Water-Energy Nexus: Business Risks and Rewards

The World Resources Institute report examines the reciprocal relationship between water and energy supplies, highlighting how water scarcity threatens energy production and how energy-intensive water treatment is required to meet growing water demands.

• Water scarcity creates a cyclical challenge where limited freshwater supplies threaten the production of coal, oil, gas, and electricity, while the need for water treatment options such as seawater desalination increases the demand for energy.
• Companies operating at the water-energy nexus can mitigate risks and find opportunities by focusing on water reuse, energy recovery, shifting to clean energy and alternative water options, and implementing inclusive approaches that include gender mainstreaming and local stakeholder engagement.
• The report suggests that businesses should adopt ambitious cross-sector goals for smart infrastructure, decentralized clean energy, end-use energy efficiency, and water reuse, alongside financial due diligence that values water and prices carbon.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Water-Energy Nexus: Business Risks and Rewards. https://www.wri.org/research/water-energy-nexus-business-risks-and-rewards

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Water-Energy Nexus: Business Risks and Rewards. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/water-energy-nexus-business-risks-and-rewards.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Water-Energy Nexus: Business Risks and Rewards |url=https://www.wri.org/research/water-energy-nexus-business-risks-and-rewards |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendwaterenergy, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Water-Energy Nexus: Business Risks and Rewards}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/water-energy-nexus-business-risks-and-rewards}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }