Strengthening Corporate Water Stewardship

Strengthening Corporate Water Stewardship: A pathway to resolve water challenges and promote sustainable business

Industrial pollution causes both social and environmental impacts not only on the freshwater ecosystem in the downstream rivers but also on the health and livelihood of neighboring communities. For instance, within the Yangon region, 20 industrial zones are hosting a cluster of various factories. Less than 10 percent of those factories have a functioning water treatment system, while the remaining factories directly discharge into the surrounding water bodies: rivers and creeks. The pollutants from the industrial effluents allegedly cause enormous impacts on the communities, especially, if the respective communities are relying on the same water bodies for drinking water, domestic uses, and irrigation. Several communities have filed reports to the authorities following severe impacts on human health followed by the loss of livelihoods, prosperity, and degeneration of local ecosystems.

WWF is actively promoting Water Stewardship to achieve sustainable water management in private enterprises and relevant key stakeholders. In December 2016, a multi-stakeholder "Corporate Water Stewardship Working Group" was established with different stakeholders and concerned organizations with a shared interest, including multinational firms, local private companies, and industrial associations. Regular working group meetings were organized in the past years, however, the momentum of the working group lingered afterwards. On the other hand, the water-related risks and challenges have escalated progressively during the Covid-19 pandemic and political changes where both industries and neighboring communities are facing challenges in mitigating those risks beyond the prior extent. This urgency has called for resuming the "Corporate Water Stewardship Working Group" and strengthening its capacity in tackling these significant challenges. This webinar will serve as the first initiative to revitalize the working group and discuss the importance of water risks within the private enterprises and potential pathways to promote the shared value of sustainable utilization of water resources among prominent corporate stakeholders.

Date: Tuesday 29th November, 2022

Time: 14.00 - 15.30 (Myanmar Time)

Venue: Online (Zoom Webinar)

Cost

Member - FOC

Non Member - MMK 15,750 including commercial tax

Access and Cancellation

You will be sent the link to attend 24 hours in advance, then again one hour before. You must pay for your ticket in advance, or you will not be sent the access link.