What it is
The World Resources Institute's Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas provides high-resolution maps of physical, regulatory, and reputational water risks at the catchment level globally. Users can overlay 13 water risk indicators, assess exposure for specific locations or supply chains, and download spatial data. The tool covers baseline water stress, seasonal variability, drought risk, and regulatory risk.
Why we picked this
Water stress affects 2 billion people and is projected to worsen significantly under all warming scenarios. For investors, water risk translates directly to operational risk: factories in water-stressed regions face production interruptions, agriculture depends on reliable irrigation, and data centers require cooling water. Aqueduct makes this risk geographically specific and quantifiable.
Key takeaways
- Aqueduct data shows that 17 countries, home to 25% of the world's population, face 'extremely high' baseline water stress.
- The tool provides future projections under multiple climate scenarios, enabling investors to assess water risk for assets with 10-30 year operating horizons.
- Supply chain due diligence using Aqueduct reveals water risk hotspots that financial analysis alone would miss, particularly in textile, agriculture, and semiconductor manufacturing.