Global Collaborations: Partnerships for Clean Water in the Developing World
Niels Christiansen
Vice President, Public Affairs, Nestle S.A.
John D. Groopman
Anna M. Baetjer Professor and Chair, Department of Environmental Health Sciences,
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Gregory Koch
Managing Director, Global Water Stewardship, The Coca-Cola Company
Paul Faeth
President, Global Water Challenge (Moderator)
Key Takeaways:
- About 1 billion people still do not have access to safe drinking water. This represents one in eight people around the world, often those in urban slums.
- Coca-Cola views water quality and the water shortage as a strategic business issue. Therefore, the company built partnerships in about 60 countries, all born out of local connections.
- Similarly, Nestle does not have a global partner, but rather works with organizations with local presence and expertise. Commitments are long-term, thinking 10-20 years out. Within each country that the company operates, they work with all the stakeholders to preserve water quality.
Links:
> Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
> Nestle Creating Shared Value: Water
> Coca-Cola Community Water Initiatives
> Global Water Challenge
> Session Notes (PDF)
