Investorideas.com newswire, breaking water news

Friday, March 6, 2009

Water crisis: world heads for ‘water bankruptcy’ warns World Economic Forum report

Reminder - World Water Day- March 22

In 2009, the focus of World Water Day on March 22 will be on transboundary waters: sharing water, sharing opportunities.
http://www.worldwaterday.org/

Water crisis: world heads for ‘water bankruptcy’ warns World Economic Forum report

http://www.irc.nl/page/46786

Many places in the world are on the verge of "water bankruptcy" following a series of regional water "bubbles" over the past 50 years that fuelled economic growth, according to a new report [1] by the World Economic Forum (WEF). This leads to a structural problem in the way water is managed across the global economy.
Some of the highlights of the forecast include:
The majority of the glaciers of the Himalayas and Tibet, which are a source of water for more than 2 billion people, will disappear by 2100 under current trends.
70 major rivers around the world are close to being totally drained in order to supply water for irrigation systems and reservoirs.

Within two decades, water will become a mainstream theme for investors; for many, water is already a better "pick" than oil. With good regulation, this will enable much more financing to be mobilized to invest in water infrastructure and technology.

The report was presented at the WEF Annual Meeting held in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, from 28 January to 1 February 2009. At the meeting, Margaret Catley-Carlson chaired a special session on "The Politics of Water". “By far the most controversial issue was the need to recognize water as a scarce commodity. All participants agreed that pricing is as economically necessary as it is politically risky”, the session summary report [2] stated.

[1] WEF Water Initiative (2009). The bubble is close to bursting : a forecast of the main economic and geopolitical water issues likely to arise in the world during the next two decades. Draft. Geneva, Switzerland, World Economic Forum. 68 p. PDF file.
[2] Read the full session summary here and view the webcast here.
Web site: WEF Water Initiative.

Related news:
Climate change: millions fear death as water resources are depleted, Tearfund report, Source Weekly, 30 Jan 2009
World Economic Forum: water as critical as climate change, Source Weekly, 25 Feb 2008
Contact: WEF Water Initiative, Switzerland, water@weforum.org




Visit the water stocks directory at Investorideas.com and Water-stocks.com
http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

Investing In Water, Investor Ideas Water Stocks Directory Features Global Listed Water Companies and ETF’s

Investing In Water, Investor Ideas Water Stocks Directory Features Global Listed Water Companies and ETF’s


POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC –March 6, 2009 - Investorideas.com and its Water-stocks.com portal update the current directory of publicly traded water stocks for investors looking for global water investment opportunities. The directory also includes publicly traded stocks and ETF’s.

Investorideas.com was one of the first investor resources covering water stocks and features the Investing in Water Podcast series, news, resources and links and a global water stocks directory.
Water Stocks Directory: http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp
Partial Directory:

ACEA SpA (Milan:ACE.MI) - ACEA SpA is an Italy-based utility company engaged in the production and supply of water, electricity, public lighting and heating. With 10,000 kilometers of aqueducts and networks, it manages the entire water cycle in the Ambito Territoriale Ottimale, in Rome and Frosinone.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A)Agilent Technologies Inc. is the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 20,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $5.8 billion in fiscal 2008.

AIR WATER INC.(TYO:4088) Tokyo-is a Japan-based manufacturing company - Treatment.

Aliran Ihsan Resources Bhd (Kuala Lampur:8516.KL) is a United Kingdom-based investment holding company. The Company's subsidiaries include Southern Water Corporation Sdn. Bhd., Arensi Pipes Sdn. Bhd., RNC Corporations Berhad, Southern Water Technology Sdn. Bhd. and Southern Water Engineering Sdn. Bhd. The principal activities of the subsidiaries include water treatment, rehabilitation of water treatment plants and construction of water works, construction of waterworks and water treatment plants and operation, maintenance and management of water treatment plants

AMCON Distributing Co. (AMEX:DIT) AMCON is a leading wholesale distributor of consumer products, including beverages, candy, tobacco, groceries, food service, frozen and chilled foods, and health and beauty care products with distribution centers in Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

American Pacific Corp. (NasdaqGM:APFC) is a leading manufacturer of specialty and fine chemicals within its focused markets. We also produce specialty chemicals utilized in various applications such as fire extinguishing systems, as well as manufacture water treatment equipment.

