CDP global water report 2014: from water risk to value creation
Two thirds of the world's largest companies are reporting exposure to water risks, some of which have potential to limit growth. The news comes amid mounting shareholder concern around the business impacts from water scarcity, accessibility and poor water quality. The latest annual global water report, released by CDP, an international NGO that drives sustainable economies and holds the largest collection of company-reported environmental data, finds that 68% of businesses report exposure to water risk which could generate a substantive change in their business, operations or revenue. Twenty-two percent of companies anticipate that issues around water could limit the growth of their business. The analysis is based on the water management data of 174 companies listed on the FTSE Global 500 Equity Index provided to CDP at the request of 573 institutional investors with US$60 trillion in assets. The number of investors pressing for corporate accountability on water and related information through CDP has increased by more than 300% since 2010, reflecting growing shareholder attention to water challenges