Pacific Institute

The failure to meet basic needs for safe water and sanitation worldwide is one of the great tragedies of our age, with billions of people paying the price in illness and poverty, write Dr. Peter Gleick of the Pacific Institute and Gary White and Matt Damon of Water.org. The dream of universal safe water, though, does not need to come at the expense of the climate; we can meet both water and climate needs with smart investments. A crucial part of the solution is to look for where water is lost or wasted, and to shift our water and sanitation systems away from fossil fuels to renewables. Learn more in "Climate-Equitable Water": https://pacinst.org/publication/climate-equitable-water/

Droughts are a recurring feature of California's climate, but climate change is increasing their frequency, intensity, and duration. As California grapples with another dry season, Julie Cart and Rachel Becker of CALMatters question the preparedness of the state to handle another drought. "There's never enough water in California," says Dr. Peter Gleick. "We have to assume that we are always water-short and we have to act like it." Read the article: https://thecounter.org/wa...ter-wasting-lifestyles-unprepared/ Learn more about the importance of sustainable landscaping for drought preparedness: https://pacinst.org/4-reasons-why-urban-landscapes-are-a-l/

Over the last 20 years, the Salton Sea, which is California’s largest lake, has been rapidly shrinking and increasing in salinity. The lake's ecosystem is on the brink of collapse and the health of local communities is threatened by toxic dust blowing off the exposed lakebed. In recent years, multiple projects have been proposed promising to restore the Salton Sea. But progress made on these projects has historically been delayed, with millions of dollars in investments not l...eading to visible results. "A lot of money gets invested, and then it seems like something else comes along where the political will disappears," says Michael Cohen of the Pacific Institute. Learn more about why past projects at the Salton Sea have stalled and why communities have yet to see visible restoration results in this KESQ News article by Angela Chen: https://kesq.com//troubled-waters-the-salton-sea-project-/ Read our report detailing the costs of inaction at the Salton Sea, and what can be done: https://pacinst.org//uploa/2014/09/PacInst_HazardsToll.pdf

Water utilities systems have been hard hit during the pandemic. Across the U.S., water systems are facing budget shortfalls and need assistance. While the water shutoff moratoriums implemented in California by Governor Newsom during the COVID-19 pandemic protected the health and well-being of California families, many water agencies have had difficulty generating enough revenue to cover their operating expenses. As we begin to navigate our way out of the pandemic, we must le...arn to make our water systems resilient to potential major societal disruptions. Learn more about water utility resilience, and how to help customers keep the water on: https://www.lgc.org//Water-Accessibility-Factsheet_5.13.21

This year's drought is steadily approaching the peak severity of the last one with 75% of California already experiencing extreme drought, write Julie Cart and Rachel Becker of Cal Matters. As California heads into another dry season, Cart and Becker questions the preparedness of the state to handle another drought. "There's never enough water in California," says Dr. Peter Gleick. "We have to assume that we are always water-short and we have to act like it." ... Read the full article: https://calmatters.org//unprepared-california-drought-202/ Learn more about shifting to proactive drought preparedness in our blog post: https://pacinst.org/can-california-shift-to-proactive-drou/

For too long, conditions at the Salton Sea have put Coachella Valley communities in danger and destroyed the fragile ecosystem. Join us today at 1pm PT: California and federal officials, community groups, and conservation groups will sit down with reporter Sammy Roth of the L.A. Times for a roundtable discussion about the future of restoration at the Salton Sea: https://www.facebook.com/audubonca #SaveTheSaltonSea #TogetherForTheSaltonSea

America is at a crossroads. We can continue to overlook the nation’s water problems, even as scarcity, pollution, and climate changes increase risk, or we can take steps to make our water systems more effective, resilient, and equitable. Join Pacific Institute President Emeritus Dr. Peter Gleick and Director of Research Heather Cooley as they explore the Pacific Institute’s water recommendations for the next administration with President Jason Morrison. The webinar will incl...ude an overview of America’s current water woes and provide practical solutions for the incoming administration, on issues ranging from aging infrastructure to inequitable water access and climate change’s effects on water resources. Wednesday 11/18 at 1:00PM PT Registration is free: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_osaCM2jtS1KnXZeuK3ChYQ

This week, join us at BERC’s Virtual 7th Annual Resources Symposium, which will navigate the complexities at the intersection of the food, energy, and water nexus. Pacific Institute President Emeritus Dr. Peter Gleick and Director of Research Heather Cooley will both present: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2020-resources-symposium-explo

Calling for the next president of the United States to take swift and meaningful action on a number of outstanding issues, from lack of access to safe water for tens of millions of Americans to climate change’s impacts on the nation’s water systems. The United States faces several severe and worsening water problems, despite being the wealthiest nation in the world. These problems must be addressed, or this and future generations will face impoverishment, social disruption..., and health problems, says lead author Dr. Peter Gleick. Solving these issues will save money in the long run creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, improving public health, and speeding up the nation’s economic recovery. This letter to the next president from the Pacific Institute includes a set of specific federal strategies and actions. https://pacinst.org//water-recommendations-to-next-presid/

