WWF - News & Publications on sustainability

Protecting environment key to ending poverty, finds UN High Level Panel

2013-05-30

Gland: Taxes, incentives, regulations, subsidies, trade and public procurement need to be realigned to favour sustainable consumption and production patterns if the world wants to end poverty, according to the UN High Level Panel charged with setting the new direction for global development.

"Without environmental sustainability we cannot end poverty," said the UN's High Level Panel on the post-2015 Development Agenda.

The report of the 26-member panel, which included UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Queen Rania of Jordan and Unilever CEO Paul Polman, has the potential to influence over USD 25 trillion of development spending and marks a clear break from the practice of treating development and sustainability as separate topics.

"The Millennium Development Goals were a first global attempt to address poverty and other development challenges but protection of the environment was barely acknowledged and hardly addressed," said Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International.

"Nearly fifteen years on, there is finally recognition that poverty cannot be eradicated and the well-being of people across the globe cannot be secured without addressing the grave pressures on the environment and the natural systems that support human life on this planet," Leape added.

The report calls for hard-hitting measures to be taken in both developed and developing countries to reduce the impacts of consumption, production, trade, waste and pollution.

The Panel's findings have the potential to influence over USD 25 trillion of international resource flows to developing countries to redraft government and corporate behaviours.

"We came to the conclusion that the moment is right to merge the poverty and environmental tracks guiding international development" states the Panel report.

The Panel underlined the inadequacies of GDP measures of progress and recommended mandatory social and environmental reporting by all companies with a market capitalisation above USD 100 million.

Proposed goals to secure food, water and energy for a growing world population should include key targets to safeguard sustainable agriculture, fisheries, freshwater systems and energy supplies, the report said.

The High Level Panel also affirmed that the new development agenda is a global one.

"The world has changed since the MDGs were agreed," said Jim Leape.

"The global financial and economic crises have shown that poverty and growing inequality are problems for all countries. Production and consumption choices in one place have environmental impacts across the globe."

"We now look to all countries to build on the High Level Panel's report and agree an ambitious set of goals and targets that will spur urgent action," said Leape.

Further Information:
Gemma Parkes, WWF International, gparkes@wwfint.org, +41 79 253 6386

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

panda.org/news for latest news and media resources

Planet-friendly tomatoes

2012-11-16

Pasta with tomato sauce – for many it's the taste of home, and the epitome of comfort food. Did you know that this worldwide favorite has a water footprint? Everything we eat does. And it's not just the water we use to cook in our home kitchens. It's the water used to grow the ingredients in the pasta and sauce we savor.

WWF has helped Mutti, market leader in the production of tomato purée, pressed tomatoes and tomato pulp, calculate the water footprint of its production, from tomato cultivation to finished product. Mutti is the first Italian company, and one of the few in the world, to undertake such a study.

"The world population has reached 7 billion, and our consumption habits are not sustainable," says Gianfranco Bologna, scientific director of WWF-Italy. "This is why WWF supports individual, institutional and business efforts to significantly reduce our footprint on natural systems. We are working to transform the markets, to minimize the impact of the products we enjoy and depend on."

The calculation of water footprint for the whole production cycle considered the quantity of water contained in each Mutti product. The water footprint analysis has led Mutti to commit to reduce its water footprint by 3 per cent by 2015.

Given that 83 per cent of Mutti's water footprint comes from the cultivation of tomatoes, the company is focusing most of its attention on its producers, with a campaign of awareness and support to improve efficiency of water use in cultivation.

This year, thanks to the partnership with the WWF, 20 Mutti suppliers located throughout the Emilia Romagna region have tried an innovative method of irrigation management to limit of the use of water to volumes that are strictly necessary.

A team of experts using probes and sensors to measure soil humidity has been able to quantify the minimum effective volume of irrigation water, thus guiding farmers toward an optimal use of resources. A water-savings of up to 30 per cent was shown in "guided" agricultural enterprises, compared with those "not guided". With the right guidelines, producers can easily analyze their own cultivation and irrigation practices to better manage water resources.

"The water saving of 30 per cent as a result of simply optimizing field irrigation represents an important step toward achieving the ambitious objective, agreed upon in collaboration with WWF, of reducing the water footprint by 2015 throughout the Mutti business network, from the cultivation of tomatoes to the final product," said Francesco Mutti.

As part of its annual Pomodorino d'Oro award for production of exceptional tomatoes, Mutti has introduced the Special Mention "Ideas for Water", to be given to farmers who are demonstrating innovation and commitment to sustainable cultivation.

"Mutti is part of the vanguard of companies using water footprint as a tool to measure impact and set challenging reduction targets," said Stuart Orr, Freshwater Manager at WWF International. "It is an innovative project that has identified efficient solutions and shown how the agricultural sector can reduce its environmental impacts."

Decision makers must follow scientific advice and not increase bluefin tuna quotas

2012-11-12

Agadir, Morocco: WWF calls on decision makers and the fishing industry to follow the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Scientific Committee`s advice to ensure the bluefin tuna quota in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean remains the same and does not exceed 12,900 tonnes annually.

At the 18th Special Meeting of the Commission in Agadir, Morocco, ICCAT`s contracting parties, which include Japan, the US, Canada, China and the European Union will again determine management measures for a range of tunas and tuna-like species.

"ICCAT must keep recovery ambitions high for the fragile bluefin tuna. Big achievements are long in the making but in only an instant can be lost," said Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries, WWF-Mediterranean.

While recognizing the positive steps that have been made thanks to measures to improve Atlantic bluefin tuna management, contracting parties and the fishing industry must commit to building on this momentum and to follow scientific advice.

Current signs of a stock increase are cautiously encouraging and show that good management pays, even in the most hopeless among fisheries. It has been a long and hugely concerted effort from all stakeholders to reach this starting point and it's in the interest of the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery, ICCAT and the global fisheries governance system to make this a management success story after being the unfortunate icon for overfishing during the last decade.

"ICCAT scientists are clear this year that the fishing quotas must not increase to enable Atlantic bluefin tuna to fully recover over the next decade. WWF calls on ICCAT contracting parties to stick to this recommendation," said Tudela.

ICCAT first adopted a plan to reduce the fleet capacity for the Atlantic bluefin tuna in 2008, which was further refined in 2010. The current plan ends in 2013, when it is assumed to have phased out all fishing overcapacity in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean.

