Water is becoming one of the most critical business risks of our time. Companies operating in water-stressed basins face growing regulatory pressure, reputational exposure, and supply chain vulnerability — yet many still lack a structured approach to understanding and addressing their water footprint.

This session reframes corporate water management as both a risk mitigation strategy and a genuine opportunity to invest in a nature-positive economy. We will explore what a corporate water footprint really means, why efficiency alone is no longer sufficient, and how the concept of water positivity is reshaping expectations across industries, investors, and regulators.

The session introduces the Act4Water Standard as one practical framework for closing the loop: enabling companies to measure their impact, invest in certified water restoration and replenishment projects through Positive Water Credits, and achieve verified water positive status. By channelling private finance into these credits, businesses directly fund nature-based solutions and infrastructure that regenerate local watersheds. Beyond the standard itself, the conversation will open up to broader questions — about market incentives, public-private collaboration models, and how corporate water stewardship can drive real change in the basins and communities where it matters most.

Through a combination of presentations, real-world perspectives, and interactive discussion, participants will leave with a clearer understanding of where water positive ambition fits within their organisation’s sustainability strategy — and what concrete steps are available to get started.

This session targets corporate sustainability leaders, water risk managers, impact investors, project developers, and policy actors seeking to understand the emerging landscape of corporate water stewardship.

The main objectives are to:

• Reframe corporate water footprints as both a business risk and a catalyst for investing in a nature-positive economy.
• Introduce water positive ambition and verified water credits as a credible, science-based approach to closing the loop on water management.
• Demonstrate practical pathways through which companies can use water credits to move from measurement to verified ecosystem restoration.
• Build awareness of public-private collaboration models that link corporate investment to ecosystem and community resilience.