Manila Water receives improved climate change rating

Manila Water has received an improved Climate Change rating in this year’s CDP Climate Change Disclosure, from Awareness Level in 2021, to Management Level in 2022, which is now higher than the Asia regional average. The Company also maintained its Management Level rating in Water Security, at par with the Asia regional average but higher than the global average.

Manila Water received a Management B rating for its 2022 CDP Climate Change and Water Security Disclosures, improving its Climate Change rating from Awareness level (C) to Management level (B) while maintaining the management level rating in Water Security.

CDP, formerly Carbon Disclosure Project, aims to make environmental reporting and risk management a business norm, driving disclosure, insight, and action toward a sustainable economy.

Manila Water’s B rating on the CDP Score Report on Climate Change for 2022 is now above the Asia regional average of C and also higher than both the global average and non-energy utilities sector average of C.

Manila Water also garnered a B rating on the CDP Score Report for Water Security for 2022 which is in the management band. This is the same as the Asia regional average of B but higher than the non-energy utility sector and global average which are both at C rating.

CDP Worldwide is a not-for-profit charity that runs a global disclosure system for companies to measure and manage their risks and opportunities on climate change, water security and deforestation, and valued partner of the United Nations in collecting data in relation to efforts done towards its Sustainable Development Goals.

The B ratings received by Manila Water exemplify the company’s strengthened climate actions, a solid testament to the efforts to address risks and opportunities brought about by climate change as well as the firm’s steadfast commitment to providing 24/7 water and wastewater services to customers within its service areas.

Manila Water’s Sustainability Head Sarah Bergado stated that Manila Water reaffirms its commitment to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on Climate Action and the Paris Agreement through the company’s climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives.

“We build our infrastructure to be climate-resilient as we endeavor to implement nature-based solutions such as watershed protection and reforestation to adapt to and mitigate climate change,” she said.

“In partnership with South Pole, an international climate solutions provider, we are developing our net zero and decarbonization roadmap to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain,” added Bergado.

CDP Worldwide is a not-for-profit charity that runs a global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states, and regions to measure and manage their risks and opportunities on climate change, water security, and deforestation.

The CDP Score Report allows companies to monitor their progress towards environmental stewardship through benchmarking and comparison with their peers, in order to continuously improve their climate and water governance.

The rating is based on four levels: Leadership (A/A-): Implementing current best practices, Management (B/B-): Taking coordinated action on climate/water issues, Awareness (C/C-): knowledge of impacts on, and of, climate or water issues, and Disclosure (D/D-): Transparent about climate and water issues.

CDP is also a partner of the United Nations-Water (UN-Water) in collecting corporate data related to contributions towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation indicators, including 6.3 – Wastewater, 6.4 – Water Use Efficiency, and 6.6 — Ecosystems.

READ: Manila Water’s distribution network now stretches to 5,362 kilometers