Library | ESG issues
Water Management
Sustainable water management ensures the availability and quality of water for current and future generations by balancing economic, social, and environmental needs. This approach involves efficient water use, protection of ecosystems, and equitable distribution, addressing challenges such as scarcity, pollution, and climate change impacts. Investors can work with companies to manage water responsibly by encouraging better water use, supporting efforts to protect ecosystems, and promoting practices that ensure water resources are used efficiently and sustainably.
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Water behind the watts: The hidden risk of powering data centers
This research identifies that U.S. data centres depend on roughly 3.4 trillion gallons of freshwater annually for electricity generation. The report highlights significant water stress and drought risks across seven key states, recommending that companies, power producers, and policymakers integrate indirect water use into their risk assessments and strategies.
SBTN Corporate Case Studies Library
A collection of practical case studies detailing how leading companies apply the Science Based Targets Network framework to set science-based targets for nature, land, and freshwater.
U.S. Drought Monitor
A weekly tool monitoring drought location and severity across the U.S., produced by the NDMC, USDA, and NOAA. It offers essential data for assessing agricultural risk and water stress.
Are we consuming too much groundwater?
This research examines groundwater extraction across 3,400 global aquifers, finding that three-fifths to four-fifths are depleted faster than is optimal. While global aquifers are valued at over £80 trillion ($103 trillion), non-optimal management causes trillions in welfare losses. Optimal strategies involve reducing short-term extraction to restore water tables.
Unlocking finance for nature-based solutions (NbS) in Indian cities: Learnings and insights from case studies
This report examines nine Indian nature-based solutions (NbS) case studies to evaluate financing mechanisms and institutional frameworks. It highlights the importance of reducing technical risk through feasibility studies, aligning with national policies, and sequencing capital to support project scalability and long-term sustainability in urban environments.
Water atlas: Data and facts about the basis of life 2025
This report analyses the global water crisis, examining the impacts of climate change, pollution, and industrial demand. It highlights the strain from agriculture and digitalisation, explores the failure of privatisation, and advocates for sustainable governance and ecosystem restoration to ensure water security and human rights are protected globally.
Investing in water-related and dependent infrastructure: Risks, considerations, and opportunities
This report examines water risks as systemic financial threats to infrastructure. It proposes a seven-step decision framework to integrate ecosystem services into project appraisal and financing. Through case studies in Africa and Asia, it advocates for hybrid green-grey solutions and innovative financial mechanisms to address the global water infrastructure gap.
Effects of climate change on menstrual health and hygiene: A global mixed-methods systematic review
This systematic review synthesises evidence on how climate change affects menstrual health and hygiene globally. It finds that floods, cyclones, and droughts disrupt access to materials and sanitation, while air pollution correlates with earlier menarche. The report highlights critical gaps in research regarding extreme heat and equity.
Crosswalking SBTN freshwater requirements with CSRD water disclosures
This report compares the SBTN freshwater framework with EU CSRD and ESRS requirements. It identifies areas of alignment, such as materiality assessments and basin-level analysis, while highlighting differences in scope. SBTN provides the scientific foundation for setting targets that support mandatory reporting obligations under European standards.
Climate resilience, desertification and applied innovation report: A strategic framework for applied innovation in arid and climate-vulnerable regions
This 2026 report establishes a strategic framework for climate resilience in arid regions. It examines technological solutions in water, agriculture, and energy, highlighting Israel's innovation ecosystem and Azerbaijan's renewable energy transition. The document advocates for integrated systems, cross-border cooperation, and robust governance to combat global desertification and land degradation.
Science Based Targets Network Target Tracker
The SBTN Target Tracker is a public database that monitors companies setting science-based targets for nature. It provides finance professionals with verified data to assess corporate progress on land, water, and biodiversity goals.
Weekly cat report: Review of global catastrophe activity
This series provides a weekly review of global catastrophe activity, covering meteorological events and preliminary financial loss estimates. It tracks natural disasters such as severe convective storms, flooding, and landslides across multiple regions to assist in risk assessment. This report is part of a regular series.
WWF Risk Filter Suite
A free online screening suite from WWF featuring Water and Biodiversity Risk Filters. It helps financial institutions and companies identify nature-related physical and regulatory risks across portfolios using 80+ global datasets.
Coller FAIRR seafood index methodology: May 2026
The Coller FAIRR Seafood Index Methodology outlines the framework for assessing 20 global companies across 16 material topics. It details a bottom-up scoring process, ranging from 0 to 100, and a four-step production cycle. The index measures corporate maturity in response to environmental and social risks in the seafood industry.
A novel multilevel conceptual framework for flood risk governance
This research introduces a multilevel framework integrating flood hazard modelling, social vulnerability assessments, and risk communication. Designed for data-scarce environments, it addresses analytical silos by treating communication as a coequal component. The framework supports equitable decision-making through consequence-oriented risk surfaces and transparent uncertainty representation for municipal planning.
Ocean investment protocol: 2026 revised draft for consultation: A multi-stakeholder plan to enable funding for the Sustainable Ocean Economy
This report provides a framework for scaling finance towards a sustainable ocean economy. It outlines recommendations for financial institutions, insurers, governments, and central banks to manage risks and capture opportunities. The protocol aims to mobilise the US$1 trillion required by 2030 to protect marine ecosystems and ensure prosperity.