However, a recent assessment shows the current plan is based on catch rates of fishing fleets that were strongly underestimated resulting in continued overcapacity.

"There are still too many boats for too few fish to be sustainably caught," said Tudela.

"We call on ICCAT to extend the capacity reduction plan for the next three years using updated and accurate estimates of potential catch rates to ensure overcapacity is fully removed within the next three years,"

"We will also be watching ICCAT on measures decided to fight illegal, unregulated, unreported catches (IUU),"

The strong commitment by ICCAT to fight IUU has been one of the main pillars behind the initial stock recovery.

Poor decision making on this matter risks taking this fishery back to the dark ages and destroying the achievements of years of productive collective work.

"Serious investigations on all potential infringements and adequate measures to tackle IUU catches are still crucial", said Tudela.

Poorly managed fisheries impact food security and livelihoods

2012-10-30

Gland, Switzerland: A report released by the UN's independent food expert, Olivier De Schutter, "Fisheries and the right to food" highlights the devastating impacts of industrial overfishing on coastal communities, small-scale fishers, the marine environment, and the right to food of millions.

"Yet again we have an authoritative report which shows us that overfishing and the damaging effects of poorly managed fisheries is seriously impacting vulnerable communities' food security and livelihoods" said John Tanzer, Marine Director, WWF International.

"The fact that the number of boats and fishermen has increased eight fold between 1970 and 1990 yet they are not seeing anything like the equivalent increase in catch numbers speaks volumes about the consequences of overfishing and the effects this will have on food security in the near future."

"Yet we are still seeing relatively wealthy governments putting public funds into subsidising boat building and industrial fishing activities. It makes no sense because we are essentially mining the oceans instead of nurturing their capacity to support people's ongoing needs." he said.

Fish accounts for 15 per cent of the animal protein consumed worldwide, over 20 per cent in Asia and the fishing sector provides over 54 million people with jobs. In developing countries many of these jobs are as small-scale fisheries employing a high proportion of women.

Weak governance and capacity gaps mean the current approaches to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing are failing. The lack of investigation and prosecution of irresponsible distant water fleets by the flag states also contributes to this.

Coastal communities are limited in their contribution to reduce overfishing or IUU fishing without adequate social protection, fair prices and having fair access to fish resources. The report points out the importance of sound management and early and ongoing involvement of local artisanal fisher's in the management of local fisheries and the need to support them in maintaining improved market access for their catch.

Increased globalisation of the fishing industry has meant in 2010 the value of traded fish products was estimated at US$102 billion, up from US$8 billion in 1976. Many developing countries have benefited from this increase in the form of export revenue and state revenue from selling access to their fishing ground to distant water fleets.

"Without any safeguards and in the absence of effective fisheries management, these access agreements could prove harmful to local communities in the form of loss of fish for people, especially in places where food shortages occur" said Alfred Schumm, Leader of WWF's global Smart Fishing Initiative.

WWF: Agreement on finance key to success at Hyderabad biodiversity meet

2012-10-15

Hyderabad, India - The first week of negotiations at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Hyderabad closed with governments from developed and developing nations locked in difficult discussions on critical issues including setting clear finance targets, conserving valuable ocean areas and its relationship with the UN climate convention, the UNFCCC.   

Summarizing the key challenges facing the CBD in the week ahead, WWF International's Coordinator for Biodiversity Policy Rolf Hogan said:

"So far, the biggest hurdle we've seen emerge are differences of opinion between developed and developing nations on finance issues. Developed countries do not want to commit more money to reach resource mobilization targets, and developing countries are saying that if no money is made available, then they will 'walk away' from their Nagoya commitments."

"We need countries to agree on how to increase financing for biodiversity. This means agreeing to increasing public biodiversity funding by 20% as well as increasing national budgets and developing new and additional financing mechanisms that can support the achievement of the 20 Targets of the CBD's masterplan up to 2020."  

"We also need to engage the private sector and ensure development and foreign direct investments do not destroy biodiversity."

"An agreement on finance is the key to success of COP 11. The stakes are high: if counties don't find a way to move beyond the hurdles they encountered in the first week, it could derail the commitments made in Nagoya two years ago."   

Encouraging signs 

"In spite of the challenges in some areas, WWF is encouraged to see signs of progress, and believes that success can still be attained if nations step up to match the level of ambition we saw two years ago in Nagoya."

"There are also positive signs that many countries, including emerging economies, will commit to new funding, but only if other nations reciprocate."

"It is important for Parties to get things right at Hyderabad. Success here means a clear path forward to the 2020 Aichi Targets."  

Conserving ocean biodiversity   

Negotiations on protecting important ocean areas are also facing difficulties, with a block of nations opposing the 'endorsement' of reports that identify important areas for conservation in ocean areas beyond national jurisdictions.

"Over 50 percent of the world's oceans fall outside of national boundaries. WWF encourages delegates to commit to clearly identifying ocean areas of value that fall beyond national jurisdictions," said Nanie Ratsifandrihamanana, Conservation Director of WWF Madagascar.   

"Establishing marine protected areas are part of the broader package of solutions that can help governments and businesses safeguard our oceans' enormous ecological, social, and economic benefits," she added.

  Climate and REDD+  

Negotiations on REDD+ are becoming root bound with some countries pushing to maintain a clear separation between the CBD and UNFCCC. Meanwhile, other countries are fighting to avoid any additional burden for monitoring and reporting under REDD+ programmes.

"Deforestation is a major cause of biodiversity loss – it is also responsible for up to a fifth of global carbon emissions. It is extremely important that all nations recognize and work to better integrate REDD+'s massive biodiversity benefits," said Rolf Hogan.   

For further information:

Chris Chaplin, WWF-International, cchaplin@wwf.sg, Hyderabad: +91 96522 36722 or Singapore: +65-9826-3802

Aarti Khosla, WWF-India, akhosla@wwfindia.net, +91 98 1119 9288

Green Economy to Help Make Poverty History in Mozambique

2012-06-29

Maputo, Mozambique: Following squandered opportunities at the Rio+20 talks in Brazil, Mozambique has created a national roadmap towards a Green Economy.

Within two months of a regional conference on Green Economy organized by Mozambique's Ministry for the Coordination of Environmental Action (MICOA) and WWF in Maputo in April this year, the roadmap was approved by Mozambique's Council of Ministers and rapidly found its way to Rio de Janeiro, the stage for the International Conference on Sustainable Development.

