Water http://www.ceres.org Ceres water related reports daily 1 2011-02-08T15:41:20Z Hydraulic Fracturing & Water Stress: Growing Competitive Pressures for Water http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/hydraulic-fracturing-water-stress-growing-competitive-pressures-for-water This Ceres research paper analyzes water use in hydraulic fracturing operations across the United States and the extent to which this activity is taking place in water stressed regions. It provides an overview of efforts underway, such as the use of recycled water and nonfreshwater resources, to mitigate these impacts and suggests key questions that industry, water managers and investors should be asking. Fracking MapThis Ceres research paper analyzes water use in hydraulic fracturing operations across the United States and the extent to which this activity is taking place in water stressed regions. It provides an overview of efforts underway, such as the use of recycled water and nonfreshwater resources, to mitigate these impacts and suggests key questions that industry, water managers and investors should be asking. The research is based on well data available at FracFocus.org and water stress indicator maps developed by the World Resources Institute.

The research paper provides valuable insights about potential water use/water supply conflicts and risks, especially in basins with intense hydraulic fracturing activity and water supply constraints (due to water stress and/or drought). Given projected sharp increases in production in the coming years and the potentially intense nature of local water demands, competition and conflicts over water should be a growing concern for companies, policymakers and investors.

The bottom line: shale energy development cannot grow without water, but in order to do so the industry’s water needs and impacts need to be better understood, measured and managed. A key question investors should be asking is whether water management planning is getting sufficient attention from both industry and regulators.

]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2013-05-02T03:55:00Z Resource Disclosure Framework for Water & Sewer Enterprises http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/disclosure-framework-for-water-sewer-enterprises In its Report on Municipal Securities Market, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission recommends the development of best practices in disclosure to improve the fairness and efficiency of the municipal market. Given the heightened attention to credit analysis across the municipal market, and the shifting operating environment facing issuers within the water and sewer sector, Ceres is issuing this disclosure framework to ensure that all material information is provided to investors in the primary and secondary markets. Given the heightened attention to credit analysis across the municipal market, and the shifting operating environment facing issuers within the water and sewer sector, Ceres is issuing this disclosure framework to ensure that all material information is provided to investors in the primary and secondary markets.

This framework was created through outreach to stakeholders on the buy- and sell-sides of the market, including large water and wastewater systems and more than a dozen institutional investors with $40 billion in assets under management.

The framework entails six key areas of disclosure:

  • Supply Security
  • Demand Management
  • Asset Management
  • Water Quality
  • Energy Use and Generation
  • Rates
]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2013-04-02T12:50:00Z Resource Water Ripples: Expanding Risks for U.S. Water Providers http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/water-ripples-expanding-risks-for-u.s.-water-providers As numerous western states are considering massive new water supply projects, a new Ceres report is suggesting caution. Citing shrinking federal funds, uncertain water demand and declining revenues to pay for the projects, the report recommends that utilities move carefully before embarking on major pipelines, reservoirs and other new infrastructure that will create financial risks for investors and utility customers alike. As numerous western states are considering massive new water supply projects, a new Ceres report is suggesting caution.

Citing shrinking federal funds, uncertain water demand and declining revenues to pay for the projects, the report recommends that utilities move carefully before embarking on major pipelines, reservoirs and other new infrastructure that will create financial risks for investors and utility customers alike.

The report also recommends that water demand projections be viewed skeptically by credit rating agencies, investors and policymakers; that investors and credit rating agencies seek better understanding of how rate structures influence demand and revenue streams; and that environmental and consumer groups actively work to build public support for water rates that ensure future water security and affordability.

]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2012-12-11T13:55:00Z Resource Clearing the Waters: A Review of Corporate Water Risk Disclosure in SEC Filings http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/clearing-the-waters-a-review-of-corporate-water-risk-disclosure-in-sec-filings New Sector Analysis added: Ceres has added sector-by-sector analyses for each of the eight sectors reviewed in this report. Download this new version. This report finds that though overall corporate disclosures of water-related risks in financial filings have increased since 2009, much reporting remains weak and inconsistent especially in regard to data on overall water use, financial exposure and potential supply chain risks. New Sector Analysis added: Ceres has added sector-by-sector analyses for each of the eight sectors reviewed in this report. Download this new version.

