BIG HOPES AND BIG NUMBERS

Thursday 24 June After yesterday’s opening session in the UN General Assembly Hall, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gives his third speech where he talks about “saving the world”. How often do you hear that with credibility in a business meeting ? He is referring to everything from poverty to water stress. At a workshop on ‘Water : A Business Imperative’, I hear more big hopes and big numbers. “Water is the lifeblood of our business,” Diageo Americas Executive Vice President Guy Smith. Coca-Cola International Government Relations Vice President Afzaal Malik – The company and its bottling partners are planning to invest a whopping $12 billion in Africa over the next ten years. An earlier speaker had said of water : “We simply have to rethink water. Water stress is one of the world’s biggest challenges. Yet the solutions have to be local.” Last words to Unilever Chief Executive Officer Paul Polman: “Business as usual is no longer an option… Climate change and water stress are real medium term risks… Consumers will be looking to companies that are good citizens.”