Matthew GriffinFounder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
G7 · G20governments advised
850+keynotes
102countries
17codexes
Energy and sustainability sessions forUnited NationsBureau of International RecyclingAVEVAAditya Birla GroupAZ ChinaManagement Events
Featured inBloombergThe Wall Street JournalThe Telegraph
SUEZ invited Matthew to join its Head of Digital, Phillipe, for a live-streamed discussion on the future of water: the options and innovations that governments, utilities and individuals have today to stave off what the United Nations calls future "water wars".
He set out the scale of the problem. By 2030 the UN estimates that 129 countries, including many in Europe, will face extreme water stress. Spain already experiences it across 40% of the country, and over 50% of Europe's river basins are starting to see water scarcity.
"Today we are developing the solutions that, if deployed at speed, will perhaps let us stave off the worst of this future."Matthew Griffin, Virtual, February 2022
Matthew described a triple whammy. Demand is rising from consumers and from agriculture, which alone uses 70% of all freshwater, as populations and their need for food grow. Climate change is putting water sources under pressure like never before. On top of that, rising sea levels threaten local freshwater supplies and aquifers, and pollution adds to the strain.
Wherever people live, he argued, they are unlikely to avoid the consequences. Yet the solutions are being developed today, and if deployed at speed they could stave off the worst of this future: new agriculture and food production techniques, new desalination and filtration systems, smart water solutions, water recycling and reuse, and direct air capture systems.
311 Intelligence
What this means for your leadership team
Treat water as a strategic risk.
Matthew showed water stress reaching much of Europe as well as drier regions. Few organisations will avoid the consequences.
Back solutions that exist today.
Desalination, filtration, smart water and reuse are already available. Speed of deployment decides how bad the future gets.
Look at food and water together.
Agriculture uses 70% of freshwater, so food production methods are part of any water strategy.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
How exposed are our operations and suppliers to water stress?
Which water reuse or efficiency measures could we deploy this year?
How would water shortages affect the food and materials we depend on?
The trends and technologies behind this session
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
The 311 Starburst tracks demand for fresh water on course to outstrip supply by 40% by 2030, putting food and industry at risk.
Are countries investing in desalination?
Water stressed countries are building record desalination and wastewater reuse capacity. The 311 Starburst expects wide use around 2030.
What are single step desalination systems?
They take salt out of sea water in one process. The 311 Starburst expects wide use around 2036.
How can 311 brief our leadership team on this?
Through a private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector, in person first.
Bring this to your leadership teamA private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. In person first, anywhere in the world.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s session and 311 data.
If Matthew gave this session today
Hundreds of emerging technologies are changing industry and society.
The codex explores hundreds of emerging technologies and their implications for global culture, industry and society, including the kinds of innovation Matthew believes can head off a global water crisis.
