There isn’t a substance on the planet that’s as elementary to life as water, says Chong Hin Koh.
Regardless of how vital water is to each particular person, lifeform, and residing organism on Earth – too many take it without any consideration till it’s too late.
It is a trigger for concern, Koh provides, noting that society can’t afford to take a seat on its palms for for much longer in addressing water-related points.
“Water shortage is among the most urgent water challenges – particularly in Asia,” mentioned Koh, vice chairman, World Lifecycle Providers, Rising Markets, at water know-how firm Xylem.
“There shall be a 40 per cent shortfall between water demand and provide by 2030 in Southeast Asia alone, in response to estimates by the Asian Improvement Financial institution. This isn’t solely a problem for our area however for the planet.”
Entry to wash water provide and sanitation providers stays an enormous problem in Asia Pacific, with an estimated 500 million folks within the area missing entry to a fundamental water provide, and 1.14 billion folks with out entry to sanitation.
The problem of water shortage is most extreme in South Asia, the place 347 million kids underneath 18 are uncovered to excessive or extraordinarily excessive ranges of water shortage, making it the area with the very best variety of kids uncovered to inadequate water, in response to a November 2023 report by the United Nation’s Youngsters Company.
The report additionally famous that the issue is exacerbated by local weather change, which is disrupting climate patterns and rainfall, and reducing the quantity of water accessible in aquifers, or giant underground reservoirs that maintain freshwater for human consumption.
Asia Pacific, Koh provides, is especially susceptible to the impression of local weather change. “Over 200 million folks might be displaced by 2050 attributable to desertification, rising sea ranges, and excessive climate occasions. In our area, we’re already witnessing the devastating impression of seasonal storms, typhoons, and floods, resulting in the lack of property, and livelihoods, and the displacement of many people. This may also disrupt the training of youngsters.”
It’s estimated that by 2050, greater than half of the worldwide inhabitants will reside in areas that have water shortage for no less than one month every year.
This will likely clarify why Koh feels strongly about his roles and obligations at Xylem. The corporate, headquartered in the US, gives options for water and wastewater remedy, water transport, and different water-related challenges throughout utility, industrial, industrial, and residential markets.
Along with water shortage, Koh notes that different areas that require consideration embody water high quality and affordability, and the presence of chemical substances in water detrimental to human well being.
In Southeast Asia, the agriculture, manufacturing, and waste administration industries are threatening water high quality within the area attributable to insufficient wastewater remedy, and extreme chemical use. Waterborne poisonous contaminants have been linked to cancers, cognitive and studying disabilities, beginning defects, and even diabetes.
Addressing water-related points requires a stronger, collective effort amongst governments and the company sector, says Koh, who speaks to Eco-Enterprise in regards to the elementary function of water in our lives and what his firm, Xylem, is doing to protect it for future generations.
Tune in as we talk about:
- The varied water-related points dealing with Asia and the way local weather change is exacerbating present issues
- The implications of inaction from companies, governments, and society
- Why fixing Asia’s water challenges would require higher cooperation and prioritisation of points
- How corporations can outline an outlined and impactful company goal
- Why main by instance is the simplest manner of driving change in organisations
Chong Hin Koh is vice chairman, World Lifecycle Providers, Rising Markets, Xylem.
The United Nations estimates that water shortage will have an effect on half of the world’s inhabitants by 2025. Along with water safety, what would you say are a few of the most urgent water-related challenges dealing with our planet within the years forward?
The primary one is water high quality. We’re seeing extra pollution in our water provide as a big portion of our area’s water comes from underground aquifers or rivers, affecting communities and industries. A examine performed by the UN Environmental Programme, for instance, discovered that 80 per cent of the river water within the Asia Pacific area is already polluted.
The prevalence of a substance known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in our water, which is often present in non-stick coatings and meals wrappings, can be dangerous to human well being over lengthy intervals.
There may be additionally the problem of affordability. Regardless of important investments in water remedy crops, a considerable amount of handled water is misplaced attributable to leaks and unapproved utilization – round 40 billion gallons of fresh water is misplaced attributable to damaged infrastructure and unauthorised use yearly.
What’s most troublesome and complicated about fixing these issues?
What’s ironic is that many of those challenges may be solved because the applied sciences exist already.
