Beyond Compliance: Trade as a channel for the adoption of industrial wastewater treatment in the Global South

Abstract

Water emerges as a pivotal element within the context of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity. As a fundamental resource for all life forms, water plays a multifaceted role in our ecosystems, as a critical input to various sectors in our economies and to human well-being. Human activities, including industrial activity, continue to apply significant pressure on the environment, making water resources more vulnerable to pollution and degradation.

This brief explores the role of trade in facilitating access to affordable industrial wastewater treatment (WWT) solutions in developing countries. It does so through a combination of global data analysis and SMEP case study reviews outlining its potential for sustainability transitions and the business case for private-sector investment.