2011-09-08   Source: WBCSD   

Geneva, August 23, 2011 - The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) announced today that it will release two customized versions of its successful Global Water Tool at World Water Week, Stockholm. This represents the first time a tool addressing industry-specific challenges around water issues has been developed for the oil and gas and power utilities sectors. The launch will take place on Tuesday, August 23, 18.00 at the WBCSD stand EH05:41.

The Global Water Tool for Oil and Gas, developed by IPIECA, the WBCSD and CH2M HILL, is designed to assess companies’ water risks across their portfolio of sites, considering each part of the oil and gas value chain. It enables companies to identify the number of refinery sites in water-scarce areas, provides future projections, and establishes the percentage production volume in water-scarce areas and how this will increase in the future. It also explores the number of sites in countries that lack access to water and sanitation. The Global Water Tool for Oil and Gas was pilot tested by 15 global oil and gas companies to ensure its effectiveness.

Rob Cox, Acting Executive Secretary, IPIECA, said:

“The Global Water Tool for Oil and Gas provides a great partnership opportunity between IPIECA and the WBCSD. It enables oil and gas companies to assess water risks across their global portfolio.”

Joppe Cramwinckel, Director, Water, WBCSD, said:

“We are pleased to be using World Water Week as the platform from which to launch these new additions to our Water Tool series. For the first time, tools dealing with complex water issues, in relation to very specific industry sectors, are available. And they deal with some of the world’s largest industries.”

A second addition to the WBCSD’s suite of Water Tools is the Global Water Tool for Power Utilities. Development was led by CH2M HILL and EDF, and shaped and pilot tested by a group of member companies with power production operations worldwide. It allows data input and metrics output to be customized to the four main types of power production and considers cooling water separately from other process water. Sector-relevant intensity metrics can be created, and mapping icons for major power production processes can be employed.

Claude K. Nahon, Senior VP, Sustainability, EDF, said:

“Adapting the Global Water Tool for the power and utilities sector represents a key milestone, helping us to better report and dialog with stakeholders on how we manage the complex relationship between energy and water.”

Jan Dell, Vice President, CH2M HILL, said:

“Since the launch of the original Global Water Tool in 2007, more than 300 companies from a wide range of industries have used the tool. The customizations were driven by sector demand for a deeper understanding of water issues in the energy value chain”.

Integrating biodiversity considerations

The WBCSD is also launching a Biodiversity Bonus feature on the upgraded Global Water Tool at World Water Week. It enables businesses to identify how many of their sites, or potential sites, are in biodiversity hotspots. The data can be viewed via charts, Excel spreadsheets or maps. The Biodiversity Bonus feature was developed with expertise from Conservation International (CI).

Joppe Cramwinckel, Director, Water, WBCSD, said:

“This update to the Global Water Tool further expands the features offered to businesses for sustainable decision making, taking in a wider range of variables that will affect them as they grow internationally.”

Marielle Weikel, Director, Corporate Freshwater Strategies, CI, said:

“The addition of a biodiversity dimension to the Global Water Tool will allow companies to paint a more holistic picture of their risk profile when it comes to water resources. CI believes this is an important step in helping companies better understand what their potential impacts to freshwater ecosystems may be, and we are thrilled to work with WBCSD to bring this new perspective to companies.”