Pacific Institute

The Pacific Institute’s February newsletter presents our latest updates in #WaterResilience.

Read the full newsletter here: conta.cc/4rDEJN4
Subscribe to get first access straight to your inbox here: pacinst.org/newsletter/

Governors Dive Into an Impasse Over Colorado River Water Use

Pacific Institute Senior Fellow Mike Cohen was recently featured in The New York Times where he spoke to Scott Dance about Colorado River water use negotiations.

Read the article: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/c...

New blog from Pacific Institute President and CEO Water Mandate Head, Jason Morrison, covers highlights from the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos.

One thing is clear: water risk is a business risk.

Read more: pacinst.org/from-davos-s...

How has corporate water stewardship evolved over the years and what needs to change to meet today’s water risks?

Our new white paper looks at two decades of progress, lessons learned, and what’s needed next to deliver impact at scale.

Read more: pacinst.org/publication/...

New Resource Biodiversity Benefit Accounting Guidance helps companies move beyond water risk mitigation and integrate biodiversity into corporate water stewardship projects with clarity and credibility.

Learn more: ceowatermandate.org/biodiversity...

2 days left! Have you registered?

Join the official launch of Biodiversity Benefit Accounting (BioBA) —a practical, science-based framework for identifying, measuring, and communicating biodiversity benefits within water stewardship and nature-based projects.

➡️ us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Upcoming webinar will dive into a recent Pacific Institute and Center For Water Security and Cooperation (CWSC) report, "Actionable Criteria for Achieving Equitable, Climate Resilient Water and Sanitation Laws and Policies."

Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Pacific Institute's Shannon Spurlock will be a featured panelist at the NYWEA Annual Conference.

Her session will examine how utilities & communities can navigate regulatory uncertainty, affordability pressures, workforce challenges, and organizational resilience.

➡️ nywea.org/wp-content/u...

Californians have been using far less water than suppliers estimated — what does this mean for the state? Flawed assumptions about water demand mean suppliers in California overestimated future demand by an average of 74% over 20 years — positive news for the drought-embattled state.

Pacific Institute Chief Research and Program Officer Heather Cooley recently spoke with Live Science about California's #water supply and demand forecast.

Read the article: www.livescience.com/planet-earth...

The Pacific Institute’s January newsletter presents our latest updates in #WaterResilience.

Read the full newsletter here: conta.cc/3O6dtIb
Subscribe to get first access straight to your inbox here: pacinst.org/newsletter/

Colorado River states need a 'federal threat' to make a water deal, this expert argues The federal Bureau of Reclamation late last week released a draft Environmental Impact Statement outlining options for how to deal with the Colorado River going forward.

Pacific Institute Senior Fellow Michael Cohen was recently featured on KJZZ 91.5 FM Phoenix, where he spoke to Mark Brodie about the Colorado River and upcoming deadlines.

Listen to the conversation: www.kjzz.org/the-show/202...

Who controls the Himalayas’ water? | Sensemaker

Pacific Institute Senior Research Specialist Morgan Shimabuku was recently featured on the Sensemaker podcast from The Observer UK to discuss the Pacific Institute's #WaterConflictChronology and the rising trends in water-related conflict.

Listen to the podcast: shows.acast.com/sensemaker/e...

#CWAC partners have started a new venture to advance regenerative agriculture practices in the San Joaquin Valley. The RAW lab uses #NBS to improve soil health and build resilience to drought and climate change.

Learn more: pacinst.org/california-w...

#10YearsOfCWAC #CAWaterAction

Colorado River Deadlines & Incentives A guest post by Friend of Inkstain Michael Cohen…. By Michael Cohen, Senior Fellow, Pacific Institute December 15, 2025 Key Takeaways The consensus-based effort to develop new rules to manage…

It’s time for a new approach on the Colorado River, writes Michael Cohen of @pacificinstitute.bsky.social: "Federal leadership and the credible threat of managing reservoirs to protect the system is that new approach." www.inkstain.net/2025/12/colo...

Your support is crucial to help ensure that:
💧communities have access to safe, clean, and affordable water;
💧forests, wetlands, and rivers are restored and protected; and
💧water is used and reused efficiently and effectively.