The global economy depends on water resources to feed growing populations, generate electricity, fuel industrial processes or transport goods. Climate impacts further exacerbate water risks by increasing variability in precipitation patterns and the occurrence and severity of extreme weather events. This report finds that though overall corporate disclosures of water-related risks in financial filings have increased since 2009, much reporting remains weak and inconsistent especially in regard to data on overall water use, financial exposure and potential supply chain risks.

In September 2012, Ceres added sector-by-sector analyses for each of the eight sectors highlighted in the report. These new sections provide a detailed snapshot of water-related physical, regulatory, reputational, and litigation risk disclosure in SEC filings. Additionally, the analyses highlight examples of water management responses that were also disclosed in SEC filings. Each section includes examples of what these disclosures look like as well as analysis of trends and changes since 2009.

]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2012-06-18T13:45:00Z Resource Restoring Flows: Financing the Next Generation of Water Systems A Strategy for Coalition Building http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/restoring-flows-financing-the-next-generation-of-water-systems-a-strategy-for-coalition-building In this report, Ceres and American Rivers join forces to highlight the importance of bringing together environmentalists, economists, water utilities, water users, financial institutions, foundations, investors and labor groups to create opportunities for the creation of shared pursuits beyond the boundaries of politics, watersheds and economic sectors that typically define our relationship to water. In this report, Ceres and American Rivers join forces to highlight the importance of bringing together environmentalists, economists, water utilities, water users, financial institutions, foundations, investors and labor groups to create opportunities for the creation of shared pursuits beyond the boundaries of politics, watersheds and economic sectors that typically define our relationship to water.

This report originates from a convening of water providers, finance experts and NGOs in August 2011, as part of The Johnson Foundation’s Charting New Waters. With support from the Russell Family Foundation, Ceres and American Rivers were able to continue that dialogue in a series of interviews. This document is an attempt to distill those ideas into a set of high‐priority, high‐impact strategies that can be jointly pursued by the many stakeholders who have a stake in shaping a more prosperous water future.

