1402 Resources
CEO Water Mandate Inaugural Working Conference
March 5, 2008 | publication
Recognizing the urgency with respect to addressing the emerging global water crisis, the UN Secretary-General, in partnership with a number of international business leaders, launched in July 2007 a new initiative – The CEO Water Mandate...
Every Drop Counts: Yes, It Rained a Lot. But that Doesn’t Mean We’re Out of the Woods with Regard to the State’s Water Woes
February 10, 2008 | publication
In January, it rained a lot in Southern California. The usual street intersections flooded. Water tumbled down the Los Angeles River. And houses in areas ravaged by fires last fall seemed in danger of sliding off their hilltop perches.
Op-Ed: Billions of Drops in the Bucket: Just Rethinking How We Use Water Can be as Effective as Huge Infrastructure Projects
January 6, 2008 | publication
After more than a decade of generous rainfall and healthy river flows, the dry years are back. Much of the state, notably Southern California, has been experiencing sever drought.
Laguna Riparian Enhancement Project
December 11, 2007 | publication
The Laguna Riparian Habitat Enhancement Concept presents a conceptual plan for improving native riparian vegetation and associated habitats within the Laguna Reach along the lower Colorado River (LCR). Various entities including the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) are actively involved in protecting and restoring habitats along the lower Colorado River.
Integrity of Science: Bottled Water and Energy Factsheet: Getting to 17 Million Barrels
December 11, 2007 | publication
The Pacific Institute finds that it took approximately 17 million barrels of oil equivalent to produce plastic for bottled water consumed by Americans in 2006—enough energy to fuel more than 1 million American cars and light trucks for a year.
Hidden Oasis: Water Conservation and Efficiency in Las Vegas
November 26, 2007 | publication
Despite its famous fountains, Las Vegas, Nevada has no natural water resources. The city is an artificial desert oasis that presents a significant challenge to water management.
Bottled Vs. Tap Water: Video
November 2, 2007 | publication
For the Santa Clara Water District, the recent resolution promoting tap water over bottled water was a clear choice--a choice largely bolstered by Pacific Institute research.
Op-Ed: The Best Plan for the Salton Sea is Yet to Come
October 28, 2007 | publication
Right in the middle of one of the driest deserts in North America lies California’s largest lake, the little-known and oft-maligned Salton Sea. The Sea and its environs are one of the most important spots on the map for birds, with more than 400 species of birds – often numbering in the millions of individual birds – visiting the Sea every year.
The Pacific Institute: 20 Years Toward a Sustainable Planet
October 26, 2007 | publication
The Pacific Institute is one of the world’s leading independent non-profits, conducting research and advocacy on the related and pressing issues of environmental degradation, poverty, and political conflict.
At the Crest of a Wave: A Proactive Approach to Corporate Water Strategy
September 19, 2007 | publication
As freshwater resources around the globe become increasingly scarce or polluted, a global crisis in clean water access is emerging.
Turning the Delta Ruling into Opportunity
September 9, 2007 | publication
On Aug. 31, a federal judge acknowledged what many people have long known -- we have run up against the limits of our water supplies. U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger ruled that state and federal water managers must change how they operate California's water system to reduce environmental harm.
Op-Ed: Salton Sea – A Time for Action
August 19, 2007 | publication
The Salton Sea lies 470 miles southeast of San Francisco, a vast, cursed salt lake far from the minds of most in the Bay Area. Part of the Salton Sea's curse is that it is so distant, so different from most people's experiences.
Saving Water Makes Cents for Valley Businesses
August 13, 2007 | publication
Contrary to popular belief, growth in California's population, economy and water use is no longer linked. From 1975 to 2001, our population increased by 60 percent and gross state product increased by 250 percent.
A Review of the SFPUC’s Retail and Wholesale Customer Water Demand Projections
July 26, 2007 | publication
In an effort to satisfy the future water needs of its wholesale customers, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) commissioned a series of comprehensive assessments on the area’s future water demand, conservation potential, and recycled water potential.
Panic Makes for Poor Policy
July 15, 2007 | post
Ignoring a problem tends to make it worse. A worsening problem tends to lead to panic. Panic tends to make for bad public policy. Welcome to 21st century California water policy.
The CEO Water Mandate: A Call to Action and Strategic Framework
July 15, 2007 | publication
As leaders of business organizations we recognize that the private sector has an important stake in helping to address the water challenge faced by the world today.
Constitution of the CEO Water Mandate
July 11, 2007 | publication
The CEO Water Mandate (the Mandate) was launched in July 2007. The Mandate is a voluntary, business-led initiative in partnership with the UN Global Compact.
The Fish and the Whales
May 31, 2007 | publication
A version of this essay was originally printed in the San Francisco Chronicle on May 31, 2007. The Terminator may soon become Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's official title, not just his humorous nickname.
Hummer versus Prius: “Dust to Dust” Report Misleads the Media and Public with Bad Science
May 26, 2007 | publication
The claim that a Hummer H3 SUV has a lower life-cycle energy cost than a Toyota Prius hybrid caught the interest of the media and the public when the automotive marketing company CNW Marketing Research, Inc. released its 2007 study, “Dust to Dust: The Energy Cost of New Vehicles From Concept to Disposal.”
The Human Right to Water
May 10, 2007 | publication
Billions of people lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation services. The failure of the international aid community, nations, and local organizations to satisfy these basic human needs has led to substantial, unnecessary, and preventable human suffering. This article explores the human right to water in international law and the implications of this right within a resource-constrained world.
Corporate Reporting on Water: A Review of Eleven Global Industries
May 2, 2007 | publication
This report analyzes corporate sustainability and corporate social responsibility reports from 139 of the largest companies in 11 water-intensive industry sectors.
The Political and Selective Use of Data: Cherry-Picking Climate Data in the White House
March 12, 2007 | publication
On February 7, 2007, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow bragged that the United States was doing better than Europe in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, despite the fact that the European Union had adopted a carbon cap system and the U.S. had not.
Comments on Restoration of the Salton Sea Summary Report
March 5, 2007 | publication
This letter to Mike Walker, Salton Sea Study Program Manager at the California Bureau of Reclamation, from the Pacific Institute and the Sierra Club comments on the Bureau of Reclamation’s Restoration of the Salton Sea Summary Report.
Bottled Water and Energy Fact Sheet
February 26, 2007 | publication
The growing consumption of bottled water raises questions about the product’s economic and environmental costs.
Salton Sea Early Start Habitat
February 21, 2007 | publication
This letter to Mike Chrisman, Secretary for Resources at the Resources Agency, from members of the Salton Sea Advisory Committee and the Sierra Club, Audubon California, the Pacific Institute, California Outdoor Heritage Alliance, and Defenders of Wildlife urges expedited development and implementation of "Early Start Habitat" at the Salton Sea.
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