Experts Gather to Assess the Impact of Water Crisis on Businesses at CSR Asia Summit 2015

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- CSR Asia Summit 2015, the annual leading conference on corporate social responsibility in Asia, will be taking the lead to address one of the global developmental issues caused by climate change and rising sea levels -- water crisis.

The World Economic Forum's Global Risks 2014 report ranked water crises^[1] as the third highest risk of concern to global development. Significant proportions of Asian coastal areas are highly vulnerable to flooding resulting from climate change and sea-level rise.

"Water scarcity has been a key concern for Singapore since independence and the government has been actively seeking solutions to address these issues. Similarly, Malaysia also feels the heat of the prolonged dry spell in Southeast Asia," said Dr. Richard Welford, Chairman and founder of CSR Asia.

"Areas in Malaysia including Selangor and Klang Valley have faced water shortage issues, with below average water level monitored at these dams. This water scarcity could pose nationwide crises if no measures are in place," added Dr. Welford.

Water shortage becoming growth risk for business

The impact of the water crisis does not affect the local stakeholders of these countries solely.  According to CDP Global Water Report 2014^[2], 70% of respondents reported that water poses a substantial risk to their business. Corporations that do not employ water management face economic losses and risks as well as water shortages which affect business operations.

While a large number of Asian companies have implemented programs to tackle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and other environmental impacts of their operations, similar efforts to conserve, manage or obtain water are found to be lacking.

This is further supported by findings from the 2014 Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking, where less than one fifth (17%) of companies demonstrated water management programmes. These included strategies for water reuse and recycling, along with targets for reduction of water use with deadlines. Lack of water management efforts by corporations will thus affect the nation's economy adversely.

CSR Asia Summit 2015 -- where industry experts and business leaders gather

At one of the CSR Asia Summit 2015 sessions, industry experts and business leaders will assess how water scarcity and deteriorating water quality could have a lasting effect upon all businesses. The potential sustainability risks to business due to water shortage and negative impacts of water crisis on local stakeholders, call for corporations to benchmark sustainability performance and strive for improvement in water management issues.

"Being in Asia which is home to more than 60% of the world's population, it is important for corporations to work together to address these pressing concerns. The CSR Asia Summit 2015 is a great platform for corporations to discuss sustainable business strategies that can add value to their businesses, community and society. We hope that the exchange of ideas between participants will lead to innovative business solutions presented to address world challenges," said Dr. Welford.

The CSR Asia Summit 2015 will take place from 7 to 8 October 2015, at Royale Chulan Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The title for this year's summit is Strategic Value Creation, and it will look into ways business strategies can bring shared value to business, community and society.

Three themes will be covered in this year's summit: Development Challenges, Human Resources and Workplaces, and The Environment and Sustainability. The results of the 2015 Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking will also be announced at the Summit on 7 October 2015. This sustainability ranking aims to trigger the thought process amongst Asian corporates to identify and address sustainability issues that are most relevant to their business and local stakeholders.

For more information on CSR Asia Summit 2015, please visit
http://www.csr-asia.com/summit2015/index.php
For more information on CSR Asia, please visit http://www.csr-asia.com/
Follow CSR Asia on Twitter: @CSR_Asia
Follow CSR Asia onLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/482974

About CSR Asia Summit

CSR Asia Summit is an annual leading conference on corporate social responsibility in Asia. Since 2007, CSR Asia has brought together hundreds of sustainability professionals and thought leaders to discuss cutting edge issues and share their experiences.

The two-day event combines a packed programme of speakers and panel discussions covering a wide range of relevant topics, and also provides excellent networking opportunities. CSR Asia also runs an additional day of optional capacity building courses prior to the Summit. 

The CSR Asia Summit is attended and supported by many leading global companies, NGOs and academia. In addition, the event is held at a different location in Asia each year to provide local companies and organisations with a platform to build awareness of the challenges and opportunities specific to their country.

About the Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking

The ranking, now in its second year, is a joint initiative between Channel NewsAsia, CSR Asia and Sustainalytics, and identifies and celebrates regional leaders in corporate sustainability. The rankinglists the Top 100 sustainable companies in Asia and highlights the Top 20 Asian companies, as well as the Top 3 companies in each economy. Territories covered in the 2015 ranking include China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. The 2015 rankings will be launched at the annual CSR Asia Summit on 7^th October 2015 at the Royale Chulan Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

For media enquiries, please contact: