The third annual report by the Sustainability Leaders Council -
a joint venture between Eurasia Group and Suntory - urges a
proactive response by businesses to the environmental crisis in
Asia.
NEW
YORK, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The
Sustainability Leaders Council – a venture spearheaded by Eurasia
Group and Suntory - is pleased to announce the launch of its third
annual report, which urges a proactive response by businesses to
the environmental crisis in Asia.
"The triple water-nature-climate crisis is
only going to continue to have more and more impact on our
geopolitical space" - Ian Bremmer,
Eurasia Group president and founder
Addressing the Triple Water-Nature-Climate Crisis in
Asia: The New Sustainability
Approach for Businesses builds on the "year of water" call to
action in 2023 and encourages corporations to embrace transparency,
innovation, and advocacy to address one of the biggest business and
geopolitical threats of the century.
The report explores how the continued water crisis is compounded
by concurrent climate and nature crises. It charts a path forward
for companies, making the case for adopting a holistic approach to
tackling these three environmental issues. In so doing, companies
and investors can score both quick wins and longer-term gains in
terms of stakeholder engagement, social license to operate, and
sustainability credentials.
"The triple water-nature-climate crisis is only going to
continue to have more and more impact on our geopolitical space,"
said Eurasia Group president and founder Ian Bremmer. "The private sector has a critical
role to play in this. We are proud to have partnered with Suntory
in this work to lay out a plan for businesses to help preserve the
natural ecosystems that they, their suppliers, investors, and
customers truly rely on."
The full report can be found here. Key takeaways and
recommendations include:
- Preparations for the upcoming summer seasons and beyond should
start immediately. Planning with full stakeholder involvement from
the outset, everyday management of operations, procurement of all
necessary materials and supplies, and smooth delivery of products
to customers are all essential elements and will result in a
clearer picture of the cumulative impact of a company's operations
on water consumption and pollution.
- Water-related disclosures are increasing. It is often
underestimated how much water is consumed by businesses (typically
by a factor of three to five times the actual amount). More
companies are acknowledging "water risk" in their annual reports,
as indicated by filings with the US Securities and Exchange
Commission—rising from 41 in 2019 to 58 in 2020.
- Businesses should brace for more stringent regulatory
environments. Those could include higher water prices, rationing
measures, stricter effluent permitting, and the mandatory
incorporation of water-saving technologies. Existing national,
state, and municipal prohibitions and moratoria for energy
production in industrialized countries could soon expand to
industries such as cement, semiconductors, data centers, textiles,
clothing, and beverages.
- The risk of reputational harm and financial repercussions from
poor water stewardship is expected to grow. Drought-shaming is
likely to become more prevalent, while internal whistleblowing
could become a threat. The failure to address environmental
concerns by corporations may lead to difficulties in retaining
staff, especially millennials and Gen Z.
- The cost of securing new water supplies is expected to soar.
Current expenditures could potentially double, causing a domino
effect on operations in water-reliant sectors, such as power
generation and waterway transport. Companies may have to consider
the possibility of relocating business operations in response to
water crises.
- Companies are increasingly embracing water stewardship. After
facing intense criticism over water use, many companies are
prioritizing local access to drinking water and sanitation over
corporate needs. There have been examples of success with
large-scale outreach and commitments to provide water, sanitation,
and hygiene services in and near their operational sites. To turn
from water villain to water steward, industry leaders are urged to
disclose water usage transparently, set clear targets to reduce
their water footprints, and focus especially on areas where water
scarcity and pollution pose urgent challenges.
The report is the culmination of a yearlong project, building on
key findings from a roundtable series in 2023 and other activities
throughout the year. It follows the 2021/22 report on sustainable
plastics and the 2022/23 report on biodiversity. It is a product of
the Sustainability Leaders Council, an initiative launched by
Eurasia Group and Suntory in 2021 to position Asia as a leading force for change within the
climate and sustainability sphere.
For more information or to schedule an interview with one of the
report's authors, please contact media@eurasiagroup.net.
Contact: Katharine Starr,
starr@eurasiagroup.net
About Eurasia Group
Eurasia Group is the world's leading geopolitical risk advisory
firm. We help clients understand, anticipate, and respond to
instability and opportunities everywhere they do business. Together
with GZERO Media, the go-to source of first insight into
geopolitics, and our full-fledged events team, the Eurasia Group
umbrella provides a complete political risk solution.
Headquartered in New York, we
have offices in Washington,
London, São Paulo, Brasilia, Tokyo, Singapore, and San
Francisco, as well as on-the-ground experts in more than a
hundred countries in every region of the world.
We are committed to analysis that is free of political bias and
the influence of private interests.
Visit us: eurasiagroup.net | gzeromedia.com
Follow us: LinkedIn | X | Threads | Facebook | Instagram |
YouTube
About Suntory Group
As a global leader in the beverage industry, Suntory Group
offers a uniquely diverse portfolio of products, from premium
spirits, beer, wine, ready-to-drink alcohol beverages, to brewed
teas, bottled water, still and carbonated soft drinks,
ready-to-drink coffee and energy drinks, along with health and
wellness products. Suntory is home to award-winning Japanese
whiskies Yamazaki, Hibiki and Hakushu, as well as iconic American
spirits Jim Beam and Maker's Mark. Suntory also fascinates the
taste buds with The Premium Malt's beer, and owns the exceptional
Japanese wine, Tomi, and the world-famous Château Lagrange. Its brand collection includes Sauza
Tequila, non-alcoholic favorites Orangina, Lucozade, Ribena, BOSS
coffee, Iyemon green tea, Suntory Tennensui water, TEA+ Oolong Tea,
V and BRAND'S, as well as popular health and wellness product
Sesamin EX.
Founded as a family-owned business in 1899 in Osaka, Japan, Suntory Group has grown into a
global company operating throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia
and Oceania, with an annual revenue (excluding excise taxes) of
$20.2 billion in 2022. Its 40,885
employees worldwide draw upon the unique blend of
Japanese artisanship and global tastes to explore new product
categories and markets.
As a corporation sustained by the gifts of nature and water,
Suntory Group will always protect the ecosystems that deliver
water. Because its ecosystem is the wellspring, not only of its
business and the rich experiences the group creates for people's
lives, but also of human life itself. Suntory Group will continue
to be a company where everyone is empowered with the freedom and
flexibility to innovate. Through all of its corporate pursuits,
Suntory seeks to inspire the brilliance of life.
Learn more about Suntory Group, its brands, and its commitment to
social responsibility and sustainability at http://www.suntory.com,
on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Media Contact
Katharine Starr, Eurasia Group,
2025405144, starr@eurasiagroup.net,
https://www.eurasiagroup.net/
View original
content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/slc-launches-report-on-the-business-response-to-asias-triple-water-nature-climate-crisis-302101862.html
SOURCE Eurasia Group