Koç Holding announced that it aims to reduce the freshwater withdrawal in its operations by 85 percent by 2040, within the scope of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change, hosted by Türkiye.
Koç Holding, one of the global business partners of COP31, one of the world's most important organizations in the field of combating climate change, organized a panel titled "From Corporate Action to Large-Scale Water Resilience" within the scope of the conference.
The company announced at the panel that it aims to reduce freshwater withdrawal in its operations by 85 percent by 2040, compared to the base year of 2025.
It was also reported that Koç Holding joined the Water Resilience Coalition (WRC), which brings together leading companies for the sustainable management of water resources.
Koç Holding CEO Levent Çakıroğlu, World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Industries Team President Francisco Betti, Water Resilience Coalition CEO Matthew Kistler, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Climate Strategy and Implementation General Manager Gianpiero Nacci and Microsoft International Global Relations Senior Regional Director Pier Luigi Dal Pino attended the panel moderated by Sandrine Dixson-Decleve, Honorary President of the Club of Rome.
The panel evaluated translating water-related targets into concrete practices, implementing successful solutions on a larger scale, and financing opportunities for water resilience investments.
On the other hand, free diving world record holder and national athlete Şahika Ercümen performed a special dive in order to draw attention to the water commitment announced on the 100th anniversary of Koç Group.
Ercümen drew attention to the importance of protecting water resources and the future of water with his dive.
Koç Holding's water commitment was announced to the public with a special film containing the message "If Water Gets Silent, Life Gets Silent".
"Water will be as decisive as energy in terms of long-term competition"
Speaking at the panel, Koç Holding CEO Levent Çakıroğlu stated that the impact of water on production and investment decisions is increasing, and that the rising demand increases the pressure on limited water resources originating from agriculture, cities and industry.
Stating that water resources shape not only the current production and investment decisions of companies, but also their future growth strategies, Çakıroğlu stated that they foresee that water will become at least as decisive as energy in terms of long-term competitiveness.
Çakıroğlu emphasized that the goal they set for the responsible management of water resources is an important part of Koç Group's long-term growth strategy and said:
"By 2040, we aim to reduce the freshwater withdrawal in our operations by 85 percent compared to the base year of 2025. This means reducing the total amount of freshwater we draw even as our businesses grow. Our target covers our industrial facilities in the energy, automotive and consumer durable sectors, which make up 96 percent of our freshwater footprint. We see this commitment as part of our growth strategy. Because it tells us where and how to invest, how to design or redesign our operations and facilities, and our capacity decisions. "It also gives a clear signal to investors, our business partners and the wider industry community about where we are heading."
"We will increase water efficiency in our activities"
Stating that Koç Group has reduced fresh water withdrawal by 17 percent in the last three years, Çakıroğlu stated that they will focus on increasing water efficiency and benefiting more from technology and innovation in line with their new targets.
Pointing out that more than 70 percent of fresh water withdrawal in Türkiye originates from the agricultural sector, Çakıroğlu stated that they will therefore carry out studies not only in their own operations but also with stakeholders in the value chains.
Making evaluations about the road map to be followed to achieve the determined targets, Çakıroğlu said, "First of all, we will increase water efficiency in our activities. We will accelerate this transformation by developing better forecasts and more effective decision-making processes with the power of technology and innovation."
Çakıroğlu stated that Koç Group's most important physical risk related to climate change is water, and emphasized that the future of water resources cannot be secured by any stakeholder alone.
Stating that there is a need for cooperation between public institutions, private sector and other stakeholders through global platforms and coalitions to protect water resources, Çakıroğlu announced that Koç Holding has joined the Water Resilience Coalition in this direction.