During a side event organized by MICOA, with the cooperation of WWF and the African Development Bank, Mozambique joined the likes of South Africa, Cambodia, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Guiana, Vietnam and South Korea in launching concrete initiatives moving towards a Green Economy.

The Green Economy Roadmap outlines how the country will move towards economic development and poverty eradication through laying down an institutional, policy and legal framework that will create an environment where sustainable development thrives.

Speaking during the launch of the roadmap, the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Armando Emílio Guebuza emphasised the importance of Green Economy as one of many approaches designed to extinguish the scourge of poverty.

"In Mozambique, the Green Economy model forms part of the body of approaches designed to make poverty history. This is the future that we, Mozambicans, want. This is also the future that the rest of Humanity dreams about," he said.

President Guebuza added that working together in the future will be essential in saving the earth and its biodiversity.

"The conditions that allow all of us the right to development and to provide for the sustainable use of our resources must be strengthened and protected, at all cost. Working together, as the international community, to save the earth and its biodiversity is imperative. It is an ethical duty, a moral obligation."

Donald Kabaruka, President of the African Development Bank committed his institution's support to Mozambique as they embark on this important initiative. The Director General of WWF, Jim Leape, lauded Mozambique achievement following a disappointing outcome at the Rio+20 talks.

"It is heartening to see that some countries are taking responsibility in their own hands, by preparing bold plans and implementing measures to better manage the natural capital that is in their hands, reduce their dependency on non-renewable resources and by making the choices that protect the lives and wellbeing of their population," said Mr. Leape

Fishermen fishing off the coast of Bazaruto Island, Mozambique. ©Frederick J. Weyerhaeuser

The Green Economy plan for Mozambique is the result of months of intense work by the Ministry for the Coordination of Environmental Action (MICOA), with the Ministry of Planning and Development, WWF and other partner organizations. The approval and launch of the roadmap is an important milestone in a planning process that aims to make socio-economic development in Mozambique more sustainable and more resilient to climate change by protecting, restoring and rationally using natural capital and its ecosystem services to guarantee inclusive and efficient sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations of Mozambicans.

Mozambique's population is highly dependent on the availability of basic natural resources such as land, water, forests and fish. The high dependency on such resources and the unsustainable rate and methods of their use and extraction is destroying the very basis of their existence. The pressures are rapidly rising as the population is expected to double by 2030, putting even more of a strain on the already stressed natural resource base in the region.

Mozambique's roadmap to a Green Economy will be implemented over a period of 18 years through to 2030. Key provisions of the Green Economy plan include a thorough evaluation of the opportunities provided by its rich national natural capital base, including mapping and quantification of ecosystems, an assessment of current and future risks and an assessment of the role of ecosystems in the local economy and the wellbeing of the population.

By John Kabubu

WWF concerned Rio talks may collapse

2012-06-05

Gland, Switzerland: Two weeks out from the 20-year reprise of the Rio Earth Summit, and two years after negotiations started, global conservation organization WWF issued a World Environment Day warning that failures of commitment, failures of process and failures of leadership could lead to the collapse of talks on achieving a long-term sustainable world.

"Currently we are a long way from where we need to be in these negotiations," said WWF Director General, Jim Leape. "Heads of State still have a unique opportunity in Rio to set the world on a path to sustainable development – but they need to step up their game dramatically. As things currently stand, we are facing two likely scenarios – an agreement so weak it is meaningless, or complete collapse. Neither of these options would give the world what it needs."

An extra week given over to negotiations fell into disarray over the weekend as the talks fractured into 19 separate dialogues with internal disagreements on the processes to be followed. "Country positions are still too entrenched and too far apart to provide a meaningful draft agreement for approval by an expected 120 Heads of State," said Leape.

The most recent text was a significant weakening of previous drafts, particularly in the areas of valuing natural wealth, energy and ocean protection, and even that was privately rejected by a number of delegations.

"When they gather in Rio, governments must restrain the flow of weasel words that is threatening to emasculate any agreement," said Leape. "They are not helping their people or the planet by 'noting', 'recognising' or 'emphasising'. We need to see time-bound commitment and action words like 'will', 'must' and 'deliver'," said Leape.

"These talks about our common future risk being strangled by short-term views focused on national interests that are to nobody's long-term benefit. Governments must come out of their corners, and together embrace a bold vision for a better future for all – and do what it takes to get there."

WWF's recent Living Planet Report warned that the world currently consumes 1.5 planets worth of resources, with Rio+20 being one of the most immediate and potentially influential opportunities to equitably bring consumption to sustainable levels.

While rescuing the Rio talks will be difficult, leaders need to deliver a clear political mandate to ensure food, water and energy security for all by 2030. Concretely, this means agreeing to integrate the value of nature into national and corporate accounting standards, eliminating harmful subsidies, agreeing to Sustainable Development Goals and strong regimes to protect oceans.

Heads of State can deliver concrete outcomes by instructing foreign ministers and delegations to focus on points of agreement rather than points of difference. "This is a matter of urgency – and we need our political leaders to show they mean business by quickly coming to agreement on the fundamental changes in the way economies are managed to protect our future," said Leape.

For more information:
Gemma Parkes, WWF International, gparkes@wwfint.org, +41 79 253 6386
Natalie Boudou, WWF International, nboudou@wwfint.org, +41 79 820 2898

Notes to editor:
-Follow updates from WWF at Rio+20 on Twitter: @WWF_Media
-See WWF's Living Planet Report 2012 at wwf.panda.org/lpr
-More on WWF's work at Rio+20 on panda.org

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

www.panda.org/news for latest news and media resources

AfDB and WWF to launch Africa Ecological Footprint Report

2012-05-31

Arusha, Tanzania: The African Development Bank (AfDB) and global conservation group WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) have launched today a joint report on the state of Africa's environment.

The Africa Ecological Footprint Report: Green Infrastructure for Africa's Ecological Security takes stock of the health of Africa's ecosystems, as well as trends in resources use patterns. It also lays out recommendations on implementing green development pathways for Africa.

This report is intended to stoke up thinking on greener development in Africa and to rally action by policy-makers and investors in the lead-up to Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development taking place later this month in Brazil.

