Skip to main content

U.N. Water Rights Ruling Gives Business a Chance to Lead

<p>The U.N. adopted a resolution this week recognizing access to clean water as a fundamental human right in a move that is relevant for all businesses and geographies.</p>

Water issues were in the spotlight on an international level this week with a new United Nations resolution that carries important business implications.

The U.N. adopted a resolution this week recognizing access to clean water as a fundamental human right. The resolution passed with 122 votes, although 41 countries, including the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada and other developed nations, abstained.

Some expressed concern that the declaration may interfere with other international efforts to reach consensus on water rights and nations' mitigation obligations. According to the U.N., roughly 884 million people lack access to safe drinking water, while more than 2.6 billion have no access to basic sanitation.

Although the resolution is nonbinding, its relevance extends to all industries and geographies, according to Faris Natour, director of Research & Innovation at BSR, where leads the organization's business and human rights program.

"This declaration that water (access) is a human right is a good thing for business," Natour said in a telephone interview. "One of the reasons it is good is it provides clarity about what is expected from companies."

Natour pointed to the growing consensus on an emerging standard for corporate social responsibility in relation to human rights.

"It puts responsibility on companies for non-infringement," Natour said. "They have to ensure in their operations they are not infringing on human rights, in this case the human right to access of clean water."

The standard calls for companies to proactively perform due diligence to ensure they are respecting human rights through their policies and management systems. They must also periodically assess human rights as a company and practice transparency by measuring and reporting impacts.

In addition to raising the profile of water issues for stakeholders, the declaration also gives companies an opportunity to lead, Natour said. Some big-name corporations have already positioned themselves as leaders on water issues, such as PepsiCo, Suez and Intel, which have adopted water policies that respect the human right to safe water.

"It's promising and exciting to me to see we have companies who see this as the UN and governments catching up to them," Natour said. "Hopefully this (declaration) will inspire more companies to address their water impacts."

The issue also provides companies with inspiration to innovate, Natour said.

"Companies can look at water scarcity and lack of access to clean water not just as a challenge, but an opportunity to innovate new technologies and provide value by using less water as a company, or maybe no water at all," Natour said.

Natour views the declaration as the easy part; what's needed now is action.

"It's very clear if we don't do anything to make significant progress, the declaration is meaningless," he said. "It is most important to see action, for businesses to lead and work with government and civil society, engage with the communities where they operate, continue to innovate to provide value but doing so using less water and not pollute water, and to ensure the communities where they operate enjoy the human right to clean water and sanitation."

Image CC licensed by Flickr user hoyasmeg.

More on this topic