Featured Articles
GreenMoney Interviews: Kirsten James on Ceres’ Valuing Water Finance Initiative
As the global water crisis worsens, so do financial risks facing companies and their investors. Kirsten James, senior program director of Water at the sustainability nonprofit Ceres, answers questions from Cliff Feigenbaum, GreenMoney founder about the Valuing Water Finance Initiative, which is a global, investor-led effort driving companies to prioritize water risk and act as responsible water stewards in their operations and supply chains.
Investing in the Future of Water and Sanitation
Impact investing can transform the landscape of safe water and sanitation by addressing the complex challenges posed by the water crisis, climate change, and gender disparities. By supporting innovative household solutions and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, impact investors can contribute to the UN SDGs and improve the well-being of communities around the world, aligning values with the potential for financial returns that helps build resilient communities.
The Economic and Water Impacts of the EPA’s “Slaughterhouse” Rule
The EPA has a decision to make, as it is considering new water pollution standards for slaughterhouses and rendering facilities in response to lawsuits from environmental organizations. Despite its stated mission to safeguard human health and the environment, EPA's current regulations do not address phosphorus discharges, and the agency has neglected to update water pollution standards for other harmful pollutants from this industry for 20 years, as required by the Clean Water Act.
How the Future of Water will Impact Businesses and Communities
Water is the essence of life, and yet it is almost universally taken for granted. This is at a time when we are seeing unprecedented and dire water issues globally. Water is managed as a resource (i.e., drinking water) and a waste product (i.e., stormwater) while also being managed as both a business and as a common good. Population growth and new housing development are two major issues underlying the need to find more water, yet water is often not linked to land use management.
Additional Articles
Water + Indigenous Peoples Rights = Risk
As far as life goes, priorities can’t get much bigger than Water. As far as the financial markets, Water is such a huge fundamental risk that it could cause another recession or financial crisis when we reach a tipping point. Studies have found that companies with poor Indigenous Peoples (IP) risk management also had low ESG social performance ratings and higher risk.
From Seawater to Drinkable Water Using Wave Power
Oneka Technologies has developed a floating desalination system that can turn seawater into drinkable water using renewable wave power. The machines require less energy to remove salt than large, shore-based desalination plants so they can provide freshwater to coastal communities and industries with less environmental impact.
Navigating the Canals of Water Investing
From the March 2022 Archive – Water is elemental. Crucial for life as we know it. Finite in supply, particularly fresh water, and is degraded over time by countless contaminants. Add it all up and it seems like the perfect combination of inelastic demand and diminishing supply. We need more, and better access to, safe, fresh water. It seems very straightforward to invest in freshwater solutions, but is it?
ImpactAssets 2024 Impact Investment Fund Managers List
Now in its 13th year, the ImpactAssets 50 is the most recognized free database of impact investment fund managers. This list is a gateway into the world of impact investing for investors, financial advisors, and philanthropists. The IA 50 offers an easy way to identify experienced and emerging impact fund managers and illustrates the breadth of impact fund managers operating across geographies, sectors and asset classes.
Morningstar Launches Low Carbon Transition Leaders Indexes
This series of nine new global benchmarks, underpinned by the Sustainalytics Low Carbon Transition Ratings, will help investors target a broad range of companies that are leading their peers in their readiness for - and action towards - transitioning to a low-carbon economy. A few companies included in the indexes for leading the way in their approach to climate transition and net zero include Taiwan Semiconductor and BMW.
New Sustainability Summit Announced by The Water Council & Marquette University
The Water Council, a nonprofit dedicated to solving global water challenges, and Marquette University’s Sustainability Lab, which researches and disseminates knowledge as well as develops managers around effective sustainability and stewardship practices, announced the ‘Nexus Sustainability Leaders Summit’, a national conference in Oct. 2024 on corporate sustainability, water and energy resiliency, and stewardship.
