Business In The World Of Water

Water, in its many guises, has always played a powerful role inshaping Southeast Asian histories, cultures, societies and economies.This volume, the rewritten results of an international workshop, with participants from 8 countries, contains 13 essays, representing a broad range of approaches to the study of Southeast Asia with water as the central theme.

More than a billion people cannot get safe drinking water; half the world's population does not have adequate sanitation; within a generation over three billion will be suffering from water stress. This text analyzes the issues in this crisis of management and shows how water can be used effectively and productively. The key to sustainable water resources is an integrated approach. The authors assert that careful planning and concerted action can make the fundamental changes needed and that the implications of not dealing with the crisis are immense. The book comes with downloadable resources containing background research and scenarios.

This book pursues a comprehensive approach so as to arrive at a better understanding of the implications of climate change on sustainable development, focusing on the perspective of water. Climate change is one of today’s most pressing global issues and will become increasingly important in the decades to come, as societies will feel its pervasive impacts in many aspects of their lives. Given that the majority of these climate change impacts will be felt through the medium of water, the book explores the interrelationships and inter-linkages between water, climate change and sustainable development.

[The report] offers three stories about the role of business in relation to the growing issue of water in the world. These stories do not try to cover everything but attempt to bring to life a limited number of alternative future environments that will challenge our economic viability, social legitimacy, and global fitness in the marketplace. H = Hydro is the story of efficiency (more value per drop and more drops for less). In Hydro, there is a strategic advantage to being the first to market with the flexible, right-choice solutions rather than being locked out. 2 = Rivers is the story of security - enough water of sufficient quality for both the haves and the have-nots. In Rivers business cannot choose to operate only in the economic realm, which is just one side of the management challenge, if it wants water security. O = Ocean is the story of interconnectivity - accounting for the sustainability of the whole system. In the world of Ocean, business realizes that it cannot help particular communities survive and prosper at the expense of causing water stress elsewhere.

This book "is an excellent argument for private management of humankind's most valuable natural resource. Its thesis is both provocative and suggestive - water is scarce in developing countries because of poor management, not because it is truly in short supply. Water policy affects the future of millions of people across the globe. Segerfeldt offers an efficient, sure, and safe alternative for this future." - back cover.

The third edition of this book introduces business ethics concepts, tools and theories, then applies them to key stakeholder groups. It takes a global approach in a market dominated by US texts. The accessible style and thorough pedagogy ensure the book is both student- and teacher-friendly.