Will you join us? pacinst.donorsupport.co/page/year-end

The @pacificinstitute.bsky.social published their update to the Water Conflict Chronology, documenting 420 events in 2024. #NewSecurityBeat sat down with Peter Gleick, a leading experts on water issues, to discuss the key takeaways from this year’s update.

www.newsecuritybeat.org/2025/12/wate...

A Year-End Conversation with Jason Morrison - Pacific Institute As 2025 draws to a close, we sat down with Jason Morrison, President of the Pacific Institute and Head of … A Year-End Conversation with Jason Morrison MORE

As 2025 draws to a close, we sat down with Jason Morrison, President of the Pacific Institute and Head of the CEO Water Mandate, to reflect on a year of progress.

Read our latest blog: pacinst.org/a-year-end-c...

Our new report outlines 6 core attributes, 19 criteria, and 60+ actionable legal strategies to assess whether current laws support or hinder climate change preparedness and response for water and sanitation systems in frontline communities.

Download: pacinst.org/publication/...

The Pacific Institute & CWSC just released a first-of-its-kind legal framework for #ClimateResilient water & sanitation in the U.S. for frontline communities and their supporters to shape equitable water laws.

6 core attributes, 19 criteria, 60+ legal strategies.

➡️ pacinst.org/publication/...

California dairies feed the nation—but flood irrigation can waste & pollute water.

#CWAC partners led by Sustainable Conservation piloted manure drip irrigation, helping protect precious water resources from overextraction and contamination.

Learn more: pacinst.org/california-w...

#10YearsOfCWAC

Improving water efficiency in US homes, businesses, institutions, and reducing leakage in water distribution systems can save 14.0-34.1 million acre-feet of water/year (12.5-30.4 billion gallons/day)

New Pacific Institute study reveals massive potential to save water➡️ pacinst.org/publication/...

A new first-of-its-kind study from the Pacific Institute finds that water use in U.S. homes, businesses, institutions, and leakage in water distribution systems, could be reduced by 25% to 60% through improved efficiency. #WaterEfficiency

➡️ pacinst.org/publication/...

Pacific Institute Research Specialist for Water and Climate Equity, Becky Anderson, is featured at the Midwest Climate Resilience Conference this week.

Her session shares findings from a recent Pacific Institute report.

Learn more: mcrc.umn.edu/home
Read the report: pacinst.org/publication/...

After 2018’s wildfires scorched 1.8M acres, #CWAC partners led by Arbor Day planted 2M trees across 8,000 acres to restore watersheds & protect California’s water future.

Learn more: pacinst.org/california-w...

#10YearsOfCWAC #CAWaterAction

Pacific Institute President and CEO Jason Morrison is featured at the IDRA Reykjavik Summit on Water & Climate Change.

His panel explores how water stewardship anchored in equity, accountability, & local engagement can strengthen resilience: waterandclimatechange.org

On #IndigenousPeoplesDay, we recognize that advancing water equity means ensuring that all communities have equal access to the water and sanitation services that sustain life, health, and opportunity.

Learn more about our work to advance Water Equity: pacinst.org/our-impact-a...

On #WorldHabitatDay, let’s recognize the importance of safeguarding the natural & built environments that sustain us, and commit to advancing #NatureBasedSolutions that restore balance between people and planet.

Learn more about the business case for investing in nature: pacinst.org/the-business...

The CEO Water Mandate’s full-day event on Corporate Water Stewardship took place during #UNGA80.

Participants gathered to dive into timely and important conversations — starting with “Doubling Down on Water in Today’s ESG Environment.”

Learn more about the CEO Water Mandate: ceowatermandate.org

The CEO Water Mandate was proud to host a series of meetings including a New York edition of #WaterLogues during #UNGA80.

One message came through clearly: less talk, more action, together. That’s how we’ll build a #WaterResilient future.

In 2024, the Pacific Institute acted on our goal to catalyze the transformation to water resilience in the face of climate change.

Learn more in our new Impact Report: pacinst.org/publication/...