Clean water that is available in sufficient quantities is essential for man and nature. Without water no life is possible and yet in many areas it is treated wastefully.
The demand for water has been rising steadily for years and has met an offer that has not changed since the emergence of terrestrial water. It is a fact that all the water we use today once flowed through the stomach of a dinosaur. The main drivers of rising demand are population growth and urbanisation. In most cases, the water infrastructure cannot keep pace with the rapid growth of metropolitan regions. Retrospectively building the infrastructure is demanding and expensive. In addition to these two factors, climate change is a further factor that accentuates water stress.
Water stress: Ratio of water abstraction to available water resources
Source: Aqueduct, World Resources Institute
The climate debate today is mainly about CO2 emissions and global warming. Limiting global warming to a deviation of 2°C from the global pre-industrial average could avert far-reaching climate consequences for the planet. To date, however, the earth has already experienced 1°C of warming and the consequences are noticeable: ice sheets are melting, sea levels are rising, periods of drought and flooding are on the increase.
The water risks have already drastically increased after half of the tolerable global warming. In addition to society, companies also face the challenge of controlling their water risks. Water risks exist for companies at three levels:
Identifying these risks is not an easy task for companies, especially when the business is based on complex supply chains. Swiss companies are also called upon here, as their most important trading partners with regard to imports include countries with high water stress such as India and China. Many companies are therefore indirectly affected by water risks. Identifying and controlling a company's water risks is particularly complex because water stress varies regionally from country to country. Swiss companies are therefore encouraged to work with interest groups and authorities on sustainable solutions on the ground. Since many parties use the same water resources, it may also be necessary to pull in the same direction as competitors. An often tough undertaking.
The search begins for partners who can offer solutions to handle the raw material water as efficiently as possible. Global Water Intelligence estimates that the market for water technologies will grow from USD 770 billion to around USD 915 billion by 2023.
Industry is one of the most important buyers of these technologies. Each industry has specific requirements for the quality of the water used in the production processes. The treatment before and after use as well as the monitoring and control of the water infrastructure are central areas. Agriculture, which is the largest user of water, is concerned with efficient irrigation systems and their control. Finally, there is the water supply for households. There, much is currently revolving around the maintenance of the pipeline infrastructure. One of the most important tasks is to contain the losses of water due to leaking pipes.
There are interesting investment opportunities for investors wishing to participate in the growth of these exciting markets. One is the Tareno Global Water Solutions Fund.
Total return since fund inception
Source: Tareno Asset Management 2019
Report published in «Nachhaltiges Investment – Schweiz 2020» of October 2019
11/14/2019
Tareno AG
CLIMATE CHANGE – CHALLENGES FOR WATER USERS
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