]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2012-05-11T16:45:00Z Resource The Road to 2020: Corporate Progress on the Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/the-road-to-2020-corporate-progress-on-the-ceres-roadmap-for-sustainability The Road to 2020: Corporate Progress on The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability (www.ceres.org/roadto2020) assesses how U.S. businesses are progressing on sustainability and uses as a framework, The 21st Century Corporation: The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability—a guide for integrating sustainability across a company’s entire enterprise. Specifically, it evaluates where 600 large publicly traded companies stand on sustainability issues in terms of governance, stakeholder engagement, disclosure and performance. The Road to 2020: Corporate Progress on The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability (www.ceres.org/ceresroadmap) assesses how U.S. businesses are progressing on sustainability and uses as a framework, The 21st Century Corporation: The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability—a guide for integrating sustainability across a company’s entire enterprise. Specifically, it evaluates where 600 large publicly traded companies stand on sustainability issues in terms of governance, stakeholder engagement, disclosure and performance.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2012-04-25T10:40:00Z Resource Charting New Waters: Financing Sustainable Water Infrastructure http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/financing-sustainable-water-infrastructure The Financing Sustainable Water Infrastructure report is the product of a meeting convened by The Johnson Foundation, in collaboration with American Rivers and Ceres, which brought together a group of experts to discuss ways to drive funding toward the infrastructure needed for the 21st century. The Financing Sustainable Water Infrastructure report, is the product of a meeting convened by The Johnson Foundation, in collaboration with American Rivers and Ceres, which brought together a group of experts to discuss ways to drive funding toward the infrastructure needed for the 21st century.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2012-01-26T20:10:00Z Resource The Ceres Aqua Gauge: A Framework for 21st Century Water Risk Management http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/aqua-gauge October 2011 - This report introduces experts and newcomers alike to the Ceres Aqua Gauge™, a new framework for assessing corporate management of water risk. The report provides a broad overview of how competing freshwater demands and limits to supply are beginning to affect corporate financial performance in a range of industrial sectors. The report also identifies trends in corporate and investor responses to emerging water issues — and explains how investors can identify holdings in their portfolios more likely to be exposed to water-related risks. October 2011 - This report introduces experts and newcomers alike to the Ceres Aqua Gauge™, a new framework for assessing corporate management of water risk. The report provides a broad overview of how competing freshwater demands and limits to supply are beginning to affect corporate financial performance in a range of industrial sectors. The report also identifies trends in corporate and investor responses to emerging water issues — and explains how investors can identify holdings in their portfolios more likely to be exposed to water-related risks.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2011-10-18T07:00:00Z Resource The Ripple Effect: Water Risk in the Municipal Bond Market http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/water-bonds October 2010 - Growing water scarcity in many parts of the United States is a hidden financial risk for investors who buy the water and electric utility bonds that finance much of the country's vast water and power infrastructure, according to this first-ever report by Ceres and Water Asset Management. The report evaluates and ranks water scarcity risks for public water and power utilities in some of the country's most water-stressed regions, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas and Atlanta. October 2010 - Growing water scarcity in many parts of the United States is a hidden financial risk for investors who buy the water and electric utility bonds that finance much of the country's vast water and power infrastructure, according to this first-ever report by Ceres and Water Asset Management. The report evaluates and ranks water scarcity risks for public water and power utilities in some of the country's most water-stressed regions, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas and Atlanta.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2010-10-22T14:20:00Z Resource The 21st Century Corporation: The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/ceres-roadmap-to-sustainability-2010 March 2010 - The Ceres Roadmap serves as a vision and practical guide for integrating sustainability into the DNA of business — from the boardroom to the copy room. It analyzes the drivers, risks and opportunities involved in making the shift to sustainability, and details strategies and results from companies who are taking on these challenges. The Ceres Roadmap is designed to provide a comprehensive platform for sustainable business strategy and for accelerating best practices and performance. March 2010 - The Ceres Roadmap serves as a vision and practical guide for integrating sustainability into the DNA of business — from the boardroom to the copy room. It analyzes the drivers, risks and opportunities involved in making the shift to sustainability, and details strategies and results from companies who are taking on these challenges. The Ceres Roadmap is designed to provide a comprehensive platform for sustainable business strategy and for accelerating best practices and performance.

]]> No publisher boese.josh@gmail.com 2010-03-10T15:55:00Z Resource Murky Waters? Corporate Reporting on Water Risk http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/corporate-reporting-on-water-risk-2010 February 2010 - This report is the first comprehensive assessment and ranking of water disclosure practices of 100 publicly-traded companies in eight key sectors exposed to water-related risks: beverage, chemicals, electric power, food, homebuilding, mining, oil and gas, and semiconductors. The report highlights best practices, key gaps and trends in water reporting and lays out a set of recommendations for companies and investors. February 2010 - This report is the first comprehensive assessment and ranking of water disclosure practices of 100 publicly-traded companies in eight key sectors exposed to water-related risks: beverage, chemicals, electric power, food, homebuilding, mining, oil and gas, and semiconductors. The report highlights best practices, key gaps and trends in water reporting and lays out a set of recommendations for companies and investors.

]]> No publisher boese.josh@gmail.com 2010-02-11T15:55:00Z Resource Water Scarcity & Climate Change: Growing Risks for Business & Investors http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/water-scarcity-climate-change-risks-for-investors-2009 February 2009 - This Ceres/Pacific Institute report, done at the request of the Investor Network on Climate Risk, outlines the wide-ranging risks investors and companies face from water scarcity and how global climate change will heighten those risks in many parts of the world. The report makes clear that companies that treat pressing water risks as a key strategic challenge will be far better positioned in the future. Companies that continue to ignore these challenges put themselves at higher risk. February 2009 - This Ceres/Pacific Institute report, done at the request of the Investor Network on Climate Risk, outlines the wide-ranging risks investors and companies face from water scarcity and how global climate change will heighten those risks in many parts of the world. The report makes clear that companies that treat pressing water risks as a key strategic challenge will be far better positioned in the future. Companies that continue to ignore these challenges put themselves at higher risk.

]]> No publisher boese.josh@gmail.com 2009-02-20T21:45:00Z Resource