In the 21st century, water is no longer just a natural resource — it is the foundation of life, ecosystems, food security, public health, and economic resilience.

“Where clean water flows, food grows, life thrives, and opportunity begins.”

Yet industrial expansion, while accelerating GDP growth, has exerted immense pressure on freshwater systems across Thailand and beyond. Many industries continue to extract water from natural sources without equitable compensation. Worse, large volumes of wastewater are discharged without adequate treatment or long-term accountability.

Natural water sources that once served as public goods are now silently becoming conduits for industrial pollution.

• Rivers and canals have stopped flowing — blocked by infrastructure or repurposed as wastewater channels.
• Wetlands and freshwater basins have been buried under industrial zones, often without meaningful biodiversity assessments.
• Fragile freshwater ecosystems — home to native fish, aquatic plants, and microscopic life — are vanishing quietly as they fail to adapt to rising acidity, chemical loads, and heavy metal contamination.

These impacts do not stop at nature’s edge. They cut deep into the lives and livelihoods of communities who depend on these waters every day.

Where there were once fish, there are now chemical residues.
Where groundwater was once clear, contaminants now persist.

Farming families are forced to abandon their land as water becomes unusable.
Children and the elderly are exposed to unsafe drinking water with no alternative.

As industries advance,
nature recedes — and communities are left with no power to negotiate.

Now is the time to ask a different question

“What does a truly sustainable industry look like — and how must it coexist with water?”

The Good Water Source initiative is not just raising this question —It is working to build the systems that make coexistence possible : between industries, communities, and nature — grounded in fairness, science, and regeneration.

This initiative will

• Map and assess critical “good water sources” for long-term resilience
• Introduce reporting frameworks aligned with FTSE Russell and DJSI criteria for climate and biodiversity impact
• Build collaborative monitoring platforms between industries and local communities
• Develop new mechanisms for GHG reduction through watershed restoration
• Establish a Water Stewardship Scorecard to recognize industry leaders investing in natural systems

Good Water Source is more than an environmental project — It is a strategic foundation for a future where economic growth, ecological balance, and social equity can thrive — together.

Strategic Direction of the Good Water Source Initiative

Three Pillars for Systemic Transformation

The Good Water Source initiative is committed to driving systemic change across the Asia-Pacific by integrating industrial growth, ecological regeneration, and community resilience through three strategic dimensions that align with both regional development goals and global sustainability frameworks:

1. Build and Certify Partnerships

(Forging Collective Action for Water Equity)

• Foster strategic collaboration with industries committed to responsible practices in climate, water, and ecosystem stewardship.
• Promote the elevation of corporate water management standards to support long-term ecological balance and community well-being.
• Establish the Good Water Contributor Certification — a formal recognition system to highlight businesses with exemplary performance in water restoration and climate–nature co-benefits, offering a scalable model for the region.

2. Recognize and Inspire Business Leadership

(Catalyzing Nature-Positive Enterprise for the Region)

• Formally acknowledge organizations that demonstrate measurable, high-impact outcomes in restoring water resources and reducing environmental harm.
• Utilize high-level regional platforms such as the Climate Action Forum (CAF 2026) and ESG summits to spotlight businesses advancing Nature Positive Impact.
• Enable these recognized enterprises to connect with global disclosure frameworks — including databases tracking Climate–Water–Biodiversity Reporting — reinforcing transparency and credibility in international markets.

3. Co-Develop Tools for Systemic Change

(Advancing Metrics and Monitoring for a Water–Climate–Nature Nexus)

• In collaboration with academic institutions, business leaders, and public agencies, co-create next-generation tools to measure and manage environmental outcomes with precision. Key tools include:
  ▪️ Water Biodiversity Scorecard – a diagnostic index to assess the ecological impact on aquatic ecosystems
  ▪️ GHG–Water Footprint Model – an integrated tool linking water use practices to greenhouse gas reduction pathways
  ▪️ Industry–Community Co-monitoring Platform – a participatory mechanism enabling joint oversight by businesses and local stakeholders

The success of this initiative will not be measured by the number of activities undertaken —
but by the tangible transformation of water systems that enable industry, nature, and communities
to thrive together in equity and sustainability.

Please follow the full publication and results at the Climate Action Forum 2026 (CAF2026).

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