Water Risk

The World Economic Forum listed “Water Crisis” as the fifth biggest risk in its Global Risks Report, 2020—only behind (1) Climate Action Failure, (2) Weapons of Mass Destruction, (3) Biodiversity Loss, and (4) Extreme Weather. All but one have a direct link to water.

Recent Analysis

Spain’s Blackouts Strain Water Utilities

Storm Boris Tests Central Europe Flood Control

Water for High Tech: Growth Opportunities in North America’s Scaling Semiconductor and Data Center Industries

EYDAP Turns to Reuse for Attica Water Security

Microsoft Positions as AI Enabler for Water

U.S. Stormwater Infrastructure Market: Key Drivers, Competitive Shifts & Investment Outlook, 2024–2030

Water on Trial:

SCOTUS and the Clean Water Act

Harmful Algal Blooms:

Drinking Water Systems Impacts, Treatment Solutions, and Market Sizing

France PFAS Ban Advances Europe Remediation

EU Struggles to Enforce Wastewater Regulations While Expanding Scope

3M Windfall for Impacted PFAS Water Systems

Read more research on water quality

Key Research Questions

Which water stressed countries are investing the most in alternative water supplies?

How are leading companies’ addressing water risk through their corporate sustainability targets?

Which U.S. cities have the most ambitious climate action plans?

How have water-related climate events changed over time?

Water Risk Data

25 countries

face extremely high water stress every year

US$70 trillion

in GDP will be exposed to high water stress by 2050

US$301 billion

needed annually by 2030 to adapt water infrastructure to climate change

96%

of Europe’s land area has become drier due to human-driven climate change

Talk to our water experts about water risk