Unified Metrics Library - Exposure to areas of high water stress

Helper question

Was the company located in areas of high water stress without a water management policy, during the period?

Summary

Exposure to areas of high water stress refers to activities and/or operations affecting regions with water stress. Water stress is the ability, or lack thereof, to meet human and ecological demand for freshwater. It considers physical scarcity, water quality, and the accessibility of water.

Unit

Boolean: Yes or No

Description

Areas of high water stress means regions, where the percentage of total water withdrawn, is high (40-80 %) or extremely high (greater than 80 %) in the World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Water Risk Atlas tool "Aqueduct"

You can check if your operations are located in or near high-water stress areas. - Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas - Aqueduct Country Rankings

Regulatory definition

According to the (EU) 2022/1288 of 6 April 2022, it is defined as "Share of investments in investee companies with sites located in areas of high-water stress without a water management policy"

Sources

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1288 of 6 April 2022 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to regulatory technical standards specifying the details of the content and presentation of the information in relation to the principle of do no significant harm
ANNEX I (Table 2, Indicators applicable to investments in investee companies, Indicator 8)

Examples

If you have activities in or near a high-water stress area, regions where the percentage of total water withdrawn is 40-80% or greater than 80% according to WRI’s Aqueduct tool.

Emissions to water

Total water recycled