Pacific Institute Launches Ambitious New Strategic Plan to Accelerate Water Resilience Solutions | |
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The Pacific Institute has unveiled a new strategic plan through 2026 to accelerate action on water resilience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. We’re also thrilled to announce a $1 million donation from Board Chair Sally Liu to jumpstart a fundraising effort to expand our global impact through 2030.
As climate change intensifies the water crisis, the plan focuses on four Impact Areas: water equity, water efficiency and reuse, nature-based solutions, and corporate water stewardship. The strategy positions the Pacific Institute to achieve its 2030 goal to “catalyze the transformation to water resilience in the face of climate change.”
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Gaps in Laws and Policies Leave Water and Sanitation Systems Vulnerable to Harmful Climate Impacts in Frontline Communities Across the US | |
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The Pacific Institute and the Center for Water Security and Cooperation (CWSC) released a new report, “Law and Policies for Equitable, Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation Systems in the United States.” The research examines federal, Tribal, state, and local laws and policies governing centralized drinking water and wastewater systems, as well as decentralized onsite drinking water and sanitation systems. The report underscores that existing laws and policies do not recognize water and sanitation as human rights, threatening to widen the water access gap.
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CEO Water Mandate Launches New Net Positive Water Impact Guidance | |
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The CEO Water Mandate has created a comprehensive set of tools to help you implement Net Positive Water Impact (NPWI) as part of your Corporate Water Stewardship strategy.
NPWI is an initiative for companies to ensure their water contributions exceed their impacts in water-stressed regions. It addresses water availability, quality, and accessibility through site-specific impacts, company footprint, and basin-level collective action, aligning with other water stewardship approaches and supporting SDG 6.
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California Water Resilience Gathers for Second Annual Forum | |
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Business leaders from across sectors came together to advance solutions to the state’s mounting water challenges at the California Water Resilience Initiative's (CWRI) second annual forum. With an estimated 10 percent reduction in water supply projected by 2040, the forum highlighted the growing importance of corporate water stewardship as a critical driver for building water resilience.
The California Water Resilience Initiative is a private-sector initiative based in the United States that accelerates collective action between the private, public, and non-profit sectors to achieve a water-resilient future for California.
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Pacific Institute’s Michael Cohen Speaks on Rapidly Shrinking Salton Sea | |
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This month, Pacific Institute Senior Researcher and Salton Sea Expert Michael Cohen highlighted the urgent need for accelerated action to protect environmental and public health in the Salton Sea region. While applauding IID’s extraordinary water conservation efforts, Cohen stressed that “the quick and dramatic decline of the Salton Sea since the implementation of these additional water conservation efforts points to the need for accelerated and additional efforts to protect environmental and public health in the region.”
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Pacific Institute Commemorates “Imagine a Day Without Water” | |
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In partnership with Corvias Infrastructure Solutions, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, and UNC Environmental Finance Center, our latest blog in a three-part series explores how water efficiency and conservation can support affordability across the United States.
Co-authored by Morgan Shimabuku, Christine Curtis, Heather Cooley, Grace Harrison, Gregory Pierce, and Sri Vedachalam, the blog highlights key solutions such as developing inclusive programs for low-income communities and fostering cross-sector partnerships. The blog was launched last week to commemorate the US Water Alliance’s #ImagineADayWithoutWater campaign.
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Take the WASH Stewardship Toolbox and Roadmap Survey | |
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If you have struggled to know where to start with your WASH program, what to do next, or which resources to use, we are developing resources to help you.
The CEO Water Mandate’s initiative, WASH4Work, and WaterAid are developing a roadmap and toolbox to guide you. The tool will help you define appropriate WASH goals for your company and take action using a suite of existing tools and relevant resources. To make sure that we are focusing on what is most valuable for you, WASH4Work and WaterAid are requesting your input via a 7-minute survey. To take the survey, please click below.
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Shannon Spurlock to Present in Upcoming Webinar
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Next week, Pacific Institute Senior Researcher of Public Policy and Practice Uptake Shannon Spurlock will present in the webinar, “Establishing a Framework for Integrating Stormwater Capture into Water Supply Planning" in partnership with the Water Research Foundation.
The webinar seeks to inform and guide water sector professionals in evaluating the potential value and feasibility of tapping stormwater as a source of supply and navigating the complex process of working with other utilities, regulators, elected officials, and relevant stakeholders to move ideas into action.
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Dr. Gregg Brill to Present at COP16
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Pacific Institute Senior Researcher Dr. Gregg Brill will be presenting at COP16 in Cali, Columbia.
His presentations will focus on “Unlocking Biodiversity MRV,” “Reimagining Nature,” and “Non-State Actors Advancing Nature-Based Solutions for Biodiversity and Resilience Action.”
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WASH Benefits Accounting Framework Guidance for Use Webinar | |
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Join the WASH4Work team for a webinar on October 30 at 8 AM PT.
During the webinar, participants will learn about the WASH Benefits Accounting Framework, the 4-step process guidance, application insights from companies & partners, and WASH project scenarios.
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Dr. Bruk Berhanu Featured at WaterSmart Innovations Conference
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Recently, Pacific Institute Senior Researcher Dr. Bruk Berhanu was featured at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
His sessions featured “Untapped Potential: A National Assessment of the Potential for Urban Water Efficiency” and “Reimagining Albuquerque’s Landscapes: Non-Functional Turf Transformation - Geospatial Analysis.”
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Giuliana Chaves Moreira Featured at 10th GEF Biennial International Waters Conference
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Last month, Pacific Institute Research Associate Giuliana Chaves Moreira was featured at the 10th GEF Biennial International Waters Conference (IWC10) in Punta Del Este, Uruguay.
Her session, “How to leverage NBS to enhance synergies and scalability for Transboundary Water Resilience?” highlighted the business case for investment in Nature-based solutions and is co-convened with UNDP, UNIDO, and TNC.
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Shannon Spurlock Featured at WEFTEC | |
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Pacific Institute Senior Researcher of Public Policy and Practice Uptake Shannon Spurlock was recently featured at WEFTEC in New Orleans, LA.
Her session highlighted “Green versus Grey OR Green and Grey: Advancing a Holistic Approach When Considering Decentralized and Distributed Water Solutions" and was co-convened with Rick Warner from Jacobs.
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The world's most influential media outlets frequently turn to the Pacific Institute to provide expert, science-based insights on water challenges and solutions. Here are just a few of the media highlights from the past month. | |
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