"Africa has choices", underlines AfDB President, Donald Kaberuka. "Embracing a more sustainable approach to development can generate benefits in terms of environmental security, human wellbeing, and increased competitiveness."

The Africa Ecological Footprint Report 2012 outlines two alarming trends, which if not addressed by policy-makers and investors are likely to lead to important social and economic impacts. First, by tracking the changes in wildlife populations as a proxy for ecosystem health, the Africa Living Planet Index shows a decline of nearly 40% in biodiversity in the last four decades. This decline reflects a degradation of the natural systems upon which Africa's current and future prosperity depends.

Second, rapid population growth and increasing prosperity are changing consumption patterns, with the result that Africa's ecological footprint – the area needed to generate the resources consumed by the people who live here – has been growing steadily. While Africa's total ecological footprint is set to double by 2040 in a business-as-usual scenario, the good news is that Africa is in an advantageous position to act. It is endowed with tremendous natural resources, which, if managed properly, will be able to meet the needs of a growing population. And its relatively low footprint may be maintained if forward-looking and large-scale solutions can be mobilised in the areas of renewable energy, urban planning, and sound management of forests, water and marine resources.

The opportunity and urgency to act to ensure adequate and equitable access to water, fuel and food in the coming decades is highlighted by Jim Leape, WWF Director General.

"Our ecological infrastructure – terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems – is as essential to human development as are industrial and social infrastructures such as roads, schools, hospitals and energy provision," said WWF's Jim Leape. "The Africa Ecological Footprint Report showcases successful and scalable initiatives across Africa in renewable energy, integrated water resource management, ecotourism and forest conservation. The report offers concrete recommendations for maintaining Africa's natural capital as the foundation for sustainable and inclusive development and I urge decision-makers to act on them."

Donald Kaberuka and Jim Leape launched the report together on 1 June as part of the AfDB's Annual Meetings in Arusha. The event, attended by AfDB senior staff, government ministers, NGO representatives, African business and financial leaders, and the African and international media, is intended to inspire interest and action from these key decision-makers. The report will also be featured at a side event of the Rio+20 conference in June.

AfDB and WWF formally entered into a partnership last July, agreeing to initially focus on three areas of cooperation: developing win-win partnerships with emerging economies and strengthening South-South cooperation; catalysing knowledge sharing and knowledge products for green growth and sustainable development; collaborating on energy and water resource management; and climate change. This report is the first joint product of this partnership.

With a recent tripling of its capitalisation to USD 100 billion, the AfDB is the most important multilateral institution financing development in Africa. As the continent faces rapid economic and population growth, and growing resource and climate pressures, the AfDB plays an essential role in ensuring sustainable and equitable development.

WWF is the world's largest environmental non-governmental organisation and has been active in Africa since its foundation more than 50 years ago. WWF works together with governments, businesses and local communities to deliver conservation and sustainable development worldwide.

To download the report, and to find out more, go to: www.panda.org/lpr/africa2012 or www.afdb.org.

New Zealand's natural heritage threatened by 20 years of environmental inaction

2012-05-28

Wellington, New Zealand - Less than a month before world leaders meet at a major environmental summit, a new report warns that New Zealand is failing to protect some of its iconic species and habitats following a series of broken promises made at the Earth Summit 20 years ago.

'Beyond Rio' is released today by global conservation organisation WWF ahead of next month's meeting on sustainable development in Rio de Janeiro, the location of the groundbreaking 1992 Earth Summit. At the historic summit New Zealand signed up to a series of agreements to tackle climate change, conserve biodiversity and live more sustainably.

However WWF's report reveals the nation is falling short on important commitments made on greenhouse gases, water quality, land and marine biodiversity, fisheries and education for sustainability.

Chris Howe, Executive Director of WWF-New Zealand said, "Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud, is now a land of polluted rivers and lakes, rising greenhouse gas emissions, pressured marine ecosystems and disappearing bird and mammal species.

"While it is important for the government to constructively engage in the upcoming summit, we should not lose sight of the many commitments that already exist. If New Zealand's political leaders had made good on the promises made back in 1992, then we wouldn't be faced with such a battle to turn things around. "

Key findings of the report include:

Increased pollution in our lakes and rivers, including 43 per cent of monitored lakes in NZ now classed as polluted and an estimated 18,000-34,000 people annually catching waterborne diseases.
More than 60 per cent of native freshwater fish as well as the only freshwater crayfish and mussel species are now threatened with extinction.
Seven of New Zealand's ten official 'indicator species' for measuring biodiversity status are threatened. The Kokako, for example, has suffered a 90 per cent contraction in its range since the 1970s.
Iconic species such as Maui's dolphins and NZ sea lions are listed as 'nationally critical'. Only an estimated 55 Maui's over the age of one year remain and NZ sea lion pup numbers have halved over the past 12 years at their main breeding area in the Auckland Islands.
Almost two-thirds of New Zealand's seabird species are listed as threatened with extinction. The main threats to seabirds are predation by introduced mammals, fishing methods and human disturbance.
New Zealand's gross emissions have risen by 20% since 1992, due to increased pollution from energy, transport, agriculture and industry sectors. Even with our weakened Emissions Trading Scheme, emissions are projected to continue to rise.

Although the picture looks bleak, the report points to solutions that can help New Zealand improve its environmental record and restore integrity to its international commitments.

"Solutions do exist to the problems we face, but the political will has been sorely lacking," said Chris Howe. "As world leaders prepare to meet again in Rio this June, we urge John Key's government to heed this report's wake up call and, regardless of new agreements, take immediate steps honour our existing international commitments."

"New Zealand's future social and economic well-being is dependant on functioning and flourishing ecosystems. Sustainability must be put at the heart of decision-making to ensure a future where people live in harmony with nature."

For more information contact:

Rosa Argent, WWF-New Zealand Communications Manager, rargent@wwf.org.nz, 04 471 4292 / 027 212 3103

Revised Brazilian Forest Code good for environmental criminals, bad for forests

2012-04-26

Gland, Switzerland – Brazil's Congress passed legislation late last night that strips the Amazon and other key regions of critical environmental protections, and grants amnesty to individuals accused of past illegal deforestation.

WWF condemns the new Forest Code bill, driven by retrograde sectors of Brazil's powerful agribusiness industry, for its failure to account for severe social and environmental costs. Since 2006, Brazil has demonstrated that it can dramatically reduce its rate of deforestation while increasing agricultural production and reducing poverty. This bill threatens hard-won gains for both the environment and Brazilian society.

