Novas práticas de governança da água? O uso da pegada hídrica e a transformação das relações entre o setor privado, organizações ambientais e agências internacionais de desenvolvimento

• Main Authors: Vanessa Lucena Empinotti, Pedro Roberto Jacobi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal do Paraná 2013-06-01
• Series: Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente
• Subjects: water governance; private sector; water footprint
• Online Access: http://ojs.c3sl.ufpr.br/ojs2/index.php/made/article/view/27928/20669
• ISSN: 1518-952X; 2176-9109

In the last five years, the private sector assumed a different position in the water governance context. Multilateral agencies and non-governmental organizations have recognized the private sector as one of the main partners in transforming and improving water quality, instead of just being water resources exploiter and polluter. This article aims to understand how the private sector moves in the decision-making arena redefining the water understandings from input to an indicator of socio-environmental responsibility, and at the same time starting to create new governance practices. To this end, it presents and discusses the empirical study of SABMiller, a world known beer industry, and its initiative in developing the water footprint of its beer production in partnership with WWF and GIZ. When using the water footprint methodology to map water use in the industrial boundaries as well as the watershed, SABMiller also changed its position in the political sphere once the task for managing the water in responsible matters was shared in between the different actors of the region. Also, in this context, environmental organizations and development agencies became mediators of the industry’s agenda with state and society since they assumed a position of bringing SABMiller’s suggestions to the decision-making spheres. Finally, the partnership between SABMiller, WWF and GIZ created opportunities for new spaces of negotiation in the water governance practices, in which the industry could assume leadership positions until now mostly occupied by the State and civil society organizations.