Business for Nature, the World Economic Forum and World Business Council for Sustainable Development have developed new guidance for a nature-positive future across 12 sectors.

An overview of the key impacts, dependencies and priority actions for each sector is available, supporting business to identify and implement relevant, impactful actions for nature.

One of the sectors is Water utilities and services, since “water utilities and services are at the heart of the world’s response to the interconnected nature and climate crises”. The sector report outlines 5 priority actions towards a nature-positive future:

1. Avoid sourcing freshwater in water-stressed regions and areas important to biodiversity; and reduce unsustainable freshwater use
2. Avoid and reduce water pollution
3. Avoid and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
4. Restore and regenerate habitats and ecosystems
5. Transform the sector through circularity, partnerships and policy

The sector actions complement the guidance developed by the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). SBTN and TNFD focus on supporting businesses in assessing, committing and disclosing on their nature-related impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities by delivering target-setting methods and a risk & disclosure framework respectively. These sector actions are built on the assessment of typical impacts and dependencies for each sector and support companies in transforming their business activity to meet their nature-related commitments and contribute to a nature-positive world.