The bill now goes before President Dilma Rousseff, who will have 15 days to decide whether or not to sign it into national law or apply veto power to the full text or parts of it.

"President Rousseff made a promise that she would not tolerate laws promoting new waves of deforestation or amnesty for past forest crimes. She knows these changes are bad for Brazil and bad for the environment. We ask her to uphold her promises," said Maria Cecilia Wey de Brito, CEO of WWF-Brazil.

The proposed amnesties would not only free environmental criminals from prosecution, but also forfeit an estimated US$4.8 billion in fines.

"WWF looks to President Rousseff to resist the short-sighted and senseless reform to the forest law that has been passed by the Brazilian House of Representatives today," said Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International.

"In a year that will see world political, business and civil society leaders gather in Rio de Janeiro for the UN Summit on Sustainable Development, it would be a shame indeed for Brazil to surrender its position as a global leader in forest conservation. I urge the president to vigorously resist the most egregious elements of the new law, for the future of Brazil's economy, its natural heritage and its people," said Leape.

WWF has highlighted the worst impacts of the proposed forest law reform, as well as viable alternatives – such as smarter land-use planning and compensating landowners for environmental services – that would optimise forest management, while minimising negative repercussions on precious and fragile natural resources.

Negative elements of the proposed amendment to the Forest Code:
• The draft amendment notably complicates Brazil's forest legislation, making it nearly impossible to implement and enforce.
• Millions of acres illegally cleared prior to 2008 will be legalized through amnesty, resulting in a forfeiture of fines worth an estimated US$4.8 billion.
• In the Amazon region, landowners could be allowed to reduce the obligatory required forest cover from 80% to 50%.
• Up to 90% of private properties in Brazil could be pardoned from the standing obligation to restore illegally cleared areas.
• Large areas of floodplains and other sensitive areas will be opened to cattle ranching and farming.
Forecasted consequences
• According to Brazil's government-led research organization IPEA (Institute for Applied Economic Research), the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares (190 million acres) of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere.
• Brazil's economy, and in particular its agribusiness sector, will suffer from damaged global reputation, decreased access to markets for sustainably-sourced goods, and higher production costs as a consequence of increased erosion and greater need for fertilizers and/or pesticides.
• Brazil will likely fail to meet its own international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation rates.

Alternatives to reduced environmental protections
• Land-use planning for up to 61 million hectares (150 million acres) of underproductive pastures, which are readily available for cultivation without additional deforestation.
• Increase the efficiency of Brazil's livestock sector.
• Introduction of a strategy for sustainable production in Brazil's farming and livestock sectors.
• Implementation and increase of national and international mechanisms for compensation to landowners for environmental services.

For further information:
In Brazil: Regina Cavini, Tel: +55 61 3364 7480; Mobile: +55 61 8165 6812; reginacavini@wwf.org.br

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Sustainable Energy For All: Action, not just an agenda

2012-04-25

London, UK- WWF welcomes the launch of the Global Action Agenda under the Sustainable Energy for All (SEFA) Initiative by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. But WWF urges participants in the initiative to work towards an Action Agenda that focuses much more on achieving energy access through sustainable energy sources and by implementing nationally binding targets through a multi stakeholder processes.

"We think that access needs to be 100% renewable"

"Nearly three billion people globally lack access to clean, safe and reliable energy, with devastating effects on human health but also on the environment. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's initiative gives us all hope that everyone's energy needs will be met in a sustainable way," said Samantha Smith, Leader of WWF's Global Climate and Energy Initiative.

"WWF strongly supports the initiative's call for universal energy access by 2030. We think that access needs to be 100% renewable, and we hope governments will make commitments to that goal at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in June.''

However, WWF is concerned that SEFA overall, and the Action Agenda, place too much emphasis on voluntary action.

"We all know that it's political will that holds us back – from cutting emissions to delivering clean and renewable energy to the people who need it. Voluntary action is great, but to get accountability, sustainability and scale on addressing energy poverty, we will need strong and financially meaningful commitments," said Smith. "WWF would like to see governments step up and make their commitments binding."

In addition to binding commitments, WWF urges SEFA participants to make the initiative more accountable to global citizens. Perhaps because it is voluntary, SEFA currently lacks a meaningful system for monitoring whether participants actually deliver on their commitments. And the strong focus on voluntary partnerships between the private sector and governments falls short of ensuring that efforts reach the poorest in rural areas.

There is a need for stronger social and environmental safeguards and broader, proactive outreach to marginalized groups in society. This is a core responsibility of governments and should not be outsourced to the private sector.

"WWF would like to see greater transparency and accountability for SEFA"

"At its best, the UN is all about good global governance and accountability. In that spirit, WWF would like to see greater transparency and accountability for SEFA," said Smith. "SEFA has extended an open invitation to civil society to join in, which is great – but to reach the poor and in particular women it will take active and sustained outreach."

WWF commends the Secretary General on his initiative, and SEFA's progress to put the important issue of energy access on the global political agenda.

We hope SEFA will keep up its momentum: by involving all stakeholders, pushing the levels of commitment to also include legally binding national targets and frameworks that clearly support renewable energy technologies and thereby support the achievement of inclusive green growth and sustainable development.

Sustainable Energy For All: Action, not just an agenda

2012-04-25

London, UK- WWF welcomes the launch of the Global Action Agenda under the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. But WWF urges participants in the initiative to work towards an Action Agenda that focuses much more on achieving energy access through sustainable energy sources and by implementing nationally binding targets through a multi stakeholder processes.

"Nearly three billion people globally lack access to clean, safe and reliable energy, with devastating effects on human health but also on the environment. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's initiative gives us all hope that everyone's energy needs will be met in a sustainable way.

"We think that access needs to be 100% renewable"

"WWF strongly supports the initiative's call for universal energy access by 2030. We think that access needs to be 100% renewable, and we hope governments will make commitments to that goal at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in June'', said Samantha Smith, Leader of WWF's Global Climate and Energy Initiative.

However, WWF is concerned that SEFA overall, and the Action Agenda, place too much emphasis on voluntary action.

"We all know that it's political will that holds us back – from cutting emissions to delivering clean and renewable energy to the people who need it. Voluntary action is great, but to get accountability, sustainability and scale on addressing energy poverty, we will need strong and financially meaningful commitments," said Smith. "WWF would like to see governments step up and make their commitments binding."