The funding is on the market if we are able to entry it, however that is dependent upon the willingness to deal with these points, as governments are sometimes overwhelmed and distracted by different challenges.
For instance, the necessity to prioritise constructing infrastructure – akin to roads and highways to develop the economic system – usually results in water challenges taking a backseat in lots of economies. Fixing international water challenges needs to be seen as a precedence, as they will have a direct impression on a nation’s prosperity and even financial development
Many additionally don’t realise that untreated waste can contaminate groundwater, which may result in additional issues sooner or later. Neglecting these challenges will burden the well being system, main folks to endure from water-related sicknesses.
Each the company sector and governments have to search out methods of working collectively to deal with these challenges.
How do Xylem’s options intention to resolve these points?
Whereas water points are advanced, they’re interconnected systemic issues, which means that you would be able to’t remedy one a part of the issue and hope that it’ll remedy the complete situation.
However that is the place Xylem is available in – by way of our digital options and applied sciences, we are able to synchronise our pumps, remedy options, in addition to monitoring and management methods, permitting us to assemble and analyse a wealth of information on climate patterns, working circumstances, and so forth.
This helps us to advise our prospects on methods to enhance their present methods, predict potential failures, and put together for one-off occasions like flash floods.
We additionally examine and monitor infrastructure to ensure every part is in good situation. By addressing any points proactively, we are able to save a big sum of money that will in any other case be spent on catastrophic conditions.
“
If we fail to safe clear water, future generations should spend time and assets on gathering clear, uncontaminated water or buying bottled water, taking away from their means to give attention to important each day wants.
Chong Hin Koh
What are the implications of inaction from companies, governments, and society at giant?
In the long run, not taking motion on these water challenges shall be a vastly missed alternative.
As a result of applied sciences can already handle these points, we are able to spend money on and repair these challenges – ones that may impression future generations.
If we fail to behave now, we’re basically kicking the can down the street and passing issues onto future generations, burdening them with the duty of discovering options on their very own.
Ignoring water-related points may even hinder financial growth. Asia Pacific has a younger and rising inhabitants longing for progress, with a robust need to make a optimistic impression. But when we fail to safe clear water, future generations should spend time and assets on gathering clear, uncontaminated water or buying bottled water, taking away from their means to give attention to important each day wants.
Xylem’s company goal seeks to assist prospects remedy water by way of know-how, make water extra accessible, and to additionally create a water-secure world. Would you say having a company goal has led to elevated enterprise development and success amongst workers, and if that’s the case, how?
Having a goal is essential, however it is very important perceive what an organization stands for and the issues it goals to resolve.
In our case, we’re extremely centered on water, and our tagline “let’s remedy water,” captures our mission; we intention to deal with water points in developed economies and in much less developed components of the world the place water challenges are extra critical.
Having such a goal has drastically benefitted us. We’ve attracted professionals from each inside and out of doors the water sector who want to be a part of one thing that positively impacts the communities they reside in. I used to be additionally drawn to Xylem due to its mission and goal, regardless of coming from the aerospace trade.
When folks be part of Xylem, they’re impressed to innovate and make a distinction. They’re searching for new applied sciences, options, and new methods of doing issues. The corporate now has a portfolio that enables them to do that.
We hope to transcend creating financial worth; we are attempting to generate social worth too, as each are equally vital and what our stakeholders count on from us.
Having a purpose-driven tradition has additionally created a optimistic cycle; it has motivated people to affix our group, and in flip, entice extra motivated folks.
This goal may help to interrupt down siloes, particularly when groups work on cross-disciplinary challenges. We now see workers from engineering, gross sales, buyer help, and varied different features coming collectively to deal with the challenges we face, and I consider this has created a extra optimistic firm tradition.
Past the enterprise, may you communicate on the societal and environmental impression of your company goal?
We have now outlined our 2025 sustainability objectives, which intention to make a optimistic environmental impression.
Our targets embody deploying humanitarian assist in over 200 water-related catastrophe areas, offering water training to enhance lives and lift consciousness for over seven million folks, and giving entry to wash water and sanitation options to no less than 20 million people.
We additionally prioritise worker engagement in volunteer work and donate a part of our income to water-related causes and training.