Sustainable landscaping offers a solution in balance with the local climate and ecology, and actively contributes to community and watershed health by providing economic, social, and environmental benefits. This guidebook provides simple steps to consider, select, and install sustainable landscaping. Aimed specifically at businesses and communities in California, the guidebook includes information on turf replacement, installation of bioswales and rain gardens, permeable pavement, green roofs, and rain tanks and cisterns. https://pacinst.org/publi/sustainable-landscapes-guidebook/

A new report from the Pacific Institute and Water.org finds that the energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions from water supply and sanitation systems can be reduced through water and energy efficiency improvements and the adoption of renewable or lower-greenhouse gas emissions energy options, including biogas recovery. Doing so would make water supply and sanitation systems less vulnerable to climate impacts on energy systems while reducing emissions. Read Financing Water Supply and Sanitation in a Changing Climate: https://pacinst.org//financing-water-in-a-changing-climate/

In Squaring the Hydro Circle: Tapping Water Reuse in Silicon Valley" on Friday November 6th, Dr. Anne Thebo and Cora Kammeyer of the Pacific Institute will discuss the Pacific Institute’s investigation into Silicon Valley water reuse and their insights from their work with the United Nations CEO Mandate. Sherwood’s Amelia Luna will explore the thinking behind reuse project design, engineering, and implementation. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/squaring-the-hydro-circle-tapp

Climate change is degrading ecosystems and freshwater systems, reducing the earth’s capacity to sequester carbon, retain water, and sustain agricultural productivity. Nature-Based Solutions use or mimic natural processes to manage water resources. They support adaptation to climate impacts on water systems and the communities they support, while reducing the severity of climate change through carbon uptake and storage. Businesses are beginning to recognize the value of Na...ture-Based Solutions for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. But these solutions are still under-utilized, partly because of a lack of frameworks and tools for identifying the benefits and monetizing the full scope of co-benefits these solutions provide. A recent report identifies barriers to implementing Nature-Based Solutions for the private sector, and suggests next steps towards implementation. The report was produced by the CEO Water Mandate, which the Pacific Institute serves as Co-Secretariat for, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and Danone S.A. https://pacinst.org/publication/benefit-accounting-nbs/ #NBS #resilience #multibenefits

With the upcoming launch in the financial markets of water contracts tied to prices in California, a recent Financial Times article examined the decision to include these in the markets. According to the article, the contracts are being viewed by some as a risk-management tool while others worry the move could distort water prices for everyone. Including this basic resource in a speculative financial market will most likely be challenging when trading the contracts themselves. Learn more: https://www.ft.com/con/016174d0-54ed-4806-9538-acbdf073df61

California passed the Human Right to Water in 2012, acknowledging that every resident has a right to safe, clean, and affordable drinking water. Yet this is not always the case. Across the state, both large and small water systems currently struggle to provide safe drinking water, with small systems facing the greatest challenges. Many of these small systems primarily serve disadvantaged communities that have limited funds and resources. A recent report from the Water Resea...rch Foundation, California Urban Water Agencies, and the Pacific Institute identifies solutions for water systems in California that are failing to provide safe drinking water for their residents. The report also includes lessons learned that can be applied to the rest of the nation. Helping small water systems comply with safe drinking water standards can move California closer to achieving the Human Right to Water, says report co-author Morgan Shimabuku. This is even more urgent now as California and the world grapple with the consequences of the COVID19 pandemic. Learn more: https://pacinst.org/publi/underperforming_water_systems_ca/

The Earth just recorded its hottest September. This follows 2019, which was the second warmest year on record globally, concluding the hottest decade ever recorded. Climate change necessitates a fundamental shift in how we use and manage water. Help build a water resilient future with a gift to the Pacific Institute today. https://pacinst.networkforgood.com//112926-nfg-donation-pa

Imagine a Day Without Water Around the world, 40% of the population 3 billion people live without soap and water available at home. In the face of COVID-19, they are among the most vulnerable and most at risk of being left behind. In the U.S., more than 2 million Americans lack running water and indoor plumbing, and millions more can’t afford basic water service. To make matters worse, the economic crisis precipitated by COVID-19 is causing unemployment in the U.S. to sky...rocket, putting far more people at risk of being unable to pay for water. Explore our research and recommendations to make clean, affordable water available to all: Learn more: https://pacinst.org/water-and-covid-19-risks-and-opportuni/

The Water Action Hub, from the UN Global Compact's CEO Water Mandate which the Pacific Institute helps manage, catalogs and facilitates water stewardship projects in river basins and regions around the world: https://wateractionhub.org

The #RightToWater entitles everyone to have access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic use: https://bit.ly/2Fjo3Dj via UN-Water #waterislife #humanrights