American States Water Company (NYSE:AWR) through its principal subsidiary, Golden State Water Company (GSWC), engages in the purchase, production, and distribution of water. It also distributes electricity in one customer service area. The company provides water and wastewater services, including billing and meter reading, water marketing, and the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater systems to various municipalities, the United States government, and private entities. As of December 31, 2005, it served 13,001 customers located in the town of Fountain Hills, Arizona, as well as a portion of the City of Scottsdale, Arizona; and operated approximately 184 miles of pipeline.

Full Directory: http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

For investors following the sector, a report from The IPCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,
“Climate Change and Water”, will enlighten and inform them as to the urgency and help direct research for potential investment.
http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/tp-climate-change-water.htm
www.Water-Stocks.com, a portal within the InvestorIdeas.com content umbrella, offers investors research tools, news, Blogs, online conferences, Podcasts , interviews and a directory of public companies within the water sector .The water-stocks content hub has created a global marketplace and meeting place for investors, public companies, industry buyers and sellers of water technology, services and water assets.

Become an Investorideas.com Member
With markets and investor sentiment changing daily- it is more important than ever to stay on top of key trends! Gain Exclusive Insight on Leading Sectors, Global Trends, and Insider Trading Ideas, News, Articles and Investor Ideas Members only Restricted Content including the water stocks directory and renewable energy stocks directory. Learn more: - click here http://www.investorideas.com/membership/


About InvestorIdeas.com:

"One of the first online investor resources providing in-depth information on renewable energy, greentech and water sectors." InvestorIdeas.com is a leading global investor and industry research resource portal specialized in sector investing covering over thirty industry sectors and global markets including China, India, Middle East and Australia.

Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. This site is currently compensated by featured companies, news submissions and online advertising. Disclosure:
www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp

For More Information Contact:

Dawn Van Zant 800-665-0411
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com

Web Site: www.InvestorIdeas.com

Source: Water-Stocks.com, Investorideas.com

Monday, March 2, 2009

Gov. Schwarzenegger Takes Action to Address California’s Water Shortage

Gov. Schwarzenegger Takes Action to Address California’s Water Shortage

Proclaims State of Emergency, Directs Government to Utilize Resources, Help People

To combat California’s third consecutive year of drought, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a state of emergency and ordered immediate action to manage the crisis. In the proclamation, the Governor uses his authority to direct all state government agencies to utilize their resources, implement a state emergency plan and provide assistance for people, communities and businesses impacted by the drought.

“Even with the recent rainfall, California faces its third consecutive year of drought and we must prepare for the worst - a fourth, fifth or even sixth year of drought,” Governor Schwarzenegger said. “Last year we experienced the driest spring and summer on record and storage in the state’s reservoir system is near historic lows. This drought is having a devastating impact on our people, our communities, our economy and our environment - making today’s action absolutely necessary. This is a crisis, just as severe as an earthquake or raging wildfire, and we must treat it with the same urgency by upgrading California’s water infrastructure to ensure a clean and reliable water supply for our growing state.”

The Governor’s order directs various state departments to engage in activity to provide assistance to people and communities impacted by the drought. The proclamation:
Requests that all urban water users immediately increase their water conservation activities in an effort to reduce their individual water use by 20 percent Directs the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to expedite water transfers and related efforts by water users and suppliers Directs DWR to offer technical assistance to agricultural water suppliers and agricultural water users, including information on managing water supplies to minimize economic impacts and implementing efficient water management practices Directs DWR to implement short-term efforts to protect water quality or water supply, such as the installation of temporary barriers in the Delta or temporary water supply connections Directs the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to assist the labor market, including job training and financial assistance Directs DWR to join with other appropriate agencies to launch a statewide water conservation campaign calling for all Californians to immediately decrease their water use Directs state agencies to immediately implement a water use reduction plan and take immediate water conservation actions and requests that federal and local agencies also implement water use reduction plans for facilities within their control In particular, the order directs that by March 30, 2009, DWR shall provide an updated report on the state’s drought conditions and water availability. According to the proclamation, if the emergency conditions have not been sufficiently mitigated, the Governor will consider additional steps. These could include the institution of mandatory water rationing and mandatory reductions in water use; reoperation of major reservoirs in the state to minimize impacts of the drought; additional regulatory relief or permit streamlining as allowed under the Emergency Services Act; and other actions necessary to prevent, remedy or mitigate the effects of the extreme drought conditions.

