
两个小孩在兴奋的玩水
Why companies should care about the human right to water
为什么企业要关心水人权
This month I am compelled to stay on the topic of water’s cost and value for several reasons. First, while discussions of the “full cost” or “true cost” of water are helpful, they do not capture the complexity of all of the issues related to the value of water. I also believe the human right to water needs to be part of this discussion.
因为若干原因,我不得不让本月讨论话题停留在水资源的成本和价值上。首先,虽然水资源“全成本”与“真实成本”的讨论是非常有帮助,但是并不能全面了解水资源相关问题的复杂性。同时,我也认为水权也是这个话题需要讨论的一部分内容。
When evaluating the impact of water-related risks on business value, companies will analyze and, if feasible, quantify regulatory and reputational risks. Once physical risks — water quantity and quality — are included, companies can get close to an understanding of their value at risk.
当评估水资源相关风险对商业价值的影响时,如果有可能的话,企业可以对水资源相关风险和自身面临的信誉危机进行量化分析。当评估引入物理风险(水质和水量)参数时,企业就能够对风险价值有更进一步的了解。
But what this evaluation does not include is a consideration of stakeholders, in terms of how they value water and the cultural and social values associated with water. Not only do stakeholders within a watershed care about how a company values water but stakeholders outside a watershed also can care.
但是这个评估并没有加入利益相关者的诉求,关于他们如何评估水资源以及水资源相关的文化价值、社会价值。不仅仅是一个流域内的利益相关者关心企业是如何评估水资源,流域外的利益相关者也同样关心。
Stakeholders care about water and very likely will value it differently from companies. They also can have different values and cultural norms regarding water.
因为利益相关者对水资源有不同的价值与文化上的规范,所以他们关心的水资源问题很有可能与企业对水资源的评估有很大的不同。
Taking this further is the “human right to water” and how it relates to water pricing. Recent discussion in the media has left the impression that these two issues are in conflict. In fact, the pricing of water — according to its value — is not in conflict with the human right to water.
往大一点说就是“水权”以及它与水价有何关联。最近媒体上的讨论给人留下的印象是这两者是冲突的。实际上,按照的水价值来判断,水价与水权是不存在冲突的。
First, here is a little background on the human right to water.
首先,需要说一些关于水权的背景知识。
In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing the human right to water and sanitation. The resolution declared clean drinking water and sanitation to be essential to the realization of all human rights. It also called upon states and the international community to help countries, especially developing nations, to provide clean and affordable drinking water and sanitation through funding, capacity building and technology transfer.”
2010年6月,联合国大会通过了享有清洁的饮用水和卫生设施是一项人权的决议,决议称清洁饮用水和卫生设施对实现人员是至关重要的。联合国大会还呼吁成员国和国际组织提供资金、基础建设和科技转让,以帮助水资源缺乏和卫生设施环境恶劣的发展中国家,向所有人提供清洁和负担得起的饮用水和卫生设施。
In November 2002, the U.N. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights proclaimed “the human right to water is indispensable for leading a life in human dignity. It is a prerequisite for the realization of other human rights.” It also defined the right to water as “the right of everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable and physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses.”
2002年11月,联合国经济、社会和文化权利委员会第二十九届会议(2002年)宣告“水权是一项不可缺少的人权,是人有尊严地生活的必要条件。水权也是实现其他人权的一个前提条件。”,会议同时将水权定义为:是保证人人能为个人和家庭生活得到充足、安全、可接受、便于汲取、价格合理的供水的权力。
联合国人权高级专员办事处有关实现饮水和卫生设施权的文书
《第15号一般性意见:水权》 (《经济、社会、文化权利国际公约》第十一和第十二条)
Water pricing, the business value of water and the human right to water are all issues that businesses now face, particularly in emerging economies. Several companies have integrated these issues into their water stewardship strategy and have benefited by reducing water-related risks and accruing brand value.
水价,水的商业价值和水人权是所有企业,特别是新兴经济面临问题。一些企业已经将这些问题融入企业的水资源管理策略,通过降低水资源相关风险获得效益并树立起品牌价值。
PepsiCo is one example of a company that has acknowledged the human right to water. This acknowledgement aligns well with its sustainability strategy of “Performance with Purpose.”
百事可乐就是其中一个案例,这是一家认可水人权的企业,这种认识与这家企业实施的“百事公司的承诺”可持续发展战略是相一致的。
In 2009 PepsiCo was the first publicly traded, multinational corporation to create a policy in support of the human right to water. PepsiCo describes its commitment in the following manner:
百事公司是2009年首家上市的公司,这家跨国公司制定了支持水人权的承诺,描述如下:
“We at PepsiCo respect the human rights recognized by the countries in which we operate, and will not take any action that would undermine a state’s obligation to its citizens to protect and fulfill the Human Right to Water and, absent of a country’s Human Right to Water Policy, we commit to operate within the principles of the Human Right to Water Policy as defined by the United Nations.”
“我们尊重所在国认可的人权,不会采取任何行为破坏所在国保护和满足国民水人权职责,执行所在国的水人权政策,我们致力于在联合国定义的水人权政策的原则范围内从事经营。”
PepsiCo Global Human Rights Statement
PepsiCo Water Stewardship
While our discussion of full cost, pricing and value are essential in crafting a water stewardship strategy, we must acknowledge that water is unique. It has economic, environmental, social and cultural dimensions, all of which must be addressed.
虽然我们讨论的全成本、价格和价值在制定水资源管理策略中是非常重要的,但是我们必须承认水资源是唯一的。水资源有它的经济、环境、社会和文化上的纬度,在制定策略时这些都是必须要妥善处理。
Companies that only focus on a subset of these dimensions may have an incomplete view of the value and values of water and can be exposed to unexpected risks.
只关注水资源某一纬度的企业无法全面了解水资源的价值,可能会面临意想不到的风险。
来源:Why companies should care about the human right to water
作者:Will Sarni

Will Sarni
Founder and CEO of Water Foundry
作者(Will Sarni)为纪念2013年世界水资源日,GreenBiz官方网站发布了《Liquid Assets》月刊专栏,用于探讨水资源的商业问题以及在当今日益受限环境中企业应对与水相关风险的方法。
《Liquid Assets》月刊专栏网址:《Liquid Assets》