A good “water” start for 2014 with the NDRC proposing tiered tariff schemes to rein in top users of water in Chinese cities. With many criticizing that this will not make a difference, we take a closer look at price points & switchpoints between tiers. Pricing water correctly is essential in over-hauling water infrastructure and encouraging innovation. Will Sarni, Director and Practice Leader of Enterprise Water Strategy at Deloittes walks us through existing barriers to water innovation and what it takes to ‘rethink water’ in the face of rising scarcity. Another signal that it’s time to ‘rethink water’ is the Ministry of Water Resources announcement that regional water availability will dictate future coal plans. As part of CLSA’s ESG in China Report, Debra Tan shared her views with Charles Yonts, Head of Sustainable Research on why the Chinese government policy on pricing, enforcement, food & energy should be linked due to limited water resources. See why it’s time to ‘move out of silos’ in the full republished interview below. 2014 also brings about the renewal of the Dongjiang Water Supply Agreement between Hong Kong and Guangdong. In the face of rising water prices, is it time for Hong Kong to ‘rethink water’? Check out how Hong Kong’s water strategy stacks up against Singapore’s in Civic Exchange’s Su Liu’s Tale of Two Cities. It seems that 37 other countries also face national & economic security threats due to extremely high baseline water stress levels – check out who these are in Aqueduct’s new Global Water Stressed Rankings. Finally… have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? Here’s one to consider … In 2013, for the entire year, Dr. Christina Dean, CEO of Redress, wore only secondhand clothes. See how much energy & water she saved and how you too can ‘rethink water’ and save the world by “redressing” your wardrobe. Happy New Year!