Press Release
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PRESS RELEASE Hong Kong SAR, June 15th 2011 – ADM Capital Foundation launches China Water Risk web portal for businesses and investors China Water Risk is an innovative non-profit information portal to help investors, business and individuals understand and mitigate risk around water. “Regardless of whether we care for the environment, we have come to a point where water risks affect us all,” says Debra Tan, Director of China Water Risk. Investors and the corporate community have the potential to accelerate sustainable water practices in China by addressing water-related risks in their portfolios and business operations. “Water risks impact community, nature and our business. Water stewardship, for us, is aligning a positive, social engagement with a business imperative,” says Greg Koch, Director of Global Water Stewardship for the Coca-Cola Company. However, water has yet to be factored into most corporate risk assessments, despite warnings by investment analysts. Water as an issue remains a lower priority than climate change, with limited data and information available on water issues combined with less awareness and publicity around the topic. With China projected to spend up to 1 trillion RMB by 2025 managing water scarcity, increasing attention is being paid to investment opportunities in water supply infrastructure, water treatment facilities and demand management technologies. However, many mainstream investors remain cautious, citing low water tariffs and the gradual pace of privatisation as constraints to investing in China’s water sector. When it comes to water technologies however, investors are more bullish citing desalination and wastewater treatment as good for recurring profits. These trends, coupled with more Chinese companies seeking foreign investment, provide a unique opening to engage investors and the corporate community on water risks. However, lack of information about both risk and opportunity remains a barrier. China Water Risk is launched today to fill this information gap building on previous pilot project: The Asia Water Project. With its new web portal, China Water Risk aims to improve corporate disclosure of water data and metrics; investor due diligence around water issues to direct capital flows to projects that are better-governed, managed sustainably and with reduced environmental impact. China Water Risk strives to transform the community of investors and business owners so that they want to understand and improve water resource management in China. Thanks to China Water Risk’s website, everyone can become knowledgeable about water in China with the Big Picture section outlining key issues about water in China: the Background on China’s Water Crisis, Scarcity of water supplies, causes and incidents linked to water Pollution, the $$$ Risk impacting key stakeholders and industries, Security threats linked to the lack of water, key Opportunities and focus areas, Key Users and industries affected by water and a summary of the main water Measurements. Relevant water policy and regulations can be found in the Regulations section. For more specifics such as expert opinions, reviews and analysis or a comprehensive water glossary and measurements, check out the Resources section. Please visit www.chinawaterrisk.org for a comprehensive overview of the China Water Risk web portal. About China Water Risk China Water Risk is a non-profit initiative designed to help investors, business and individuals understand and mitigate risk around water; and to foster efficient and responsible use of China’s water resources. Its consolidated web portal gives access to relevant information and resources on water issues and showcases up-to-date research, analysis and expert opinions. China Water Risk works closely with a growing network of Chinese, Hong Kong and international water and industry experts and investors who are interested in building knowledge that will lead to better management of China’s increasingly scarce water resources. China Water Risk is funded and managed by Hong Kong-based ADM Capital Foundation and was developed in collaboration with its founding partners, Civic Exchange, the Association for Social and Responsible Investing in Asia (ASrIA), Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE), and Responsible Research. For more information, please visit www.chinawaterrisk.org .