In addition to binding commitments, WWF urges SEFA participants to make the initiative more accountable to global citizens. Perhaps because it is voluntary, SEFA currently lacks a meaningful system for monitoring whether participants actually deliver on their commitments. And the strong focus on voluntary partnerships between the private sector and governments falls short of ensuring that efforts reach the poorest in rural areas.

There is a need for stronger social and environmental safeguards and broader, proactive outreach to marginalized groups in society. This is a core responsibility of governments and should not be outsourced to the private sector.

"WWF would like to see greater transparency and accountability for SEFA"

"At its best, the UN is all about good global governance and accountability. In that spirit, WWF would like to see greater transparency and accountability for SEFA," said Smith. "SEFA has extended an open invitation to civil society to join in, which is great – but to reach the poor and in particular women it will take active and sustained outreach."

WWF commends the Secretary General on his initiative, and SEFA's progress to put the important issue of energy access on the global political agenda. We hope SEFA will keep up its momentum: by involving all stakeholders, pushing the levels of commitment to also include legally binding national targets and frameworks that clearly support renewable energy technologies and thereby support the achievement of inclusive green growth and sustainable development.

For more details:

-Darren Shirley, WWF-UK, DShirely@wwf.org.uk, t: +44 (0)1483 412509 | m: +44 (0)7949 138096
-Aarti Khosla, WWF-India, akhosla@wwfindia.net, +91-98111-99288

WWF experts available for interviews:

-Samantha Smith, Leader, WWF Global Climate and Energy Initiative, ssmith@wwf.no

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.panda.org/news for latest news and media resources

Status quo is not an option says WWF

2012-04-23

World governments are meeting in New York this week for a final round of negotiations to decide the priorities for the Rio+20 Summit taking place in June this year.

The negotiations will be the best and last chance that we have to influence the agenda for Rio+20.

New text presented by the co-chairs to the Summit and released on April 23, will serve as a basis for the negotiators gathering in New York and will set the level of ambition for Rio.

The text will also be examined in parallel with the Zero Draft which was produced earlier this year. WWF welcomes some of the text's forward-looking ideas for achieving sustainable development including the important inter-linkages made between economic, social and environmental dimensions and moving beyond GDP but believes the text lacks urgency and clear specific targets and timelines for actions.

Leaders must be more ambitious

With only 10 working days left for discussions before the text is presented to Rio, leaders need to be more ambitious about what they hope to achieve at this Summit.

"The negotiations this week in New York are crucial and the last chance for leaders to forge a strong outcome on sustainable development for the future. Rather than tinker around the edges of development we need leaders to embrace the urgency and provide clear commitments and targets which will help us achieve food, water and energy for all." said Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of Conservation, WWF International.

"We are living beyond our means and are distributing the proceeds inequitably: the poorest who rely most on the resources bear a disproportionate share of growing global demand whilst industrialised nations reap most of the benefits" said Gustavsson.

"Rio will be an historic opportunity for leaders to launch a vision and a plan that catalyses fundamental change in our economies towards environmental stability and more social and economic equity".

WWF is calling for political commitment:

To ensure fair and equitable access to food, water and energy for all; and
To deliver green economies that eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development.

Key factors for a Green Economy include:

The valuing of natural resources. Governments and policy leaders need to go beyond GDP and recognise the true value of natural wealth to "measure what we treasure". The sustainable management of natural wealth requires that its value is properly reflected in national accounts (GDP) and in corporate balance sheets and reporting. WWF also calls for clear and comparable national indicators for environmental quality: the air we breathe, the water we drink and the forests we strive to conserve.
The elimination of perverse subsidies. Particularly in these times of economic crisis, we need to eliminate all subsidies that negatively impact the environment, particularly those underpinning fossil fuel use, unsustainable agriculture and fisheries. Appropriate measures should be taken to offset any regressive impact.
Sustainable Developmental Goals. Global leaders need to agree universally applicable, multi-dimensional and equitable sustainable goals that encompass the environmental, social and economical dimensions of sustainable development. These goals would complement the Millennium Development goals and would measure progress towards sustainable patterns of living. They would include indicators encompassing the environmental, social and economical dimensions of sustainable development.

Status quo is not an option says WWF

2012-04-23

Gland, Switzerland: World governments are meeting in New York this week for a final round of negotiations to decide the priorities for the Rio+20 Summit taking place in June this year.

The negotiations will be the best and last chance that we have to influence the agenda for Rio+20.

New text presented by the co-chairs to the Summit and released today, 23rd April 2012, will serve as a basis for the negotiators gathering in New York and will set the level of ambition for Rio.

The text will also be examined in parallel with the Zero Draft which was produced earlier this year. WWF welcomes some of the text's forward-looking ideas for achieving sustainable development including the important inter-linkages made between economic, social and environmental dimensions and moving beyond GDP but believes the text lacks urgency and clear specific targets and timelines for actions.

With only 10 working days left for discussions before the text is presented to Rio, leaders need to be more ambitious about what they hope to achieve at this Summit.

"The negotiations this week in New York are crucial and the last chance for leaders to forge a strong outcome on sustainable development for the future. Rather than tinker around the edges of development we need leaders to embrace the urgency and provide clear commitments and targets which will help us achieve food, water and energy for all." said Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director, Conservation WWF International.

"We are living beyond our means and are distributing the proceeds inequitably: the poorest who rely most on the resources bear a disproportionate share of growing global demand whilst industrialised nations reap most of the benefits" said Gustavsson. " Rio will be an historic opportunity for leaders to launch a vision and a plan that catalyses fundamental change in our economies towards environmental stability and more social and economic equity".

WWF is calling for political commitment:

1. To ensure fair and equitable access to food, water and energy for all; and
2. To deliver green economies that eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development.

Key factors for a Green Economy include:

●The valuing of natural resources. Governments and policy leaders need to go beyond GDP and recognise the true value of natural wealth to "measure what we treasure". The sustainable management of natural wealth requires that its value is properly reflected in national accounts (GDP) and in corporate balance sheets and reporting. WWF also calls for clear and comparable national indicators for environmental quality: the air we breathe, the water we drink and the forests we strive to conserve.

