Sustainability

Business Action for Water now online

  • 16 March 2005

Business Action for Water (BAW), a joint initiative of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), has this week launched a website to publicize the business position on water policy.

BAW was established in December 2004 as an ad-hoc initiative to coordinate and present business input into the 13th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) which is focused on water, sanitation and human settlement. It brings together a comprehensive network of companies, large and small, drawn from various sectors and regions.

Business and industry, as users of water resources, as providers of water related technology, equipment and services, and as a driving force for economic development, have a large collection of skills and resources to bring to the table at UNCSD 13.

The BAW site showcases business achievements, activities and partnerships related to water and will allow the public to tap into the day-to-day progress of the UNCSD meetings as they take place next month in New York. It will also feature interviews and case studies to help build a better understanding of the opportunities and obstacles presented by water issues.

Michael Kelly, Policy Manager for ICC’s Commission on Environment and Energy said: “BAW’s input into the UNCSD process demonstrates the business community’s commitment to manage water wisely and yields invaluable lessons in the efficient use of water resources, in improving water quality and ecosystems and in providing safe drinking water and sanitation to people throughout the world.”

WBCSD’s Jacqueline Coté explained the importance of ensuring an online presence for Business Action projects.

“The Business Action website is an essential tool for stakeholders to gain a better understanding of the depth of business engagement and to spark ideas about how business can serve as a partner in the quest for practical environmental solutions, at a local and global level.”

BAW sets a precedent for future business action initiatives such as Business Action for Energy which has been established to mobilize private sector action ahead of the energy-focused UNCSD 14 and 15, in 2006 and 2007.