MGM Resorts International has become the first gambling business to endorse the United Nations’ CEO Water Mandate, a global coalition of hundreds of companies committed to addressing water crises and challenges.
The CEO Water Mandate aims to mobilize business leaders to commit to meaningful action across key elements and report annually on their progress, as well as identify and reduce critical water risks to their businesses, seize water-related opportunities, and contribute to water security and UN Sustainable Development Goals
Some 230 companies from across a range of industries and regions have signed up to the initiative.
MGM Resorts set out its Global Water Policy last year after revealing that between 2007 and 2021, the operator reduced water use by 37% and avoided use of 5.6 billion gallons through conservation and water-efficient building and design initiatives.
Other water-saving efforts at MGM Resorts include replacing over 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas, installing water-efficient fixtures and equipment in guest rooms, kitchens and laundry facilities, and improving the efficiency of Las Vegas cooling tower systems to reduce evaporative loss.
“Given our environmental conditions, Las Vegas has long been innovative it its approach to water,” MGM Resorts chief executive and president Bill Hornbuckle said. “We are fortunate to do business in a place that has a world class water management system and hope to help others learn from successes here.
“The ongoing drought and effects of climate change in the Western US are a wake-up call that we need to do more, and to that end. We’re proud to endorse the CEO Water Mandate to not only share what we’ve learned in Las Vegas, but also help strengthen our commitments.”