WILL SARNI
DIGITAL WATER
William Sarni
Earthscan Water Text
This book shows how digital technologies are transforming how we locate, manage, treat, distribute and use water.
Water resources are under stress from over-allocation, increased demand, pollution, climate change and outdated public policies. Historical approaches to delivering water for human consumption, industrial production, agriculture, power generation and ecosystems are no longer adequate to meet demands. As a result, we need to vastly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our public and private sector processes in water management. The author describes recent advances in data acquisition (e.g., satellite imagery, drones and on the ground sensors and smart meters), big data analytics, artificial intelligence and blockchain, which
provide new tools to meet needs in both developing and developed economies. For example, a digital water technology portfolio brings the value of real-time
system-wide monitoring – and response – within the capability of water providers of all sizes and sophistication. As such, digital water promises to increase the long-term value of water resource assets while assisting in compliance with regulations and helping respond to the demands of population growth and evolving natural and business ecosystems.
Including many practical examples, the author concludes that digital and smart water technologies will not only better manage water assets, but also enable the public sector to provide universal access to safe drinking water, the private sector to continue to grow and ecosystems to thrive.
CREATING 21ST CENTURY ABUNDANCE THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY INNOVATION
William Sarni + Greg Koch
Greenleaf Publishing 2018
One of the greatest challenges of the 21st Century is the problem of how the public and private sectors can sustain economic development, business growth, social well-being and ecosystem health in the face of accelerating demand for water, energy, and food. "Business as usual" projections of scarcity in water, energy, and food predict a lack of these resources sufficient to sustain economic and business growth as well as an adequate standard of living worldwide.
Developments in technology are well documented, but this is the first book to explain the role of innovation in public policy and governance, a topic which is frequently overlooked and often frustrates developments in technology and business. Without innovation in public policy and governance, innovation in technology solutions will face persistent headwinds for adoption. The book showcases these innovations and creates a roadmap of what needs to change to drive economic development, business growth, social wellbeing and ecosystem health in the 21st Century.
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Equitable water governance is the linchpin to addressing most of the water challenges we face. Greg and Will have drawn on their extensive pioneering experiences in the corporate water stewardship space to elucidate concrete ways we can all work toward this goal.”
Jason Morrison, Head
UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate
WATER STEWARDSHIP AND BUSINESS VALUE
William Sarni + David Grant
Earthscan Water Text 2018
The tangible value of increased water efficiency, reuse and recycling and improved social license to operate are moving more companies to adopt water stewardship strategies. This book frames an expanded strategy for water stewardship and business value creation, including brand value, that benefits a range of stakeholders including consumers, customers, investors and employees.
The book shows that until recently the linkage between full business value and water stewardship has been missing from the corporate agenda.
This linkage and value creation from a leading water strategy is increasingly important to socially responsible investors and "aspirationals" who value companies that have a social mission or focus to their overall business strategy. In general the largest portion of a company’s market capitalization is intangible value and understanding how a water strategy contributes to this intangible value is essential.
The authors include cases studies and a framework or path forward to guide companies as they seek to build leading water strategy that goes beyond water stewardship to drive full business value from this investment. The book establishes the linkages and value from an integrated water and business strategy and an approach for companies to follow.
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How do you navigate and respond to a multidimensional global challenge like water stewardship in the 21st century? If you're like me, you seek out help from 'global navigators' like Willam Sarni, who not only understand the important linkages between water stewardship and business value, but is adept at navigating the people, processes and innovations that are critical to sustainably managing water-related resources. Water Stewardship and Business Value is a must-read for anyone looking to elevate the value of water and advance a stewardship strategy within their organization."
Josh Henretig, Senior Director
Environmental Sustainability, Microsoft Corporation
BEYOND THE ENERGY-WATER-FOOD NEXUS
William Sarni
Dō Sustainability 2015
Providing food, clean water and energy for a growing population is one of the greatest challenges facing public and private sector professionals. While there is widespread recognition of the complex feedback loops between energy, water and food, there has been less focus on viable solutions.
This guide by Will Sarni – an internationally recognized thought leader on corporate water stewardship and water tech innovation – frames the key issues and challenges for business professionals, and then outlines emerging solutions which include both "soft path" and technology innovation approaches.
The book includes case examples of multinational companies who are abandoning business as usual and moving beyond traditional thinking.
It also highlights crucial new partnerships or 'collective action initiatives' where NGOs, multinationals and the public sector come together to forge practical solutions to meet the needs of their stakeholders.
