WBCSD Helps Form Water Footprint Network
GreenBiz.com,
20 October 2008 -
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and six other organizations have formed the
Water Footprint Network to foster sustainable water management and help individuals and producers accurately measure use. The new group plans to develop standards and tools for water footprint accounting, impact assessment, reduction and offsetting associated negative impacts.
The public launch of the network is scheduled for December. Anyone working in water resources management is welcome to join, including academic institutions, government agencies, NGOs, businesses, public utilities and UN organizations. Other partners include the Netherlands' University of Twente, WWF, UNESCO-IHE Institute of Water Education, Water Neutral Foundation, International Finance Corp., and the Netherlands Water Partnership.
In a statement, Arjen Hoekstra, creator of the water footprint concept and scientific director of the Water Footprint Network, said the structure of the global economy often dictates the degree of local water depletion and pollution. "Many countries have significantly externalized their water footprint, importing water-intensive goods from elsewhere," Hoekstra said. "This puts pressure on the water resources in the exporting regions, where too often mechanisms for wise water governance and conservation are lacking."
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World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Related:
Water / Carbon Footprint & Life Cycle Assessment: Water Footprint Network Launch