This live studio talkshow delves into the pivotal role of businesses in advancing sustainable water management. It examines how businesses can expedite water stewardship across value chains, emphasizing collaborative solutions and business leadership. Through collective action, companies drive positive change, ensuring a sustainable future for all stakeholders.
Date: Tuesday, August 27th
Time: 12:00 PM – 12:40 PM.
Location: Stockholm Waterfront Congress Centre, Talkshow Studio (Level 5) during World Water Week
Session Description
In today’s dynamic landscape characterized by intense competition for water resources and the effects of climate change, businesses play a key role in achieving sustainable water management. By implementing sustainable water practices throughout their operations and supply chains business can ensure access and minimize environmental harm. With innovative solutions and by promoting sustainable water management beyond the business wall, companies can also contribute to positive water impact.
One crucial step is collective action aimed at reducing impacts on water-stressed areas. This involves business collaborating with stakeholders across sectors and regions to exchange ideas and resources. Additionally, businesses together with policymakers, business partners, and civil society can advocate for policy measures and sustainable water practices that safeguard water resources. By actively participating in local communities and supporting measures for the provision of water and sanitation systems, companies can make tangible contributions to sustainable management of water. This collaborative approach, transcending borders and sectors, is crucial for addressing complex water challenges and ensuring a sustainable future. In this session, we will explore how businesses can accelerate water stewardship actions within and beyond their value chains.
Programme
Tentative run-sheet:
- Introduction of panel by moderator Kanika Groeneweg-Thakar
- Reflections from the business roundtable
- Panel discussion on the current state of corporate water stewardship, do businesses truly understand the business case for investing in water and what are the challenges faced by companies to do more and go beyond compliance?
- Q&A
- Closing statement
Speakers:
George Schuler
Deputy Head of the CEO Water Mandate
For nearly 30 years, George Schuler has led innovative global water sustainability efforts, managing diverse teams and securing significant funding. His expertise include scientific research, program evaluation, and advocating for responsible water use on a global scale. George is deeply committed to the CEO Water Mandate’s mission and collaborates with public, private, and non-profit sectors on climate and water security. He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science from Allegheny College and a Master of Environmental Studies from Yale University.
Lingyi Lu
Head of Sustainability at Söderberg & Partners
As Head of Sustainability at Söderberg & Partners, one of Scandinavia’s largest financial advisory and insurance brokerage firms, Ms. Lu oversees the integration of sustainability across business areas, including pension savings, investment management, and insurance advisory. She holds a master’s degree in applied economics and finance from Copenhagen Business School and has received education at the Uppsala Center for Environment and Development Studies (CEMUS). Alongside her responsibilities at Söderberg & Partners, Ms. Lu serves on the board of the Swedish Forum for Sustainable Investing as Vice Chairwoman and on the board of the UN Global Compact Swedish Network.
Francesca O’Hanlon
Senior Water Manager at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Dr Francesca O’Hanlon leads the water security strategy for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) – the largest bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company. CCEP makes, moves, and sells some of the world’s most loved brands – serving 600 million consumers across 29 countries. Francesca has a background in water resources engineering, WASH, and water innovation. Prior to joining CCEP, she was the Founder and CEO of Blue Tap, a social enterprise that developed water treatment technology for communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Francesca has an MEng from Imperial College in Civil and Environmental Engineering, an MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development, and a PhD in Water Security in the Global South, both from the University of Cambridge. She is the 2022 Smeaton Medal Winner.
Convenors
Stockholm International Water Institute
Swedish Water House
CEO Water Mandate
UN Global Compact Network Sweden