Solutions to the energy–water–food nexus will need to be disruptive, not incremental, and will require technology innovation, new public-private partnerships, and changes in public policy.
Beyond the Energy–Food–Water Nexus shows organizations how they can play their part in improving the quality of life for an urbanized global population while preserving the ecosystems that sustain us all.
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Will Sarni’s Beyond the Energy-Water-Food Nexus provides a pithy and poignant overview to the water crisis facing the world today. The book packs a punch with numerous practical examples of what is both possible and how creative collaborations can positively impact future scenarios. But there is no escaping the depth and severity of the problem, one that Sarni describes as “wicked” and one that will require innovations like we have never seen before. This primer lays out specific scenarios useful for government officials, business people, educators and conservationists.”
Daniel Katz, Senior Program Director
The Overbrook Foundation and Board Chair/Founder, Rainforest Alliance
THE WATER TECH BOOK
William Sarni & Tamin Pechet
Routledge 2013
This book unveils how the world in the twenty-first century will need to manage our most fundamental resource need, water. It outlines how stakeholders can improve water use in their homes, their businesses, and the world.
In particular, it focuses on the role of stakeholders in crafting a twenty-first century paradigm for water. Investors not only drive innovation through direct investment in new technologies but also by highlighting risk and driving reporting and disclosure within the business community.
Water Tech highlights the business drivers to address water related issues. These include business disruption, regulatory risk and reputational risk along with opportunities in the commercialization of innovative
technologies such as desalination and water reuse and treatment.
The authors argue that through increased attention on water scarcity through activities such as reporting and disclosure we are now accelerating innovation in the water industry. They show how we are just now capturing the true cost and value of water and this is creating opportunities for investors in the water sector. The text takes the reader through key aspects of emerging innovative technologies along with case studies and key issues on the path to commercialization.
A roadmap of the opportunities in the water sector is presented based on interviews with leading authorities in the water field including innovators, investors, legal, regulatory experts and businesses.
CORPORATE WATER STRATEGIES
Earthscan 2011 and Chinese by Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press 2013
William Sarni
In the past businesses have viewed water as a minimal operational cost and not a strategic issue. However, water has now emerged as a critical issue for both corporations and the public sector in response to increased water demand, climatic risks and potentially negative impacts on brand value.
This innovative book provides up-to-date information on global water issues and describes how companies can not only address these challenges but also implement high value global water strategies.
It shows:
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why water is a critical business issue for companies which now face water risk to their operations and brands
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how new concepts such as embedded water and virtual water are forcing companies to think differently about how they use water to manufacture products
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that companies need to develop a corporate water strategy to manage it as a key business issue and capture the real value of water
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how companies can develop partnerships with non-governmental organizations to implement water strategies.
In Corporate Water Strategies, Sarni clearly lays out why water is now a critical business issue and how a smart water strategy can create competitive advantage in the 21st century. Too often we hear only about the down side of water: the risk to a company’s license to operate, operational continuity and reputation. Sarni balances that view with an understanding that water is also a driver of economic development and corporate innovation. Any managers and executives ready to embed water stewardship into their long-term strategies will gain valuable insight from reading this book.”
Andrew Winston
Corporate environmental strategist; Author, Green to Gold and Green Recovery
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GREENING BROWNFIELDS
William Sarni
Transform brownfields into green development projects.
This forward-looking resource discusses sustainable remediation methods for converting a land liability into a high-value asset. Greening Brownfields presents best practices and creative thinking on how to increase property value by viewing contaminated sites as lucrative opportunities. The book covers global trends and business drivers related to brownfields and green development, and outlines U.S. and international guidelines and incentive programs. Detailed case studies of worldwide brownfield redevelopment initiatives are included.
Greening Brownfields covers:
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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U.S. Green Building Council
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Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
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World Biz Council for Sustainable Development
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BRE Environmental Assessment Method
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Regulations and financial incentives
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Frameworks for integrating all phases of brownfield redevelopment
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Sustainable land planning and land use
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One Planet Living
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Green building
WATER RISK
Corporate Strategy to Prevail over Great Water Scarcity
William Sarni, co-author
Japanese. Nikkei Publishing Inc. 2015
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Understanding the Future of WaterUnder
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The Reality of Water
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Water as a Business
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Water Risk and Corporate Strategy
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Practices by Global Companies
Editors and Authors
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Keiichi Kubo, Visiting Professor of Graduate School of Chuo University
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Keiko Tatsuwaki
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Mizuko Mase
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Asako Nozaki
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Shuichi Sonnyu
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Mitsunobu Okamoto,
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Norihisa Yamada
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William Sarni
