MAY 2023

HIGHLIGHTS

New Publication Highlights Innovative Co-Funding Models for Colorado River Basin Water Action

The Colorado River Basin faces severe water supply constraints, jeopardizing the region's economic, social, and ecological well-being. What role can corporate water stewardship play in addressing these challenges? And what innovative co-funding models are available to boost impacts?

By co-funding with existing and emerging funding mechanisms across public and private sectors, corporations can expand their impacts beyond offsetting water use for specific business practices and find pathways to invest in water benefits at new and expanded scales. With an unprecedented level of federal funding for water and environmental projects currently available, corporations now have immediate co-funding opportunities.   

The Pacific Institute is proud to launch our latest report ‘Joining Forces: Innovative Co-Funding to Enhance Corporate Water Stewardship Impact in the Colorado River Basin’ developed in partnership with AMP Insights. This report explores the power of co-funding to increase the impact of corporate water stewardship in the Colorado River Basin and beyond. 

Pacific Institue Team Gathers for All-Staff Retreat

This week, the Pacific Institute team from around the world gathered in the San Francisco Bay Area for an All-Staff Retreat.

Throughout the week, our team engaged in knowledge-sharing sessions, a beautiful hike in Muir Woods, collaborative workshops, strategic planning, and a 35th Anniversary Celebration.

We believe that fostering a culture of innovation, adaptability, and resilience is crucial in achieving our mission and ensuring a water-resilient future for all.

NEW BLOG

Moving Toward Equitable, Climate-Resilient Water Systems in Rural Communities in the United States

Researchers from the Pacific Institute, Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP), and Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN) have teamed up to assess climate-resilient water systems in rural communities across the US.

This collaboration aims to co-identify and co-design strategies and solutions with residents and leaders in rural communities. By providing technical assistance, training, and decision-support resources, the partnership intends to support rural communities in addressing the challenges they face due to climate change. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pacific Institute's Michael Cohen Issues Statement Regarding Joint Colorado River Agreement

In response to Arizona, California, and Nevada’s joint Colorado River agreement, Pacific Institute Senior Researcher Michael Cohen has issued a statement.

“The joint agreement by Arizona, California, and Nevada to conserve an additional 3.0 million acre-feet through 2026 – with 1.5 MAF of that in the next nineteen months – is a welcome and much-needed step toward protecting the Colorado River system. However, this agreement offers just a small fraction of the reductions the Commissioner demanded last year and will not be sufficient to protect the system should we experience a return of the extremely low runoff seen in 2020, 2021, and 2022."

100 Priority Basins List Launched on the Water Action Hub

The "100 Priority Basins List" is a list of worldwide basins which includes those with the highest level of opportunity for collective action from an economic and shared water risk perspective.

The 100 basins list is featured on the Water Action Hub as part of a new Search by Basin feature that takes a basin-centered approach to facilitating collective action by allowing visitors to quickly select a basin on the global map and displaying the projects, partners, and organizations listed on the Hub.

The Water Action Hub is an initiative of the CEO Water Mandate - a partnership between the Pacific Institute and the UN Global Compact.

UN 2023 Water Conference Recap

Relive the moments from the historic 2023 UN Water Conference in our latest video which showcases our role in providing science-based research and convening partners across sectors to forge solutions for global water challenges.

The Pacific Institute is leading efforts to ensure momentum created during the UN Water Conference leads to action. Learn more about how the Business Leaders' Open Call for Water Action launched at the UN Water Conference has already engaged 70 companies with operations in more than 130 countries to act on water.

Coming Soon: The Three Ages of Water

Dr. Peter Gleick, Pacific Institute Senior Fellow and Co-Founder is releasing a new book, The Three Ages of Water, on June 13.

In The Three Ages of Water, Gleick guides us through the long, fraught history of our relationship to this precious resource. Water has shaped civilizations and empires, and driven centuries of advances in science and technology—from agriculture to aqueducts, steam power to space exploration—and progress in health and medicine.

EVENTS

Upcoming Salton Sea Dust Emissions Webinar

On June 13 at 12 PM PT, join a distinguished panel of experts for a robust 90-minute conversation about Salton Sea dust emissions. Dr. Alexander Frie of the University of Minnesota will moderate an expert panel including Dr. Amato Evan of UC San Diego, Brian Schmid of Formation Environmental, and Steven Garcia of the California Department of Water Resources. 

The webinar will improve understanding of air quality, dust composition, the emissivity of different soils, and predictive modeling of future emissions from the Salton Sea lakebed and provide an opportunity for discussion among agency staff, stakeholders, and the public.

Upcoming 20th Annual Water Conservation Showcase

On June 15, Pacific Institute Senior Researcher Dr. Sonali Abraham will present on a panel “Finding Leaks in the Haystack” at the 20th Annual Water Conservation Showcase in San Ramon, California.

This panel will discuss a Pacific Institute-led project to install toilet leak detection technology in affordable housing properties across California. The project is paid for by a combination of corporate donations and water utility rebates. 

IN THE NEWS

AP News

Breakthrough Proposal Would Aid Drought-Stricken Colorado River as 3 Western States Offer Cuts

Center for Strategic and International Studies

The Ripple Effect of Water Insecurity

The Good Men Project:

Addressing America's Water Crisis Could Also Cut Carbon Emissions

GreenBiz:

Who Solves Super Wicked Water Problems?

Stateline:

Even After a Wet Winter, California Is Preparing for the Next Drought

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