A Q&A with Jason Morrison, President at the Pacific Institute. Guiding the conversation is Sumbul Mashhadi, Manager of Multimedia Content and Impact Communications at the Pacific Institute.
Key Takeaways:
- The Pacific Institute’s new strategic plan aims to accelerate the transformation to water resilience.
- The plan unifies efforts across four critical Impact Areas- Water Equity, Water Efficiency and Reuse, Nature-Based Solutions, and Corporate Water Stewardship.
- The strategy combines our core competency of producing evidence-based research with rapid scaling of on-the-ground solutions informed by our work.
- Launched in October 2024, the plan was shaped through a year-long, highly collaborative process.
- Implementing this bold strategy will require expansion of financial support.
Sumbul: What inspired the development of this new strategic plan through 2026?
Jason: First, the scale of the problem creates urgency. We are facing a global water crisis that is only getting worse with climate change. Nearly a quarter of the global population still lacks access to safe water. Water-related disasters such as floods and droughts are intensifying in many places around the world.
It’s clear we will only solve these challenges by taking bold steps. The new strategic plan recognizes that the Pacific Institute is uniquely qualified to take a larger leading role. Several years ago, we developed a bold goal to “catalyze the transformation to water resilience in the face of climate change.” We aim to achieve it by 2030. Our new strategic plan through 2026 provides clear stepping stones to get there. It brings together almost 40 years of expertise, allowing us to push forward on four fronts where we know we can make an impact. It’s not just about putting research out there but making sure that research drives on-the-ground solutions. We are focused on accelerating action by engaging those capable of driving large-scale change – policymakers, businesses, and frontline communities.
Jason Morrison at a strategic plan launch get together at Sally Liu’s residence.
Sumbul: What is new in this strategic plan?
Jason: Since the start, we’ve both produced groundbreaking water research and connected that research to decision makers who can drive real change in how water is managed. While evidence-based research remains a core competency, our new strategic plan puts additional emphasis on supporting the rapid scaling of on-the-ground solutions informed by our work. In other words, helping ensure the water solutions we’ve identified get implemented in the real world.
We will accelerate action by engaging those capable of driving large-scale change. Our plan tackles this in two ways. First, we’re deepening our direct engagement with key groups- water utilities, NGOs, frontline communities, and businesses- who are ready to implement these water resilience solutions. Second, we’re catalyzing systems-level change by informing and influencing policy shifts that remove barriers to scale up water solutions. This includes collaborating with a broad network of partners to champion water resilience. In every step, we remain committed to equity, ensuring diverse voices shape our strategies for lasting impact.
Our new strategic plan also solidifies our focus on four Impact Areas- Water Equity, Water Efficiency and Reuse, Nature-Based Solutions and Corporate Water Stewardship. While we’ve worked across these areas for years, what’s new with this strategic plan is how we’re bringing all of these efforts together under a unified framework. Also, for the first time, Corporate Water Stewardship is its own distinct Impact Area. This recognizes that businesses are major water users through their direct operations and across their value chains. It also highlights why businesses are a key stakeholder in helping solve the water crisis.
Sumbul: Can you elaborate on the four Impact Areas and why these were chosen?
Jason: Our four Impact Areas were chosen for two specific reasons. First, they have the potential to accelerate action for the greatest impact — to solve the water crisis and build water resilience. They are also areas where the Pacific Institute is globally recognized for our expertise.
For Water Equity, the reality is stark. Over 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and climate change is making things worse. By focusing on this area, we’re aiming to center the interests and priorities of frontline communities. We will also support utilities, corporations, and others to integrate water equity issues into their own work.
And with Water Efficiency and Reuse, we’re tackling the fact that by 2030, global water demand is projected to exceed supply by 40%. The potential here is huge. We know that expanding efficiency measures could save far more than billions of gallons of water each year. It is the cheapest and fastest way to meet our water needs. Efficiency and reuse reduce our dependence on overdrawn sources. We will continue to develop leading-edge research and solutions, sharing them with utilities, businesses, frontline communities, and others capable of driving change.
Nature-Based Solutions, like protecting wetlands and forests, can not only improve water quality but also store more water and reduce flood risk for communities. Our goal here is to scale these efforts, working alongside partners to increase investment in nature-based solutions that can be as cost-effective as they are beneficial to ecosystems.
Since 2007, through the CEO Water Mandate, in partnership with the UN Global Compact, we’ve seen the power of Corporate Water Stewardship in mobilizing companies to reduce their water footprint and influence supply chains. With Corporate Water Stewardship now a core area, we’re able to scale these efforts to reach more companies and drive change more effectively. During the years ahead, in this part of our work, we’ll continue to engage businesses to reach bold water resilience goals. This includes catalyzing a coalition of companies to take collective action across 100 of the world’s most water-stressed regions. Through this work, we’ll aim to contribute to improving water security for 3 billion people and improving access to water, sanitation, and hygiene for more than 300 million people.
Sumbul: How has the process been to build and refine this plan with your team and partners?
Jason: The journey to shape this strategic plan has been both intensive and deeply collaborative. It kicked off in May 2023 during our all-staff retreat, where we held all-hands-on-deck styled sessions to dive into these issues and opportunities with our entire team. With input from our Board of Directors and key external partners, we developed the new strategic plan with a focus on bringing about the biggest outcomes by leveraging the Pacific Institute’s unique expertise and global convening power.
As someone who has worked here at the Pacific Institute for more than 30 years, I’m incredibly proud of arriving at this inflection point of growth. I’m also deeply appreciative of the expertise, passion, and resilience our team has shown to develop this actionable strategy. Now that it’s launched, I’m inspired by the potential impact this plan holds and excited about what lies ahead.
Pacific Institute team during the May 2023 All-Staff-Retreat.
The journey to shape this strategic plan has been both intensive and deeply collaborative. It kicked off in May 2023 during our all-staff retreat, where we held all-hands-on-deck styled sessions to dive into these issues and opportunities with our entire team.
Sumbul: Looking forward, what do you see as the greatest challenges and opportunities for the Pacific Institute?
Jason: The greatest challenge is also our greatest opportunity: making sure that solutions are implemented at scale. Water resilience must be recognized as a foundational element across sectors, from urban planning to corporate operations. This strategic plan is designed to help us move forward quickly and with impact, but to do so at scale, we need significant resources.
Our Board Chair Sally Liu’s recent $1 million gift has been pivotal in jumpstarting our work under this new plan, but there’s still a lot to do. I’m hopeful that the Pacific Institute leadership in the water resilience movement will inspire others to join in supporting us.
