The CDP secretariat launched the CDP Water Disclosure in 2010 following requests from participating companies to develop a measurement and reporting platform for water. The 2010 global report was backed by the 137 signatory investors with assets to the tune of $16 trillion. Unlike the investor CDP, the Water Disclosure focuses mainly on gathering company level quantitative and qualitative information on water. The CDP Water Disclosure also requests information on water management and governance, risks and opportunities and water accounting. In 2010, about 302 companies globally, (globally and three of these are from South Africa) responded to the CDP Water Disclosure. Of the 302, 12 were South African companies that were featured in the only country report globally. Both the global and South African Water Reports can be accessed from the NBI’s website.
In 2011 the South African CDP Water Disclosure will target 60 companies in the Top 100 of the JSE listed that are intensive water users. In addition to the CDP Water Disclosure, the NBI will also convene platforms for best practise sharing and other opportunistic events that will enable dialogues between business and stakeholders from other sectors, e.g. government and civil society. The CDP Water Disclosure aims:
- To raise awareness and understanding of the business risks and opportunities around water,
- To make meaningful reporting on water standard corporate practice globally within 5 to 10 years,
- To support and accelerate the development of standard measures and performance benchmarks,
- To provide data that informs decision-making by investors, companies and governments, and
- To catalyse action towards sustainable water management.
For more information on the CDP Water Disclosure
click here.