Work Streams

The UNEP FI work on water builds on the need to create awareness and capacity among the financial community in order to promote their proactive approach towards water issues. These are:

1. WATER SUPPLY: increase the channeling of funds into the "water sector" (water/sanitation-infrastructure, -services, -technologies, -utilities) in an ESG-inclusive manner in order to support the achievement of the MDG Drinking Water and Sanitation Target. This target consists
   "in halving, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation."
2. WATER USE: Introducing water considerations into risk/opportunity assessment processes in the context of both water-exposed businesses "downstream" and private households.

This is done by identifying and addressing potential challenges and opportunities of water-related issues which can bring benefits to both the core business of financial institutions and water sustainability in general.

Strategic Objectives

• Raise awareness on the business implications of adverse water-related developments and the opportunities in water related investment;
• Strengthen the business case for action and provide the financial sector with information and analysis tools for adequate identification, assessment and management of water-related risks and opportunities;

Members

Co-Chairs

• Sasja Beslik, Head of Responsible Investment and Engagement at ABN Amro AM Sweden (Banco Fonder)
• Dion Smith, Associate Director, Client Insight Team at ANZ (Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Limited)

Partners

One of the key elements for the elaboration of our work based on water is the active collaboration with the UNEP Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), which brings full benefits of specialised institutions with knowledge on water, complementing our knowledge and engagement with a broad base of financial institutions.

Contact

Remco Fischer
water [at] unepfi.org