DWR and California’s Department of Food and Agriculture will also recommend, within 30 days, measures to reduce the economic impacts of the drought, including but not limited to water transfers, through-Delta emergency transfers, water conservation measures, efficient irrigation practices, and improvements to the California Irrigation Management Information System.
Last week, DWR announced that California’s severe drought had prevented it from increasing its State Water Project (SWP) delivery allocations for the first time since 2001. This year’s allocation as of February is at just 15 percent of SWP contractor’s requests. This is only the second time in SWP history that the February allocation has been this low.
The drought conditions and water restrictions are causing additional devastating economic and business losses. Agricultural revenue losses exceed $300 million to date and could exceed $2 billion in the coming season, with a total economic loss of nearly $3 billion in 2009.


Full text of proclamation:

http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/11556/



Visit the water stocks directory at Investorideas.com and Water-stocks.com
http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Water Investor and Industry Research Portal Invites Content Submissions

Water Investor and Industry Research Portal Invites Content Submissions

Water Companies and Water Experts Can Submit News, Articles and Research to Global Audience Tracking Developments in the Water Industry

POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC – February 28, 2009, www.Water-Stocks.com, WaterTheNextOil.com, a leading global investor and industry portal for the water sector invites content submissions relevant to the water industry, as global interest grows in the commodity considered more valuable than oil. Public and private companies can submit news and press releases to online investors and visitors following developments in clean or green technology. In addition, freelance journalists, industry experts and analysts can contribute articles and research on the subject.

Submitted Research is profiled on the water portal as well as the primary InvestorIdeas.com Research page at /Research/.

The additional content builds upon the highly visited portal articles, audio interviews, stock news, stock directory, online investor conferences, Blogs, RSS feeds and links.

Public and Private Water News Submission: Submit News to
Water-Stocks at: http://www1.investorideas.com/NewsUploader/Default.aspx
News can be upgraded to be the sector news of the day.

To Submit Articles or Research to Water-Stocks.com:
http://www1.investorideas.com/NewsUploader/Submit_Article/Default.aspx


Water-Stocks.com (WaterTheNextOil.com) is a leading global investor and industry research portal for the water sector featuring industry and stock news, exclusive articles and financial columnists, audio interviews and Podcasts, investor conferences, Blogs, and a directory of stocks in the sector.
The site also features a growing directory of Water Stocks for independent investor research at: http://www.water-stocks.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

Water Stocks investor Podcast with Neil Berlant, Senior Vice President of Crowell, Weedon & Co.’s Water Group, on explosive growth surrounding desalination and infrastructure repair and water stocks positioned to benefit.
To listen to the Full Investor Podcast: http://www.water-stocks.com/Audio/berlant/0407/default.asp

Green Ads: Companies in the sector can share their green philosophy and gain brand awareness with Green Ads. The Green Ads target the growing number of ethical and green investors as well as consumers and create instant visual identification as a green company! http://investorideas.com/Advertise/

About Investorideas.com
Investorideas.com creates a meeting place for investing ideas to take form and come to life in an entrepreneurial environment, servicing the needs of small investors and start- up companies to large conglomerates. We cover multiple industry sectors but specialize in environmental and water.


InvestorIdeas.com Disclaimer: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp
Our sites do not make recommendations, but offer information portals to research news, articles, stock lists and recent research. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. The site is compensated by featured companies, news submissions and online advertising.

For More Information Contact:

Dawn Van Zant 800-665-0411
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com

Web Site: www.InvestorIdeas.com

Source: Water-Stocks.com



Visit the water stocks directory at Investorideas.com and Water-stocks.com
http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

Investing In Water Stocks - Report Warns Businesses and Investors about Growing Water Scarcity Impacts from Climate Change

Investing In Water Stocks - Report Warns Businesses and Investors about Growing Water Scarcity Impacts from Climate Change


POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC –February 28, 2009 - Investorideas.com and its Water-stocks.com portal update the current directory of publicly traded water stocks for 2009. A recent report by Ceres and the Pacific Institute, warns businesses and Investors about the growing water scarcity and the impacts from Climate Change.
More info- http://www.investorideas.com/news/022609c.asp

Investorideas.com was one of the first investor resources covering water stocks and features the Investing in Water Podcast series, news, resources and links and a global water stocks directory.
Water Stocks Directory: http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

For investors following the sector, a report from The IPCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,
“Climate Change and Water”, will enlighten and inform them as to the urgency and help direct research for potential investment.
http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/tp-climate-change-water.htm
Mr. Brennan, of the Kinetics Water Infrastructure Fund noted in an interview in late 2008, “Water stocks are not recession proof but are recession resistant”, he notes. “People have to take a look at necessities- where they spend. Water is a necessity along with power and waste management.”

