SACRAMENTO, CA, October 22, 2024 – Business leaders from across sectors came together to advance solutions to the state’s mounting water challenges at the California Water Resilience Initiative’s (CWRI) second annual forum. With an estimated 10 percent reduction in water supply projected by 2040, the forum highlighted the growing importance of corporate stewardship in alignment with California’s 2022 Water Supply Strategy as a critical driver for building water resilience.
“California’s water crisis is multifaceted, but it’s clear that the private sector is stepping up. What we’ve achieved so far through the CWRI is encouraging, but it’s just the beginning,” said President of the Pacific Institute and Head of the CEO Water Mandate Jason Morrison. “The Pacific Institute, CEO Water Mandate and its Water Resilience Coalition will continue to work with businesses to scale solutions that reduce water use, build resilience and secure California’s water future.”
Launched in 2023 to harness private sector innovation and leadership, the CWRI is accelerating efforts to transform how businesses manage water resources in alignment with public sector ambition. The initiative has identified focus areas and projects for private investment through quarterly meetings with state water policy leaders. This year’s forum emphasized the measurable impacts companies have made through water-saving initiatives while outlining new goals for 2025.
“Water scarcity is not a distant threat. It’s here now, and it demands immediate action from all sectors,” said Ecolab Senior Vice President & Chief Sustainability Officer Emilio Tenuta. “At Ecolab, we’ve seen firsthand how innovative water management can protect both business and communities. The CWRI is a testament to the power of collective action, and we’re eager to advance new partnerships among the private and public sectors in 2025.”
State leaders at the event welcomed private sector engagement in achieving California’s water resilience goals, noting that achieving the goals of California’s Water Supply Strategy requires participation from all sectors.
“The State is committed to infrastructure and efficiencies that work in the face of a changing climate. The CWRI has brought together a powerful coalition of businesses that are committed to making a tangible difference,” said Director of the Department of Water Resources Karla Nemeth. “In 2025, we’ll need to support these efforts to ensure that California’s water infrastructure and resources are protected for the long term.”
CWRI will continue to focus on building its portfolio of corporate water stewardship projects, deepening partnerships with the public sector and preparing to meet the ambitious goals set for 2025.
For more information on the California Water Resilience Initiative, visit wateractionhub.org/basin-collaborative/California-Water/.
What Others Are Saying:
California Natural Resources Secretary – Wade Crowfoot:
“We have some of the most creative, visionary companies in the world right here in California – now that’s some of you. We need these partnerships to understand how we can go further and faster towards efficiency and conservation, eliminating water loss, expanding water recycling, maximizing groundwater recharge. There’s so much that we can do together. There’s so much that we can improve in the way that we manage and use water in California.” See full welcome remarks here.
General Mills Chief Sustainability and Global Impact Officer – Mary Jane Melendez:
“At General Mills, we understand that water is a shared resource essential for both our operations and the communities where we operate. By collaborating through the CWRI, we are working to ensure long-term water resilience not only for our supply chains but also for California’s agricultural and rural communities. Our commitment to responsible water stewardship is stronger than ever as we look toward 2025 and beyond.”
River Partners President – Julie Rentner:
“California’s water challenges are deeply interconnected with the health of our ecosystems. At River Partners, we are committed to restoring natural waterways and habitats, which also play a vital role in water resilience. Our collaboration with the CWRI strengthens the connection between environmental restoration and sustainable water management, paving the way for healthier communities and ecosystems.”
The Nature Conservancy Senior Corporate Engagement Associate, Water and Resilience – Michael Matosich:
“The Nature Conservancy believes the global water crisis is one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time and that the corporate sector has an important role to play in developing solutions for nature and people. By working with the CWRI, we are helping to empower businesses to lead the way in innovative water stewardship, ensuring that California’s ecosystems and communities have the resources they need to thrive on the road to 2030 and beyond.”
California Water Data Consortium Chief Executive Officer & President – Robyn Grimm:
“Data is a critical component of solving California’s water challenges. At the California Water Data Consortium, we’re dedicated to empowering businesses, policymakers and communities with the resources and tools needed for informed decision-making and sustainable water management. Our collaboration with the CWRI helps ensure that the private sector has access to high-quality, actionable data to drive innovative water resilience strategies that make a real impact.”
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About the California Water Resilience Initiative
The California Water Resilience Initiative (CWRI) is a private-sector initiative based in the United States that accelerates collective action between the private, public, and non-profit sectors to achieve a water-resilient future for California. The CWRI is a collaborative initiative aligned with the CEO Water Mandate’s Water Resilience Coalition (WRC) to mobilize corporate water stewardship in 100 water-stressed basins around the world to address challenges of water scarcity, quality, and access. The initiative is managed by the Pacific Institute with Ecolab as Basin Champion and General Mills as Basin Leader. This collaborative will align the private sector with public sector ambition, policies and governance on water, catalyzing the innovation and action that is critical to addressing basin stress, and driving much needed investment to California water.
About the CEO Water Mandate
The CEO Water Mandate is a partnership between the UN Global Compact and the Pacific Institute that mobilizes business leaders on water, sanitation, and the Sustainable Development Goals for corporate water stewardship. Mandate endorsers commit to continuous progress against six core elements (direct operations, supply chain and watershed management, collective action, public policy, community engagement, and transparency) and in so doing understand and manage their own water risks. Established in 2007, the CEO Water Mandate was created out of the acknowledgement that global water challenges create risk for a wide range of industry sectors, the public sector, local communities, and ecosystems alike.
About the UN Global Compact
The ambition of the UN Global Compact is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the SDGs through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 20,000 participating companies, 5 Regional Hubs, 62 Country Networks covering 78 countries and 14 Country Managers establishing Networks in 20 other countries, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative — one Global Compact uniting business for a better world.
About the Pacific Institute
Founded in 1987, the Pacific Institute is a global water think tank that combines science-based thought leadership with active outreach to influence local, national, and international efforts in developing sustainable water policies. From working with Fortune 500 companies to frontline communities, our mission is to create and advance solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges. Since 2009, the Pacific Institute has also acted as co-secretariat for the CEO Water Mandate, a global commitment platform that mobilizes a critical mass of business leaders to address global water challenges through corporate water stewardship. For more information, visit pacinst.org.