August 2018: A UK-based organization that supports companies to disclose their environmental impacts released an infographic in the lead-up to World Water Week, showing that more companies are reporting their actions for water sustainability compared with previous years.

CDP, formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, reports that, based on self-reported data, more companies are taking action on SDG target 6.2 on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), 6.3 on water quality, 6.4 on efficiency of water use, and 6.6 on ecosystems.

Cate Lamb, CDP’s Director of Water Security, reports in a blog post that the organization has seen a 61% increase since 2016 in the number of companies employing circular economy techniques to improve water quality. Also, since 2015, 75% more companies are taking into account access to WASH in their water risk assessments. Lamb cites examples of company actions towards SDG 6, including the signing of pledges by some companies to provide 100% of its employees with access to appropriate standards of WASH in the workplace.

Improvements in water resource management could boost economic growth by 6%.

She also recalls World Bank predictions that freshwater scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, could reduce gross domestic product (GDP) by up to 6% in some regions of the world, whereas improvements in water resource management could potentially boost economic growth by 6%.

The 2018 session of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) reviewed a synthesis report on progress on SDG 6, and highlighted that the world is not on track to achieving SDG 6 by 2030, with more than 2.1 billion people lacking access to safe drinking water, 4.5 billion people lacking access to sanitation services, and more than one-third of the global population being affected by water scarcity.

CDP received data from more than 6,300 companies and more than 500 cities around the world regarding their environmental performance in relation to climate change, water, forests and supply chains. Around 2,000 of the world’s largest companies measure, manage and report their water risks and impacts through CDP.

CDP argues that disclosure by global businesses can provide incentives for change by driving accountability for action towards achieving water security, including changes to investment and lending practices. [CDP Infographic on SDG 6] [Blog Post by CDP’s Director of Water Security Cate Lamb] [CDP Website]