The speaker calls for a radical rethinking of water issues and management. He introduces the Blue Economy Initiative, a partnership between a water research center, financial institution, and philanthropic organization. Their goal is to catalyze informed decisions and policies by conveying information on water valuation, infrastructure, and virtual water. Their first report found Canada fails to capture water's $8-23 billion value to the economy. Going forward, they will address global water challenges and opportunities for Canada to become a stewardship leader through collaboration.
Beyond Boundaries: Leveraging No-Code Solutions for Industry Innovation
Nicholas Parker - BEI
1. Healthy Waters,
A Prosperous Future
Nicholas Parker
Chair, Blue Economy Initiative
Canadian Water Summit
June 28, 2012
Calgary, Alberta
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2. BOTTOM LINE
We need to radically rethink and change
the way we approach water issues
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3. RETHINK
It’s time to challenge the status quo:
What is the impact and opportunity of the looming
global water scarcity?
How do we surface, understand and address the value of
embedded water?
Is there a new water management paradigm emerging,
such as where treatment is distributed and profitable?
What’s the best way to develop and deploy exportable
excellence?
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4. WHO WE ARE
Partnership initiative:
Centre of Excellence for Canadian
water research
Leading financial institution and
supporter of water issues globally
Philanthropic leader in support of
innovative water policy
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5. WHY – OUR OPPORTUNITIES
Challenge to explain water scarcity here at home.
Water issues go beyond Canada’s borders.
Canada can be of global service.
Opportunities
Bring innovative technologies to market
Enable smart decisions via information technology
Upgrade infrastructure, rethink future needs (low impact, efficient)
Enhance water productivity, close loop on industrial systems
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6. HOW – OUR PURPOSE
Change the dialogue by building
the economic case for sustainability and innovation
Catalyze well-informed decisions,
policies, practices & initiatives
Capitalize on strengths & opportunities, inspiring
local and national action
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7. HOW – OUR PATH
A. Convey Content (via feature reports)
3. Scoping info gaps in valuing water
4. Global scan, Canadian context
5. Investing in innovative water infrastructure
6. Virtual water approach
7. Accounting for water values
B. Convene
C. Catalyze
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8. HOW – 1ST FEATURE REPORT
Running through Our Fingers:
How Canada fails to capture the value of its top asset
By Renzetti, Dupont & Wood
Nov 2011
Two of Canada’s best environmental
economists and an award-winning journalist
revisited economist Andrew Muller’s
1985 analysis to articulate the value of water’s
contribution to the Canadian economy.
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9. 1ST FEATURE REPORT – KEY
POINTS
Water contributes est $8-23B to Canada’s economy
Reality is we do not know.
- Poor understanding of range of values provided by water
- Inadequate reporting, lack info to make good decisions
Meanwhile, we are missing the bus.
- Our competitors are improving their decision-making, and
creating solutions to address the global water crisis
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10. 2nd in Series: Work in Progress
Global Context, Canada’s Role
Water fuels global economy, lifeblood of ecosystems
Growing gap between water supply & demand
- 1 billion people lack access to drinking water (UN 2012)
- 2.7 billion confront severe scarcity at least one mon/yr (Plos One)
- 40-50% higher global water demand by 2030 (McKinsey)
- $35-$40 trillion needed for urgent water infra needs (Boston CG)
Canada must tap into its strengths/opportunities to take
lead role in water stewardship and technology
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12. COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
Cannot do it alone…
Invitation to all those
involved in pioneering
a blue economy…
we need to work to
together and grasp the
opportunities.
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13. CONTACT INFO
www.blue-economy.ca
General Inquiries:
info@blue-economy.ca
Lois Corbett, Manager
lois.corbett@rogers.com
Korice Moir, Coordinator
korice@blue-economy.ca
Twitter: @BlueEconomyca
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Editor's Notes
UN stat - In March, at the World Water Forum, the United Nations released its World Water Development Report 2012. It documented other current deficits—nearly 1 billion people do not have access to improved drinking water. Plos One stat - Plos One online journal published a study by four leading global water specialists that underlined the point in human terms. According to their estimates, almost 2.7 billion people confront severe water scarcity at least one month each year. McKinsey stat - In total—assuming no significant productivity increases and innovation in the supply chain—global demand for water withdrawal in 2030 will be 40% to 50% higher than in 2010. McKinsey & Co. ’s 2011 report, “Resource Revolution,” supplies the slightly lower 2030 estimate—which works out to 6,350 billion cubic metres, up from 4,500 billion cubic metres today (the higher figure, 6,900 billion cubic metres, is from 2030 Water Resources Group). Of that new water demand, McKinsey forecasts 65% will be due to increased agricultural output, 25% from water-intensive industries and the remaining 10% from municipalities. Boston CG stat – According to a 2010 study by the Boston Consulting Group (cited in Deloitte ’s report, “Water tight 2012”), the total cumulative investment required to meet urgent water needs globally is $35 trillion to $40 trillion. Of that, BCG says $16 trillion needs to be spent between now and 2030. Consultant Booz Allen Hamilton, in a separate reports, says the cost by 2030 will be $22 trillion.