The Water Risk Filter is an online instrument for companies to detect water-related risks and it contributes to the sustainable use of water resources. The website gives access to considerable water data and maps
The environmental NGO World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the development finance institution Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG), have launched an online tool that companies and investors worldwide can use to calculate their water-related risks in a simple and effective manner. The newly developed instrument not only points to water risks in the supply chain and in an investment portfolio, it also provides information on practical approaches for risk mitigation.
The website maps illustrate individual countries’ access to clean drinking water, and how they are affected by droughts, floods etc.
A Water Risk Filter such as this is of vital importance: a total of 1.1 billion people globally still lack access to clean drinking water. Climate change, population growth and a continually rising standard of living contribute to, and increase the pressure on already overstretched, existing water resources, especially in developing countries.
The Water Risk Filter is to help detect water-related risks at an early stage and incorporate them into investment decisions. It has been planned with non-expert users in mind and consists of an easily understandable questionnaire and a pre-assessment, which, in less than five minutes, calculates whether further analysis is necessary. The Water Risk Filter can be used worldwide and incorporates sectoral and regionally specific information from 235 countries and areas, for which interactive maps and case studies are provided. In addition to the assessment, the users of the Water Risk Filter are also equipped with tools to mitigate the demonstrated risks.
Numerous companies, including Nokia, H&M, Coca-Cola and Nestlé, have already shown their interest in using the Water Risk Filter, reported DEG.
