Fish & Game Backs Push for Water Footprinting

Fish & Game Backs Push for Water Footprinting

Fish & Game NZ is supporting international calls for Global Water Footprint Standards which would hold industries accountable for their impact on our finite water resources.

“Pressure is mounting for countries to be more accountable for the water they use and the impact industries have on water scarcity and its environmental degradation,” says Fish & Game NZ chief executive Bryce Johnson.

Water footprint assessments assist governments and industries to measure and understand water use and the impact on the resource throughout the supply chain.

“To date, New Zealand has failed to develop any effective measures to gauge and mitigate the impact industries are having on water quality and consumption,” says Mr Johnson.

“This has resulted in water being majorly overallocated in many parts of the country, severely polluted in lowland dairy catchments, and often simply wasted by irrigators and urban centres.

“This irresponsible approach to freshwater management is really going to tarnish our international image and our economy.

“At the end of the day, avoiding facing up to the water management problems we have in this country is really going to hurt exporters – this Global Water Footprint initiative is a clear signal that the international community is no longer prepared to accept hollow slogans.”

Mr Johnson says New Zealand urgently needs a measure of accountability so industries and government adopt best management practice around water quality.

“If they don’t, then New Zealand will face the consequences of consumer backlash in key export markets.”

The development of the Water Footprint Standard comes at a time when leading international companies across all sectors – including Coca Cola, Unilever, SABMiller – are awakening to the risk their impact on water resources poses to both their reputations and bottom lines.

ENDS

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