●The elimination of perverse subsidies. Particularly in these times of economic crisis, we need to eliminate all subsidies that negatively impact the environment, particularly those underpinning fossil fuel use, unsustainable agriculture and fisheries. Appropriate measures should be taken to offset any regressive impact.

●Sustainable Developmental Goals. Global leaders need to agree universally applicable, multi-dimensional and equitable sustainable goals that encompass the environmental, social and economical dimensions of sustainable development. These goals would complement the Millennium Development goals and would measure progress towards sustainable patterns of living. They would include indicators encompassing the environmental, social and economical dimensions of sustainable development.

For further information please contact

Natalie Boudou, WWF International, nboudou@wwfint.org. +41 798202898

Gemma Parkes, WWF International, gparkes@wwfint.org, +41 792536386

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

panda.org/news for latest news and media resources

Sustainable palm oil is good for business – study

2012-04-02

Protecting the environment by producing certified sustainable palm oil is also good for the bottom line, according to a groundbreaking new report released jointly today.

Profitably and Sustainability in Palm Oil Production is a first-time study that comprehensively examines the financial costs and benefits of producing sustainable palm oil under the guidelines set out by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The report was produced jointly by WWF, CDC, the UK's development finance institution, and the FMO, the Dutch development bank.

The report finds that economic benefits outweigh the financial costs of pursuing sustainable palm oil operations.

"Our research found that many firms who switched to producing sustainable palm oil – which is good for people and the environment – reaped significant return on their investments," said WWF's Joshua Levin, the report's lead author. "In some cases, switching to sustainable production was economically transformative for the business. Producers, buyers, and investors should see sustainable palm oil as a serious business opportunity."

The growing demand for palm oil is adding to the already severe pressure on remaining rainforest areas of the world, and is threatening the survival of species such as the orang-utan, the Sumatran tiger, rhino and elephant. Forest loss and the draining of peatlands for palm oil plantations is also contributing to climate change and displacing local people who rely on the forest for food and shelter.

The report shows that the business benefits gained from achieving RSPO certification "typically outweigh the costs of implementation—in many cases significantly—yet often through unexpected and indirect channels."

For example, while many firms were initially attracted to RSPO for the price premiums commanded by certified sustainable palm oil, the larger financial gain often turned out to be resulting improvements in operations, documentation systems, labor relations, and other internal factors. In fact, each major category of benefits was, in and of itself, capable of outweighing RSPO implementation costs, according to the report.

The report's research shows that adopting sustainable practices, even in a high impact industry like palm oil, can result in net financial benefits to producers—providing gains for people, the planet and the bottom line.

WWF engaged with other NGOs and the palm oil industry to launch the RSPO in 2003. Since then, WWF has worked to ensure that the RSPO standards contain robust social and environmental criteria, including a prohibition on the conversion of valuable forests. Certified Sustainable Palm Oil has been available since November 2008 and now makes up more than 10 percent of the global palm oil market. It provides assurance that valuable tropical forests have not been cleared and that environmental and social safeguards have been met during the production of the palm oil.

"This study shows that getting RSPO certified makes good business sense as well as good environmental and social sense for growers. WWF hopes that the findings will persuade all producers to join the RSPO and to start getting certified." added Adam Harrison, WWF's representative on the Executive Board of the RSPO. "But the responsibility for making the industry sustainable also lies with those companies that buy and use palm oil. WWF urges them to immediately commit to increase purchases of certified sustainable palm oil and to ensure that 100% of their palm oil use is certified by 2015."

Sustainable palm oil is good for business – study

2012-04-02

Fisheries commission blind to Bigeye fate

2012-03-30

Tumon, Guam: Deadlocked talks and a deferral of key conservation and management measures for high value tuna stocks mark a disappointing outcome for the annual meeting of The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), WWF noted as the meeting closed in Tumon, Guam today.

Particularly disappointing was the failure to find solutions to resolve the downward spiral of already overfished bigeye tuna despite scientists asking for the fishing to be cut substantially. More and more bigeye tuna are being caught with no adequate action to reverse the decline. Precautionary conservation measures to protect yellowfin stocks, facing increasing fishing, were also put off.

Positive actions taken by the WCPFC to protect oceanic whitetip shark and cetaceans were overshadowed by inaction on whale sharks entangled by purse seine nets.

WWF expressed dismay at the rapid growth in longline fleets in the Western and Central Pacific that target southern albacore tuna. Catches of albacore have risen from 53000 metric tonnes to 71000 metric tonnes over the last ten years, placing at risk other vulnerable marine species like seabirds.

WWF was heartened that a joint WWF and other conservation organisation submission in the closing minutes of the meeting that the commission take urgent action on the conservation of albacore had drawn the support of Japan and Pacific island countries and territories.

"Progress towards sustainable management of tuna stocks has been frustratingly stalled and in some cases gone backwards", said Daniel Suddaby, Tuna Manager of WWF's global Smart Fishing Initiative. "By not implementing good fisheries management, the WCPFC is showing a worrying lack of precaution for the future of one of the world's most important tuna fisheries."

WWF strongly urges WCPFC Member States to take action to support the implementation of the precautionary approach to fisheries management, more in particular to:

Adopt harvest control rules and reference points in line with international best practice for tuna stocks;
Strengthen regulations on bycatch species impacted by tuna fishing; and
Reduce fishing capacity in line with long term sustainable yields

Fisheries commission blind to Bigeye fate

2012-03-30

Adopt harvest control rules and reference points in line with international best practice for tuna stocks;
Strengthen regulations on bycatch species impacted by tuna fishing; and
Reduce fishing capacity in line with long term sustainable yields

"Short-term interests combined with a lack of political will are amongst the drivers of unsustainable tuna management. Despite the ground-swell of consumers and retailers demanding sustainable tuna, WCPFC's failure to implement a precautionary approach to tuna management risks damaging the natural resources that these fisheries depend upon. " said Mr Suddaby.

"Incentives to limit fishing effort in Pacific tuna fisheries must be given serious attention. A working fisheries management system that makes sustainable fishing a viable long-term economic activity in the Pacific and offers a choice for global tuna consumers is critical."

For more information
Contact: Daniel Suddaby, Tuna Manager, WWF Smart Fishing Initiative: +442072215395
email: daniel.suddaby@wwf.panda.org
Twitter: DanielWWF_Fish

NOTE to editors:

Over half of the world's tuna catch is taken in Western Central Pacific ocean, a catch valued at over $US 4.6 billion/year. The majority of this catch (some 1.8 million metric tonnes) is Skipjack tuna that is mostly canned.

