WSAA has reaffirmed its commitment to the United Nations Global Compact and to the ten principles in relation to human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, which underpin the accord. The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative and has established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The water industry provides essential services, and we have a tremendous responsibility to support productive, thriving communities. The SDGs offer a unique opportunity for the urban water industry to come together, learn from and contribute to international experience and make a significant positive impact on communities.
In addition, the water sector is recognised under SDG 6: clean water and sanitation. Goal 6 highlights the fundamental role of the water industry’s core operations and its contributions to future prosperity both locally and globally.
Since the release of our paper Global Goals for Local Communities: Urban water advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals in August 2017 we have been working to support and promote the SDGs in partnership with utilities, key stakeholders and governments.
As of June 2022, 25 WSAA members have signed onto our SDG commitment, and at least seven utilities have signed up individually to the UN Global Compact Network.
Importantly, while SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) is our industry’s core business and a key driver to inspire the industry in promoting and advancing the Goals, the industry contributes to the realisation of a broad range of SDGs. The urban water industry’s increasing role in generating clean energy, progress and commitments towards Net Zero emissions, and its part in the circular economy now help to further support SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), among others.
Between 2020 and 2022 we released 11 major reports that assist our members to deliver across many of the SDGs, demonstrating continued industry commitment.
These include:
- Integrated Water Management: Principles and Best Practice for Water Utilities
- Published: Oct 2020
- SDG alignment: Clean Water and Sanitation (6), Sustainable Cities and Communities (11)
- Discussion Paper: A Sustainable Development Goals Framework for driving sustainability outcomes for urban water utilities
- Published: Dec 2020
- SDG alignment: All
- Towards Resilience: Climate Change and the Urban Water Industry in Australia and New Zealand
- Published: Oct 2021
- SDG Alignment: Climate Action (13), Affordable and Clean Energy (7), Sustainable Cities and Communities (11), Partnerships (17)
- Water fuelling the path to a hydrogen future: The role of the urban water industry in Australia and New Zealand's renewable energy future
- Published: Oct 2021
- SDG alignment: Climate Action (13), Affordable and Clean Energy (7), Sustainable Cities and Communities (11), Partnerships (17)
WSAA Circular Economy papers:
- Transitioning the water industry with the circular economy (Published Oct 2020)
- Circular Economy Action Plan (Published March 2022)
- SDG alignment: Clean Water and Sanitation (6), Affordable and Clean Energy (7), Decent Work and Economic Growth (8), Sustainable Cities and Communities (11), Responsible Consumption and Production (12), Climate Action (13), Life Below Water (14), Life On Land (15)
- SDG alignment: Clean Water and Sanitation (6), Affordable and Clean Energy (7), Decent Work and Economic Growth (8), Sustainable Cities and Communities (11), Responsible Consumption and Production (12), Climate Action (13), Life Below Water (14), Life On Land (15)
- Willingness to pay for carbon abatement and co-benefits in the Australian urban water sector
- Published: March 2022.
- SDG alignment– SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 17 (Partnerships)
- Water industry mental health framework
- Published Oct 2020.
- SDG alignment – SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing)
- All options on the table: urban water supply options for Australia
- Published: Sep 2020.
- SDG alignment – SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
- National good practice operational guidelines for bushfire management for the Australian water industry
- Published: June 2020.
- SDG alignment – SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water)
Along with recognising future challenges like urban growth and climate change, WSAA continues to advocate for a new National Water Initiative (NWI) and for the Sustainable Development Goals to be considered in the intended outcomes of the new NWI.
The recent Federal election has brought to power a Labor government that has indicated they are willing to work towards a new NWI, so the coming years may yield further opportunities for the SDGs to shape the work of the water sector through this avenue.
29 Jun 2022
