Thirty-one global investors, including BNP Paribas Asset Management, Coller Capital and SEB Asset Management, have signed an open letter to policymakers, urging them to address the water crisis.
The investors, which represent a collective $1.7trn in assets under management, cite growing concern regarding declining levels of fresh water.
The letter makes the case that given conducive policy conditions, private capital can help address the challenge: “Strong political commitment and the development of an enabling environment can accelerate and scale up private capital flows towards the water secure transition. Pursuing water resilience objectives will create significant investment opportunities in clean technologies, green infrastructure and other assets, products and services.”
The letter, which frames water risk as part of the investors’ fiduciary responsibility, comes ahead of the United Nations 2023 Water Conference scheduled to take place on 22-24 March in New York.
