70% of SA firms surveyed fear water scarcity

"Water scarcity is a significant risk for South African companies," the National Business Initiative (NBI) said in a statement on the report it helped compile, adding that 85% South African companies report some exposure to water-related risk in their direct operations. Twenty-six South African companies took part in the survey.

While 46% said the majority of their operations were located in areas where water scarcity was a risk, the survey found water issues were not receiving the same attention as climate change at board level. According to the survey, few companies were setting concrete, quantitative targets relating to water as "climate change risks are typically viewed to be more long term." The report warns that companies must start to act now "in support of a consistent and stable supply of water," iafrica.com says.

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