To listen to the full interview: http://static.investorideas.com.s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts/2008/100608a.mp3

To hear previous audios from other water experts: http://www.investorideas.com/ws/
Investing in Water Podcast RSS Feed: http://www.investorideas.com/Podcasts/water.xml

www.Water-Stocks.com, a portal within the InvestorIdeas.com content umbrella, offers investors research tools, news, Blogs, online conferences, Podcasts , interviews and a directory of public companies within the water sector .The water-stocks content hub has created a global marketplace and meeting place for investors, public companies, industry buyers and sellers of water technology, services and water assets.

Become an Investorideas.com Member
With markets and investor sentiment changing daily- it is more important than ever to stay on top of key trends! Gain Exclusive Insight on Leading Sectors, Global Trends, and Insider Trading Ideas, News, Articles and Investor Ideas Members only Restricted Content including the water stocks directory and renewable energy stocks directory. Learn more: - click here http://www.investorideas.com/membership/

About the IPCC:
The IPCC is a scientific intergovernmental body set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Its constituency is made of:
The governments: the IPCC is open to all member countries of WMO and UNEP. Governments of participate in plenary Sessions of the IPCC where main decisions about the IPCC work programme are taken and reports are accepted, adopted and approved. They also participate the review of IPCC Reports.
The scientists: hundreds of scientists all over the world contribute to the work of the IPCC as authors, contributors and reviewers.
The people: as United Nations body, the IPCC work aims at the promotion of the United Nations human development goals

About InvestorIdeas.com:

"One of the first online investor resources providing in-depth information on renewable energy, greentech and water sectors." InvestorIdeas.com is a leading global investor and industry research resource portal specialized in sector investing covering over thirty industry sectors and global markets including China, India, Middle East and Australia.

Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. This site is currently compensated by featured companies, news submissions and online advertising. Disclosure:
www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp

For More Information Contact:

Dawn Van Zant 800-665-0411
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com

Web Site: www.InvestorIdeas.com

Source: Water-Stocks.com

Mantra (OTCBB:MVTG) Signs Exclusive Option Agreement for License to Mine Wastewater

Mantra Signs Exclusive Option Agreement for License to Mine Wastewater

Mantra To Feature Electro-Reduction of Carbon Technology at Open House Investor Reception on Friday, February 27th, 2009.

SEATTLE, Feb. 27 - Due to overwhelming support and interest at last week's Global Chinese Financial Forum, Mantra Venture Group Ltd. (OTCBB: MVTG, FSE: 5MV) is pleased to announce it will be holding an open house reception at the Kemetco Research Friday, Feb 27th, 2009. Larry Kristof, President and CEO of Mantra, will be onsite featuring live demonstrations of the company's Electro-Reduction of Carbon (ERC) technology, and to talk one-on-one with members of the investing community. In addition to technical demonstrations, Mr. Kristof will also be sharing with investors the company's strategic growth strategy in its effort to become an industry leader over the next five years.

Mr. Kristof comments: "It is with great pleasure that we open our doors to the investing community to provide a first-hand look at Mantra's ERC technology. It is very rare that investors are given the opportunity to see up close and in person the technologies underlying their investments, and I am quite confident that all of those in attendance will be fascinated by the intricate performance of Mantra's ERC reactor."

Kemetco Research Inc. is located at Unit #445, 5600 Parkwood Way, Richmond, BC Canada, V6V 2M2. Reception hours are from 4:00-7:00 pm PMT on Friday February 27th.

Mantra Signs Exclusive Option Agreement for License to Mine Wastewater

Technology

Mantra is pleased to announce that has just signed an Exclusive Option Agreement with Synergy BioMetals Recovery Systems Inc. to license its Mine Wastewater Technology. This technology effectively converts acid mine drainage into clean water with a neutral pH- suitable for release into the environment. This technology represents a significant new opportunity for Mantra and its shareholders, and it will be on-site for display and discussion at today's Investor Reception. The parties are obligated to negotiate the terms of the acquisition in good faith until March 31, 2009. This deadline may be extended to May 31, 2009 through the payment of CAD $5,000 to Synergy BioMetals Recovery Systems Inc.