For bigeye tuna the WCPFC Scientific committee have urged for a cut in fishing mortality corresponds to a minimum of 28% reduction from the annual average during the period 2001-2004 or of 39% reduction of the 2004 level in fishing mortality.

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention (WCPFC) is an international fisheries agreement that seeks to ensure, through effective management, the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks (i.e. tunas, billfish, marlin) in the western and central Pacific Ocean.

The basic tenet of precautionary approach to fisheries management is simple: do not take actions that could have an unacceptably high risk of compromising the health of the resource or its environment in the long term. The implementation of a precautionary approach is, in most cases, made operational through pre-agreed management actions (also called 'harvest control rules') that are launched as soon as stock status indicators reach certain critical values (i.e. 'reference points').

UN chief urges those turning off lights to remember those who can't

2012-03-30

UN Headquarters, New York: As United Nations Headquarters in New York and other facilities around the globe switch off their lights for Earth Hour, they will be marking their solidarity with the 20 per cent of human kind who live without access to electricity.

"Turning off our lights is a symbol of our commitment to sustainable energy for all," said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. "We need to fuel our future with clean, efficient and affordable energy. By acting together today, we can power a brighter tomorrow."

Along with the UN, influential organizations such as UNESCO, the World Organization of the Scout Movement and the Vatican have all declared their support for Earth Hour, which takes place globally at 8:30 local time tomorrow, Saturday 31 March.

Executive Director and Co-Founder of Earth Hour, Andy Ridley said the world's leading organisations are sending a clear signal that they are committed to doing more to protect the planet.

Mr Ridley said, "The collective impact of these organisations who are lending support to Earth Hour this year is immense. Imagine the possibilities when this impact is translated into action beyond the hour."

Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova joined the UN Chief in supporting Earth Hour urging all 938 UNESCO Heritage sights across the globe to switch off.

Ms Bokova said, "This year, as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention, I appeal to all involved with World Heritage sites around the globe to join the Earth Hour initiative and switch off their lights in the evening of 31 March".

She added, "With this simple gesture, iconic sites and local communities can show their leadership and commitment for a sustainable planet".

From the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the Great Wall of China and the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the most visually captivating icons across the globe will go dark for Earth Hour 2012.

In 2007, WWF-Australia inspired Sydney-siders to show their support for climate change action in the first ever Earth Hour event.

Five years on Earth Hour has grown from a one-city initiative to a 5,251 city strong global movement, last year reaching 1.8 billion people in 135 countries across all seven continents.

A number of influential leaders have made "I Will If You Will" challenges for this year's campaign, which encourages people to make a personal challenge in order to inspire friends, family, colleagues and organisations to take action to protect the planet.

Luc Panissod, Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), which boasts over 30 million members in 161 countries, has thrown his considerable support behind Earth Hour with an I Will If You Will pledge of his own.

Panissod has promised to give up his car for seven days, if 10 000 people don't print their emails for a week.

He said. "We can all do a little something to create a larger world-wide change".

Simple tool helps companies address water risks

2012-03-28

A global online tool launched today by WWF and German development finance institution DEG (Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH) enables companies and investors to address their water-related risks.

WWF and DEG have created a practical online questionnaire that not only identifies water risk in supply chains and investment portfolios, but also provides practical steps to mitigate risk.

Roughly 40 per cent of the world's population lives in river basins that experience severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year; more than 900 million people lack access to safe drinking water and 2.7 billion lack access to basic sanitation services. Population growth and climate change are set to increase pressure on vital freshwater resources, with serious consequences for nature, people and economies.

"Water scarcity is a concern for conservationists, communities and companies alike. But simply competing for every last drop will do no good to anyone. If water users become aware of their water risks – and work together to find solutions – we can ensure that people, nature and businesses have the water they need," said Jim Leape, WWF International Director General.

A risk that cannot be ignored

Virtually every business sector relies on water. Yet many executives remain unaware of how water flows through their supply chains, or how the health of the environment where their facilities are located could affect long-term profitability.

WWF and DEG's message to companies is simple: Why take the risk? DEG has established water as a critical field for its client companies, and has used the Water Risk Filter to help them identify and mitigate water risk in business operations.

"Water availability is the most underestimated critical issue for the companies we are financing, but we believe that financial institutions can help make the companies more sustainable in their performance. Our work with WWF looks beyond the risks and shows practical ways how to change them into business opportunities," said Bruno Wenn, Chairman of DEG.

What makes the tool unique?

The Water Risk Filter incorporates WWF's science-based approach to water stewardship. It has a number of unique features:

It is easy to use. Geared specifically for non-experts, it guides users through a simple questionnaire and a pre-assessment survey that uses industry and geographic information to evaluate in less than 5 minutes if additional evaluation is necessary.
It is global and draws on data sheets for more than 180 countries and territories, providing interactive maps and case studies.
The tool uses the best available data as well as company specific information to analyse all relevant indicators of water risk.
The tool goes beyond an assessment and provides a mitigation toolbox for the user.

"The Water Risk Filter will undoubtedly identify water 'red zones' – those places where scarcity creates investment risk. The answer is not to abandon those places; from a practical standpoint this won't be possible. Instead we must turn red to green and manage resources within scarcity," said Stuart Orr, WWF Freshwater Manager.

Global fashion retailer H&M was among the companies to test the online tool.

"The outcomes from the Water Risk Filter are important inputs for our new, holistic water strategy that we are developing together with WWF. It shows us where and how we can have the biggest impact, and helps improve our understanding of how sustainable our supply chain is, given the often difficult local water situations," said Mikael Blomme, Environmental Sustainability Manager at H&M.

Ivo Mulder, Programme Officer, Biodiversity and Ecosystems/Water and Finance of UNEP welcomed the water risk filter and stressed the important role of risk assessment for companies in terms of competitiveness, reputation and investor confidence.

"For a long time, financial institutions have focused on climate change as the factor with the most material impact on loans, investments and insurance products. That landscape is changing quickly, with water emerging beyond reputational risk. It now holds the potential of affecting debt-servicing and the creditworthiness of clients. The Water Risk Filter helps financial institutions better understand and structure the different components of water risks, and assess these risks throughout the due diligence processes," Mulder said.