to note that adaptation and resilience need more attention and resources, and water and nature have key roles to play in solutions.
What this means
For sustainability professionals, one of the most pressing questions to address may be how to best align and integrate water with other sustainability priorities. Rather than continuing to jump from one hot issue to the next, sustainability teams must find a better way to integrate their work across these deeply interconnected areas. Science-based methods also call for integrated, holistic approaches that align with the natural processes of the environment. In addition, experts point to the distinct advantage of more integrated approaches and programs delivering multiple benefits that improve the return on investment and business case for sustainability programs, and are more compelling for external stakeholders.
Based on a global survey with 352 water and sustainability experts in 63 countries and territories conducted November-December 2024.