About Mine Wastewater

The US Environmental Protection Agency ranks mining as the United States' top toxic polluter, reporting more toxic releases annually than any other sector. Acid generation occurs naturally in the mining process as waste rock and metal tailings are exposed to water and oxygen. The result is contaminated, toxic water that has serious ramifications on the local environment if left untreated. The EPA estimates that over 40% of US western waterways are contaminated by mining activities.

About ERC:

The ERC process, defined as the Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon dioxide, combines captured carbon dioxide with water to produce high value materials, such as formic acid and formate salts, which are conventionally obtained from the thermochemical processing of Fossil Fuels. However, ERC has an advantage over the established thermochemical methods for converting carbon dioxide to liquid fuels.

While thermochemical reactions must be driven at relatively high temperatures that are normally obtained by burning fossil fuels, ERC operates at near ambient conditions and is driven by electric energy that can be taken from an electric power grid supplied by hydro, wind, solar or nuclear energy.

MVTG also expects that the complementary nature of ERC and the electro-oxidation process that drives fuel cells may make it possible to use ERC in a regenerative fuel cell cycle, where CO(2) is converted into a fuel that is consumed in the fuel cell. The company is also exploring ERC applications for the production of steel and fuel additives.

About Mantra Venture Group Ltd.

Mantra, through its group of sustainable energy, carbon reduction and consumer product subsidiaries, is active in the green technology marketplace with an innovative, multi-faceted approach focused on profitability through sustainability. By aggressively seeking out new technologies and innovating solutions for a cleaner earth for everyone, Mantra intends to provide a highly profitable and, more importantly, socially and environmentally responsible investment for its shareholders.

Mantra is a public company quoted on the OTC BB under the symbol MVTG and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol EDV 5MV.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties. See Mantra Venture Group's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission which identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations
Terry Johnston
604-267-3022
tjohnston@mantraenergy.com
www.mantraenergy.com
Source: Mantra Venture Group Ltd.

Mantra Venture Group Ltd. is a featured Company on Investorideas.com Green portals, China portal.

For Company Showcase Click Here : http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/CO/MVTG/Default.asp

Disclaimer: /About/Disclaimer.asp

Investorideas.com Membership – Renewable Energy Stocks
With markets and investor sentiment changing daily- it is more important than ever to stay on top of key trends! Gain Exclusive Insight on Leading Sectors, Global Trends, and Insider Trading Ideas, News, Articles and Investor Ideas Members only Renewable Energy and Water Stock Directories. Learn more: - /membership/







Visit the water stocks directory at Investorideas.com and Water-stocks.com
http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Report Warns Businesses and Investors about Growing Water Scarcity Impacts from Climate Change

Report Warns Businesses and Investors about Growing Water Scarcity Impacts from Climate Change

Climate Risks Mean New Problems for Vulnerable Sectors, including Electric Power, High-Tech, Agriculture and Beverages

