Water - Summary and Presentations

We are looking back at the third “Breakfast Inspiration Workshop” with a focus on Water, held on the 13th of June 2023.  

Organized by the NAB in cooperation with the Impact Institute, the Dutch chapter of Impact for Breakfast and EVPA, the workshop was attended by more than 40 impact professionals, including asset owners, asset managers, impact measurements’ experts and advisors. 

 

The Impact Institute, presented a real-life case of a water impact project and its impact throughout the value chain. Then, PGGM Investments gave an insightful view on the need for and the approach used to create impact by investing in Water in public equities with a long-term view. Climate Fund Managers discussed how to invest for climate resilient water and sanitation infrastructure in developing countries and the support that blended finance can add to this. Lastly, Invest International highlighted the urgency of water investments and the consequences of inaction and explained how to develop a water resilience strategy.

 

The Q&A session brought up topics such as the systemic risks in water investments, the importance of teaming up to bring a greater impact, the need of taking into consideration how the water cycle works, the time needed to make an investment in this sector, and how divestment often brings to water scarcity and to a necessity of a better water management. 

A  clear consensus emerged within the audience about the complexity of investing in Water, which does not only relate to SDG 6 but is also interconnected to many others. Water represents a systemic risk just like Climate and Biodiversity, hence, regulators should monitor this risk and make compulsory for financial institutions to cope with it. 

 

Key takeaways: 

• 3 billion people affected by water related natural disasters in the past 20 years 

• 200 billion Euros investments needed in the Water Sector in 40 Countries  

• Water represents a systemic risk and its impact is interconnected to many SDGs 

• Sometimes the biggest impacts are realized in the downstream operations in the supply chain  

• Engage and establish a long-term relationship with the company invested in 

• Quality and quantity of impact data from companies are often imprecise and make comparison challenging 

 

We are glad to provide a platform that supports this type of event for the impact investing community and would like to express our gratitude for their insightful contribution to the speakers: Floor Van Den Elzen and Sven Renon, Alex van der Laan and Daphne Roovers, Jim Brands, Femke Bos and Nanda Aung. 

 

Download the presentations here.