The Stream, June 18: Water Risk Hammers the Market in India

The Global Rundown

Water risk is shaping investment decisions in India and around the world. Reports by NASA show that almost two-thirds of the world’s largest groundwater aquifers are in decline. Floods are interrupting shipping on the Illinois River.

“Water risk is only recently appreciated as a systemic and material investment risk. We do expect that the importance of water in investment decisions and the quality of the data will increase.” — Piet Klop, senior adviser at Netherlands-based pension management firm PGGM NV, on the increasing importance of water risk to investment decisions. (Bloomberg)

By The Numbers

$US 23 billion – Two-day slump in Indian stocks resulting in part from below-average rain forecasts for the monsoon season. The value of the Rupee suffered as well. Half of India’s population could face surface water supply disruptions, and wary investors want nothing to do with water risk. Bloomberg

Science, Studies, And Reports

NASA has released two reports based on groundwater data collected from its Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission. Stored water in 21 of the world’s largest 37 aquifers has decreased since 2003. Even worse, for many of these aquifers, scientists don’t know how much water was stored to begin with. Circle of Blue

On The Radar

Floods on the Illinois River are disrupting normal shipments of corn and soybean, resulting in a declaration of “force majeure” for shipping stations on the river – meaning delays of contracted deliveries are allowed. Things are expected to be back to normal by the end of the month. Reuters