BOSTON, MA. – February 26, 2009 - Global climate change is exacerbating water scarcity problems around the world, yet few businesses and investors are paying attention to this growing financial threat, according to a report issued today by Ceres and the Pacific Institute.
Water is crucial for the global economy – driving every industry from agriculture to electric power to silicon chip manufacturing. Beverage, apparel and tourism also rely on supplies of clean, potable water to survive and grow.
Decreasing water availability, declining water quality, and growing water demand are creating immense challenges to businesses and investors who have historically taken clean, reliable and inexpensive water for granted. These trends are causing decreases in companies' water allotments for manufacturing, shifts towards full-cost water pricing, more stringent water quality regulations and increased public scrutiny of corporate water practices.
The report concludes that climate change will exacerbate these growing water risks – especially as the world population grows by 50 million people every year. Already, China, India and the western U.S. are seeing growth limited by reduced water supplies from shrinking glaciers and melting snowcaps that sustain key rivers. Meanwhile, agricultural and power plant production have been cut back due to more frequent and more intense heat waves and droughts in large parts of Australia, California and the southeast U.S.
"The business community needs to wake up to the reality that water is becoming scarcer and will likely become even more so in many parts of the world due to climate change," said Mindy S. Lubber, president of Ceres, which published the report, Water Scarcity & Climate Change: Growing Risks for Businesses and Investors. "It is critical that companies and investors boost their attention on this issue."
"This research sheds important light on the critical link between climate change and water issues. For businesses, addressing the risk factors of water scarcity and conflict is as urgent as addressing energy security and greenhouse gas emissions," said Jason Morrison, program director at the Pacific Institute and the report’s lead author. "With impacts of climate change on water resources already affecting businesses, this report provides a first-of-its-kind list of key questions companies and investors should be asking – and responding to – in an integrated way."
The report identifies water-related risks specific to eight key industries, including:
* Electric Power: Drought-induced water shortages have already caused power plant shutdowns in Europe, Brazil and the southeast U.S. that led to price spikes and reduced economic growth. The power industry depends heavily on water and accounts for a staggering 39 percent of freshwater withdrawals in the U.S.
* High-Tech: Eleven of the world's 14 largest semiconductor factories are in the Asia-Pacific region, where water scarcity risks are especially severe. IT firms require vast amounts of ultra clean water – Intel and Texas Instruments alone used 11 billion gallons to make silicon chips in 2007. A water-related shutdown at a fabrication facility operated by these firms could result in $100-$200 million in missed revenue during a quarter, or $0.02 or $0.04 per share.
* Beverage: Coca-Cola and PepsiCo bottlers lost their operating licenses in parts of India due to water shortages and all major beverage firms are facing stiff public opposition to new bottling plants Рand to buying bottled drinking water altogether. Nestl̩ Waters has been fighting for five years, for example, to build the country's largest bottling plant in McCloud, CA.
* Agriculture: Reduced water availability is already impacting food commodity prices, as shown by last year's sharp increase in global rice prices triggered by a drought-induced collapse of rice production in Australia. Roughly 70 percent of the water used globally is for agriculture, with as much as 90 percent in developing countries where populations are growing fastest.
The report also identified specific water-related risks for apparel, biotechnology/pharmaceutical, forest products and metals/mining firms.
"This report makes clear that companies and investors can no longer take water for granted," said Anne Stausboll, chief executive officer of the California Public Employees' Retirement System, the nation's largest public pension fund with approximately $170 billion in assets. "As a global investor, we must be mindful of water-related risks in many parts of the world and how climate change will likely exacerbate many of those risks. Disclosure by companies is an important first step in improving transparency around the risks and opportunities associated with water and climate change."
The report also highlights the intensifying conflict between energy use and water availability. With increasing frequency, choosing one of these resources means undermining the other – the other usually being water. For example, the billions of dollars spent to expand corn-based ethanol production in the U.S. and oil sands development in Canada has helped ensure increased fuel supplies, but at the expense of significant water impacts and greenhouse gas emissions that could ultimately limit these ventures in the future.
Despite these looming challenges, the report concludes that businesses and investors are largely unaware of water-related risks or how climate change will likely exacerbate them. Weak corporate disclosure on potential risk exposure and response strategies is especially glaring.

To evaluate and effectively address water risks, companies should take the following actions:
* Measure the company’s water footprint (i.e., water use and wastewater discharge) throughout its entire value chain, including suppliers and product use.
* Assess physical, regulatory and reputational risks associated with its water footprint, and seek to align the evaluation with the company’s energy and climate risk assessments.
* Engage key stakeholders (e.g., local communities, non-governmental organizations, government bodies, suppliers, and employees) as a part of water risk assessment, long-term planning and implementation activities.
* Integrate water issues into strategic business planning and governance structures.
* Disclose and communicate water performance and associated risks.
Similarly, investors should pursue the following steps to better understand potential water-related exposure in their portfolio companies:
* Independently assess companies’ water risk exposure.
* Demand more meaningful corporate water disclosure.
* Encourage companies to incorporate water issues into their climate change strategies.
* Emphasize the business opportunity side of the water challenge.
About Ceres
Ceres is a leading coalition of investors, environmental groups and other public interest groups working with companies to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change. Ceres directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk, a network of 75 institutional investors and financial firms with collective assets totaling nearly $7 trillion focused on the business impacts of climate change. www.ceres.org
About Pacific Institute
The Pacific Institute is a nonprofit research organization in Oakland, California dedicated to protecting our natural world, encouraging sustainable development, and improving global security. Founded in 1987, the Institute provides independent research and policy analysis on issues at the intersection of development, environment, and security and aims to find real-world solutions to problems like water shortages, habitat destruction, global warming, and environmental injustice. www.pacinst.org.
Contact: Peyton Fleming, Ceres, 617-247-0700 x120 or 617-733-6660 (cell); and Nancy Ross, Pacific Institute, 510-251-1600 x106.





Visit the water stocks directory at Investorideas.com and Water-stocks.com
http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp