The climate problem is putting enormous strain on the world's water systems.
Over 5 billion people will live in water-stressed areas by 2050.
Innovative businesses are developing answers, but more investment is required.
The Zero Water Waste Challenge, a component of UpLink and HCL's Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative, seeks creative solutions to increase freshwater conservation around the world.
Water quality issues have been called a "invisible water crisis" by the World Bank due to a lack of appropriate monitoring and difficult detection. Traditionally, media attention has been centred on water quantity: either too much water, which causes flooding, or too little water, which causes droughts. Water quality, on the other hand, receives far less attention. Its impacts are more widespread, powerful, and unpredictable than previously thought, needing rapid and targeted attention.
Water is at the heart of the climate catastrophe, no matter how you look at it. As severe water quality issues persist in some locations, the crisis is impeding the attainment of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Over 3.5 billion people worldwide face some form of water scarcity. To address this, significant investments in clean water infrastructure across the entire value chain are required.
Fresh water necessitates new thoughts.
The good news is that inventive companies all across the world are working to improve water supply, reduce waste, improve quality, and expand reach. Innovation in areas ranging from green hydrogen to desalination is also contributing to a stronger economic case for clean water technology. While the task remains difficult, a world in which all humans and natural environments have access to safe and consistent water is no longer unthinkable.
Traditional water management methods have been hampered by resource constraints and financial volatility, which are typically funded by taxes or donations. Geopolitical instability, regional inequality, and environmental deterioration have all inhibited positive and long-term outcomes. Recognising that this business-as-usual approach is yielding limited outcomes has led to the notion that hurdles to successful planetary stewardship must be addressed as soon as practicable. This is where the private sector, particularly start-ups, may be extremely beneficial. As a result, a new generation of entrepreneurs has emerged who are solely focused on solving water-related problems. The good news is that their work has been recognised by both governments and global agencies.
Organisations such as the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the United Nations, and others are paying careful attention to the "water innovation" market. They are advancing the viewpoint that fresh water necessitates new ideas and immediate action, and that the private sector, particularly startups, is ideally positioned to move fast to create and execute technology-driven solutions to the world's water problems. This will aid in achieving three strategic goals: maintaining sustainability, satisfying fundamental requirements, and taking into account long-term influences affecting the external environment.
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