Following the announcement that the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, Xylem, a global water technology company, issued the following statement:
“Addressing the realities of climate change is an opportunity to create shared value among all stakeholders, and Xylem remains committed to doing our part as a citizen of the global community to advance this vital work,” said Patrick Decker, president and CEO of Xylem. “The connection between the impacts of climate and our finite water resources is undeniable, and the imperatives of fostering water security and building more resilient water infrastructure are foundational to sustainable economic growth and public health.”
“These challenges are too complex for any one entity to solve. We firmly believe that there is a role for governments at all levels, private industry, academia and individual innovators to play in creating the practical solutions and innovative technologies that will be needed to help communities across the globe both mitigate the impacts of climate change and adapt to its resulting effects, such as prolonged drought and increased flooding. Whether or not the U.S. chooses to participate in the Paris Agreement, at Xylem, our resolve remains strong. We will continue to reduce our own environmental footprint and work with our customers, partners, suppliers, community leaders and policy-makers to develop solutions to both global and local water challenges in order to create sustained value for all.”
Earlier this year, Xylem published a white paper entitled Building Resilience: Creating Strong and Sustainable Cities and Communities that outlines four categories of actions to increase the resilience of cities around the world: 1) ensuring water security; 2) strengthening critical infrastructure; 3) driving response and recovery, and 4) engaging community stakeholders.
The white paper includes case studies on that highlight how the company has enabled resilience through technology, for example with aquifer storage and recovery in Wichita, Kansas and water reuse in Los Angeles, California.
The Company also previously issued Powering the Wastewater Renaissance, which concluded that nearly half of the electricity-related emissions in wastewater management globally can be abated at a negative or neutral cost with the use of proven, readily available technologies. This is consistent with recent findings of the Environment Commission of Ontario.
Xylem has also published its climate change policy and is a signatory to the American Business Act on Climate Pledge.
