Adaptation through Water 2025

Opportunity #1: Flood damage reduction Nearly all sectors or ecosystems (e.g. agriculture, nature, manufacturing, infrastructure) with assets at risk of water-related damage would want to consider this opportunity. As the Fargo-Moorhead flood diversion case study described earlier shows, there are ample opportunities for infrastructure engineering firms, environmental services firms, construction companies and related providers to develop solutions to recurrent and severe flooding of all types. Technology tools, such as machine learning for real-time hydrological prediction, can also play an important part. As seen in Chapter 2, the market opportunity in flood damage reduction in Southeast Asia is estimated at $13 billion. Opportunity #2: Water optimization and circularity Multiple ecosystems with direct operations and/or critical supply chains tied to water supply, water use and water quality (e.g. agriculture, textile fabrication, infrastructure) can benefit from water optimization and circularity, as Turkiye’s Büyük Menderes case study demonstrates. A circular water economy is perhaps the most potent approach for achieving greater efficiency in water usage. It entails three strategies: –Fix leakage (“non-revenue water” that is responsible for around 40% of the water wasted in municipal water supplies worldwide). –Recycle wastewater. –Recover other resources (e.g. nutrients, minerals, heavy metals, energy) during wastewater treatment. Circular industrial water reuse includes methods such as zero-liquid discharge and closed-loop systems that reduce water waste. Meanwhile, water optimization includes water conservation in business processes and water source diversification to boost water efficiency for communities and regions, which in turn ensures food resilience and water security. FIGURE 12 Framework for action on adaptation through water 4 cross-cutting opportunities Expected outcomes Flood damage reductionSector-agnostic Sectors targeted by GCEW missionsSupport implementation of GCEW missions across relevant sectors Water optimization & circularityFinancing adaptation- through-waterWater & nature innovation Agriculture Energy Health Industries Infrastructure Nature & environmentNew applications & approaches for existing sectoral communities to achieve GCEW missions.1 New cross-cutting solutions − developed by the private sector − to scale-up across sectors.2 Combinations of 1 & 2 above.3 Source: BCG analysis. Adaptation through Water: Mobilizing the Private Sector for Climate Adaptation in Southeast Asia 25