Segurança hídrica em ambientes urbanos: fatores críticos de sucesso das iniciativas voluntárias do setor privado para conservação de mananciais

Abstract

The water crisis in urban centers in Brazil is a complex problem related to climate change, environmental degradation, waste culture, and poor management. In the corporate sector, many advances in water management are established, however, few companies have voluntary initiatives for water conservation beyond their walls, aiming at the preservation of supply sources. Among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), used by most companies as beacons for sustainability goals, is the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems, SDG 6.6. The effective protection of these ecosystems requires investments and participation from different sectors of society and companies have great potential to contribute to this SDG. In this context, the objective of this research was to determine the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) of voluntary private sector initiatives for water security, with a focus on SDG 6.6. The methodology adopted was applied, mixed, exploratory research, with multiple case studies. Data were collected through bibliographic research and semi-structured interviews. The systematic review of the literature resulted in a theoretical-conceptual model with five main CSFs: proactive and advanced profile of corporate environmental management; predisposition for complex and long-term projects; understanding and valuing ecosystem services as part of business; formalization of successful crosssector partnerships; and community participation and engagement in the project. The results of the first specific objective, which dealt with presenting an overview of SDG 6.6 in organizations linked to corporate sustainability that include the water theme, identified seven organizations in Brazil and demonstrated how much this SDG is absent and unrelated to the actions directed by it. From the organizations identified, a list of 307 participating companies was extracted, which were the basis for the second specific objective, which tried to investigate the voluntary initiatives of these companies related to SDG 6.6, first in their sustainability reports and later through interviews. 39 companies were identified with 47 initiatives in total, which structured the case study. More than half of these companies are Brazilian, from the industrial sector, with sanitation, energy and beverages being the predominant branches. From the documentary research on the 47 cases, seven categories of analysis were extracted: motivation, lines of action, management, location, time, performance indicators and partnerships, which were broken down into 27 registration units. Through interviews, with 28 of the 39 companies, the cases were deepened and the five CSF were positively validated. The third specific objective dealt with the elaboration of a reference framework for voluntary initiatives of companies focused on SDG 6.6, through the triangulation of evidence, bringing together information, essential components and CSFs. This study highlighted the relevance of SDG 6.6 and how much it is generally absent in corporate water management. Companies with initiatives in this SDG have underscored its importance within the context of the growing demand for water security, which necessitates new approaches to water management beyond corporate boundaries and legal requirements.