Carlo Galli, Technical and Strategic Adviser for Water Resources at Nestlé’s Corporate Head Office in Vevey, Switzerland

What are your expectations for the Zaragoza Conference for helping in the implementation of the water related SDGs?

I hope, in particular, that this conference can help local governments with clear guidance and tools on how to systematically set up and enforce water stewardship programs and partnerships at local levels that also involve participation of other key stakeholders from civil society and private sector

What are the main challenges for implementing sustainable water for all?

The biggest challenge in my view is that water, despite all efforts until now, is not yet adequately perceived and valued for its local scarcity, and this leads to alarming overuse and wastage. Raising awareness can be at international level but action must especially be at local scale, and strategies, guidelines and tools should be prepared to consider the specificity of local environmental, social and economic contexts.

What would you like to highlight about what your organisation is doing to achieve the water and sanitation targets?

Water is one of the 3 key areas in our ‘Nestlé in Society/Creating Shared Value’ framework. Our W.A.T.E.R. Commitments clearly describe the granularity level of our water stewardship efforts. We especially support the human right to water and sanitation by ensuring that all our facilities provide access to clean water and sanitation to their employees, and we also assist the provision of clean water and improved sanitation to priority communities adjacent to selected factories and locations where Nestlé is sourcing agricultural commodities