HEALTHY WATERS,
A PROSPEROUS FUTURE
Nicholas Parker
Chair, Blue Economy Initiative
Canadian Water Summit
June 28, 2012
Calgary, Alberta
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BOTTOM LINE
We need to radically rethink and change
the way we approach water issues
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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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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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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
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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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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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HOW – OUR PATH
A. Convey Content (via feature reports)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Scoping info gaps in valuing water
Global scan, Canadian context
Investing in innovative water infrastructure
Virtual water approach
Accounting for water values
B. Convene
C. Catalyze
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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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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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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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VISION
Canada supports a prosperous future
as a global leader in water stewardship
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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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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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