Are business practices intensifying water scarcity?
28 August 2025
Climate change has put a spotlight on our relationship with natural resources, especially water. In many parts of the world, the water scarcity crisis is being intensified by companies.
IHRB's Salil Tripathi speaks to Peter Waldman, a senior reporter at Bloomberg Businessweek, and to Ravi Mariwala, the Founder and Chief Executive of an Indian water management company called Smaart Water. Peter has been documenting growing global tensions around access to water, whilst Ravi’s company provides sustainable and safe water services for businesses, governments, and consumers.
Together they discuss the impact of commodifying water; including how small farmers and local communities are campaigning for greater access to water in Senegal, Australia and California, and how India manages its water scarcity.
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Host: Deborah Sagoe, IHRB's Communications Coordinator
Producer & Editor: Helen Brown
Additional Contributors: Sam Simmons, IHRB's Head of Communications