STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEW

Water and Gender Equality: A Key to Climate Resilience

Interviewing Alicia Douglas, Founder of WaterRising Institute

By Benjamin Teisseire

There’s been extensive discussion around CO₂ emissions, fossil fuels, and other extractive industries in relation to climate change and biodiversity loss. However, far less attention is given to the escalating global water crisis. Could you explain the nature and urgency of the water challenges we are currently facing — or are on the brink of facing?

Climate change may be the beast threatening our world, but water is its teeth. Water is almost an invisible force, as it is everywhere around and inside us, but only gets attention in catastrophic situations such as when there is too much, as in floods, or too little, as in droughts. So the usual « Out of sight, out of mind » concept is at play here. No one seems to realize, for example, that the development of AI creates a very concrete, even extreme pressure on our already strained water ecosystem: one email generated with ChatGPT uses 1 bottle of water. People need to understand this and start looking at every business decision in terms of water usage and water re-use. A key point is to start educating everyone on how we all should be water-conscious, or even better, water conservative, instead of our current water compulsive usage without restraints. Water is the most precious resource that we have. Even our body is made of 72% water. Our brain consists of 92% salt water. It is incredible that we do not fathom how important water is for humanity and for the world we live in and depend on.

Can you tell us about the WaterRising Institute? What is the mission of the organization? 

I am the founder of WaterRising with key stakeholders from governments and the private sector. We stemmed from the Flint, Michigan lead poisoned water crisis that started in 2014 and led to the declaration of a State Emergency in January 2016. The tragic episode shed a light on the vulnerability of our water systems, on how water was not managed properly, particularly regarding waste water, and how water was a crucial public health issue. From there, we went to multiple different countries around the world to collect data on the topic. In the midst of that, we decided to also collect data on gender equality. That sparked our use of the « woman lens » to look at the issue. It quickly appeared that women in communities were actually the ones most exposed. This is when and why we defined the WaterRising Institute’s vision as seeing the water crisis through the lens of gender. We envision an equitable, water positive future, one where all voices are heard, all barriers to gender are removed, and more water is replenished than used in every aspect of water management. Our mission is to make water management inclusive for all genders by helping utilities, industries and government prioritize a gender-inclusive, water positive approach to solving our water crisis made urgent by the climate emergency.

We encourage utilities to sign the CEO Water Mandate (launched in 2007, editor’s note), with its Corporate Water Disclosure Guidelines (2014) within the UN Global Compact, as well as our Water Woman programme.

How does promoting gender equality and inclusiveness contribute to solving water-related challenges? 

It ultimately comes down to ensuring women are part of the decision-making and management systems around water. Women are essential voices because they are deeply connected to and representative of the communities most affected by water policies.

Take the Flint, Michigan water crisis as an example, most decisions were made by men, guided primarily by financial considerations, with little regard for public health or community impact. This disconnect highlights the need for a more inclusive approach.

When women, especially those managing households and caring for families, are meaningfully included, water management becomes more grounded in reality. Their perspectives bring balance between industry needs and lived experience. Inclusion leads to more thoughtful, sustainable water governance and, ultimately, better service delivery.

You mention forging new pathways through collaboration — particularly among utilities, industry, and governments — and harnessing digital transformation. Can you share concrete examples of such initiatives or partnerships that are already producing results?

Through the Water Woman Project, we’re actively collaborating with utilities to bring more women into apprenticeship programs, a critical step toward building a more inclusive and skilled workforce. One key area of focus is childcare support. Since women are often primary caregivers, we’re working with utilities to explore solutions at the local level that make it possible for more women to enter and stay in the field.

We also had a promising partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency under the previous administration, aimed at advancing women’s participation within water utilities.

Looking ahead, we’re developing a national storytelling campaign in collaboration with a creative agency, with support from Cannes Lions. The goal is to reshape the narrative around water and the role of women in stewarding it. We believe that storytelling is a powerful tool for shifting perception and inspiring action across the public and private sectors.

You conducted a three-year study to identify barriers to gender inclusivity in the water sector. What were the key findings, and how are these insights being used to drive systemic change?

Our survey of 16 U.S. water utilities revealed several systemic barriers to gender inclusivity in the sector. Among the most critical challenges we identified were:

Significant underrepresentation of women across full-time, part-time, and contractor roles; A lack of work-life balance policies, including limited access to paid parental leave; Inconsistent or absent diversity initiatives and minimal tracking of pay equity, promotions, and recruitment practices.

These findings laid the foundation for our white paper, which offers actionable recommendations to help utilities drive meaningful change.

These include:

• Targeted recruitment strategies to reach underrepresented talent.
• Workforce benchmarking to measure progress and identify gaps
• Support services such as flexible work policies and childcare assistance
• Professional development programs to support career advancement
• Pay equity and promotion tracking to promote transparency and fairness
• Culture change initiatives to foster inclusivity and improve retention

We believe that by implementing these strategies, utilities can create a more resilient, diverse, and future-ready workforce, one that is better equipped to meet growing challenges and deliver reliable water services to all communities.

In 2022, you launched the WaterWoman Table at World Water Week. What tangible outcomes have emerged from this initiative so far?

At World Water Week, we issued a global call to action through the WaterWoman Table initiative—and one of the most significant outcomes was a new partnership with Aquafed, a global network of private water operators. Together, we’re exploring how to more intentionally tap into women as a strategic workforce pipeline for utilities.

This initiative initially engaged five key regions: the U.S., India, the U.K., Jordan, and Central America, with growing interest from across Europe. While recent federal and international budget cuts have temporarily stalled momentum, the foundation for a scalable global framework has been laid, and we’re actively seeking ways to reignite progress.

In your view, what are the essential steps needed to build a water-positive and resilient future? What kind of commitments and systemic changes are required?

The path forward is straightforward in principle: for every drop of water we use, we must replenish it. That philosophy must guide decisions across the entire supply chain, especially in water-intensive sectors like the watch and jewelry industries.

First, we must cultivate water consciousness, an awareness of how we use water, where it comes from, and what happens to it after use. From there, we need transparency: clear measurement and disclosure of water use, similar to what’s now expected for carbon emissions or biodiversity impacts.

Businesses must prioritize water reuse, water depollution, and sustainable sourcing. They should also support local communities and ecosystems, particularly farmers and water-stressed regions. At WaterRising, we guide companies using global frameworks like the UN CEO Water Mandate and the Women’s Empowerment Principles, ensuring both environmental and gender equity goals are addressed together.

Ultimately, water is a public health issue, a human rights issue, and a climate resilience issue. It needs to be treated as such by industries, governments, and all of us.

The luxury industries have a significant impact on water resources. How can the watch and jewelry industry more effectively address these environmental challenges?

The watch and jewelry industry has a critical role to play in advancing sustainable water stewardship, particularly because communities along the gold and diamond supply chains often face extreme water risks. Supporting responsible mining reforms is essential. That includes helping producers adopt sustainable water practices, eliminate hazardous substances like mercury, and clean up wastewater to protect local ecosystems and health.

Traceability is a non-negotiable. Companies must be able to account for where their materials come from and how they are sourced. Equally important is adopting eco-conception principles—from using recycled materials to designing products with minimal environmental impact.

We’ve partnered with the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 to help raise awareness and drive action on water issues within the luxury sector. Our ultimate goal is to see luxury brands commit to becoming water positive—not just reducing harm, but actively restoring and replenishing the water systems they touch.

And beyond operations, companies have a responsibility to educate consumers. Awareness must extend to the demand side so that customers understand the water footprint behind luxury and can make informed choices.

Water is the most precious resource we have, and the luxury industry has both the platform and the power to lead by example.