Global water shortages will ‘trigger’ social unrest, warns Nestle chairman

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Mr Brabeck-Letmathe warned “water shortage would intensify competition between countries for access to water”.

In a bid to help tackle the issue, Mr Brabeck-Letmathe announced that the public-private initiative the 2030 Water Resources Group (WRG) is being “scaled-up”.

Launched in 2008 following a United Nations’ call for businesses and governments to address water security issues, the group provides guidance and new policy ideas on water resource scarcity.

As a result, Nestlé became a member of the group, working alongside other members such as McKinsey & Company and the World Bank Group. According to Mr Brabeck-Letmathe, the group will benefit from funding from the International Finance Corporation and the Swiss Agency for Development Corporation.

It will also receive support from the Inter-American Development Bank and other global companies.

Carys Matthews