Ecosystem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= GlWVDcdRVUA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG gYTcPzexE&NR=1

Water Scarcity What is Water Scarcity?

Water scarcity occurs when the demand of water from all sectors (agriculture, cities, environment etc..) is higher than the available resources Because water has been relatively abundant throughout our existence on earth, we have come to take it for granted. However we now find our water supplies severely reduced as water scarcity is fast becoming one of the most serious resource issue we face today

THE AMOUNT OF WATER IN OUR PLANET IS FIXED

0.3% lakes and rivers
30.8% groundwater
2.5% freshwater

68.9% locked in glaciers

EARTH

97.5 % saltwater

There are 2 types of water scarcity

One is known as Physical Water Scarcity This occurs when there is not enough water to meet our needs

Physical water scarcity occurs in these areas.

Percentage of Total Water used for Agriculture

100%

75%

50%

25%

0%
Europe North America Latin America & Caribbean Asia & the pacific Africa Near East

The other type of Water Scarcity is known as Economic Water Scarcity

This occurs when human, institutional and financial capital limit access to water even though water in nature is available for human needs

We may think water issues are somebody elses problem But in a few years it will be our too Follow a few easy steps to do our part in maintaining this precious resource.

Dont throw your cooking oil down the drain Close the tap while brushing the teeth Dont buy unnecessary goods, as everything produced uses water.

Business risk & Opportunities arising from Water Scarcity

Higher water costs due to decreased supply or increased treatment and processing costs Unpredictable water supply, which could disrupt operations, shut down plants, and challenge heavily water-dependent industries Government-imposed water restrictions or rationing Plant closures in areas where costs become prohibitive or operations are no longer viable Risk to reputation and brand image as a result of excessive or inefficient use
Increasing access to drinking water using market mechanisms (e.g., water quality trading) or new technologies (e.g., wastewater treatment and desalination); Improving efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing closed-loop systems; Designing products and processes that are less water-dependent; Improving image and reputation through active involvement in water management via partnerships with government, local communities and civil society.

Climate is an integral part of ecosystems and organisms have adapted to their regional climate over time. Climate change is a factor that has the potential to alter ecosystems and the many resources and services they provide to each other and to society. Human societies depend on ecosystems for the natural, cultural, spiritual, recreational and aesthetic resources they provide.

Business risk & Opportunities arising from Climate Change

Reduced agricultural yields and insecurity of crucial raw materials, such as water, caused by higher temperatures and increasingly complex regional variation in weather patterns Reduced ecosystem resilience generated by the loss of species and their stabilizing interactions Decreased operational efficiencies, mounting costs, and rising insurance premiums resulting from the increased occurrence of extreme weather events, such as floods and tropical storms Increased operating costs due to government imposed restrictions on or charges for GHG emissions Introduction of new businesses, products or services that reduce GHG emissions; Reduced costs through energy efficiency improvements or switching to low-carbon fuels Enhanced reputation and brand through corporate policies and proactive action to reduce GHG emissions (e.g., conducting a GHG inventory, setting reduction targets) Earning a place at the policy-makers table in response to timely and effective company action

Business risk & Opportunities arising from habitat Change

Government restrictions on land use and conversion, and pressure for greater efficiencies on existing land in order to reduce habitat loss Rising land prices and production costs stemming from competition for land Tarnished reputation and image in response to corporate degradation of ecosystems and corresponding habitat loss, such as in the Brazilian Amazon Government-imposed obligations to restore degraded land and habitats in response to stakeholder concerns Adoption of new technologies, design of new products and processes that improve the efficiency of land use and boost profitability New businesses that restore or preserve habitats Enhanced brand image and reputation through the use of certification schemes and support for habitat restoration initiatives.