How can organisations decide a company goal that works finest for them and make sure that it permeates the corporate?
Organisations need to be as sensible as doable – not each firm operates in an trade the place the advantages of their actions are simply seen.
One solution to outline goal is by specializing in the corporate’s tradition and the way folks expertise working there, for instance by way of offering workers with alternatives for development and treating them pretty. A goal will also be outlined by an organization’s distinctive strengths, as an example, being essentially the most environment friendly producer of a sure element, or essentially the most environmentally pleasant producer of a selected plastic.
Firms should in the end make sure that inside and exterior stakeholders can relate to and align with their goal.
You may have labored at Xylem for shut to 6 years. What about water safety and shortage personally strikes you essentially the most?
Probably the most rewarding side of my job is the chance to volunteer. Xylem has a partnership with a non-profit known as Planet Water Basis, the place we assemble water towers that present clear water to communities. I’ve performed a component in constructing these water towers in India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
What at all times strikes me is the second when the tower is prepared, inviting kids to line up and drink clear water for the primary time, and seeing the look on their faces. Most of those children have possible by no means had entry to wash water earlier than and have been consuming both bottled water or contaminated water – a fundamental want that many usually take without any consideration, particularly in locations like Singapore.
However whenever you exit and volunteer and witness firsthand how a easy answer like a water tower can rework the lives of a whole bunch and 1000’s of individuals, it reinforces the aim of our work. It jogs my memory why we do what we do and motivates me to make a fair stronger impression.
How can corporations and people do their half in being accountable relating to conserving water?
It’s vital to observe water utilization, develop good habits, and use water-efficient home equipment. As a substitute of counting on bottled water, for instance, attempt to boil or filter faucet water and even harvest rainwater for laundry. Firms can recycle clear water for non-potable functions and prioritise water conservation in each day operations.
Advocacy may help to lift consciousness about water conservation challenges and the significance of entry to wash water. Firms could make a distinction past their communities by advocating for legal guidelines that shield water sources.
Xylem was chosen as one of many Nationwide Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC)’s Champions of Good in 2020 and 2022 earlier than the popularity was expanded into the Firm of Good Recognition System this yr, which is predicated on company goal and the 5 impression areas of individuals, society, governance, atmosphere, and financial. Might you communicate on the importance of this achievement for the corporate? How has NVPC supported Xylem in your company goal journey and in changing into a Firm of Good?
The Champions of Good recognition appears at how corporations are doing good in numerous dimensions, not simply water-related initiatives. By being a part of this programme, I really feel that we’ve introduced water know-how to the forefront and grow to be one of many few water corporations concerned within the programme.
I consider this recognition has elevated us to a nationwide degree, permitting us to face alongside international multinational corporations.
NVPC additionally gives different programmes akin to a fellowship programme, which goals to construct a pipeline of change brokers at completely different ranges. As these programmes proceed over time and entice extra contributors, we could have a stronger cohort and a bigger pool of like-minded people dedicated to creating impactful adjustments.
These programmes and initiatives have additionally constructed a way of neighborhood and offered a platform for people and firms to accomplice, be taught from one another, and drive optimistic change.
Is there the rest you’d like so as to add?
The method of change takes time, and it requires being actively concerned and main by instance.
Once I first joined Xylem, we already had a CSR programme known as Watermark. Nonetheless, I observed that workers weren’t totally engaged and didn’t see the purpose of taking part.
I made a decision to take it upon myself to actively encourage workers to take part – I led by instance by exhibiting them methods to attain out to companions, organising actions, and welcoming them to affix in. Step by step, folks began to see that management was genuinely , and this helped break down the limitations and scepticism. They started to understand that they, too, may contribute and make a distinction.
As workers began taking part, they began to see the significant impression they may make, and this created a starvation and need to do extra. These days, every time we organise any volunteering or CSR actions, we see extra workers desirous to contribute their time. It took us just a few years to construct this tradition, however as soon as you identify one thing like this, it turns into self-reinforcing.
I encourage all corporations to begin someplace – regardless of how small – and to remain dedicated. You will note a change and engagement develop inside your organisation over time.
Study extra in regards to the Firm of Good Recognition System right here.
The transcript has been edited for brevity and readability.
