Water resilience projects for business.Because the Water crisis needs people who act.
RESPOND was founded to build a Water-resilient Europe. Together with local partners and science, we develop projects for businesses across Europe.
Our drive: building a Water-resilient Europe, together.
The fact is: Europe is heading towards Water bankruptcy. We use more Water than our ecosystems can store and replenish. Between 2002 and 2022, Germany lost an average of 0.76 km³ of Water per year. The consequences already hit companies, municipalities and entire regions hard: only about a quarter of climate-related disaster losses in the EU are insured, and in some countries less than 5%. The rest falls on households and public budgets. It is time to respond to the Water crisis.
Our answer: to solve the Water crisis not on paper, but at the source - in wetlands, floodplains and forests. With local project work, scientific rigour, entrepreneurial understanding and a commitment to measure impact rather than simply claim it, we develop Water resilience projects that return Water to ecosystems.
Our vision
A Water-resilient Europe, where Water never becomes a problem for anyone.We believe in a Europe with resilient companies, cities and ecosystems - where water is one of the most important foundations, not a limitation.
Our principles
Science-led, locally rooted, for the commons.This is how we restore real hydrological function and transparently evidence its impact to auditors, regulators and the communities within the catchment.
Our approach
Hands in the ground with technology at our side.That way we adapt to local Water challenges and combine scientific rigour with entrepreneurial speed. For clear impact and detailed reporting aligned with CSRD, SBTN and TNFD.
Water is a common good.
That is why our projects are designed to benefit the entire catchment - never single actors at the expense of their region. And why we work exclusively on land in public, protected or trust ownership - together with municipalities, foundations, NGOs and other public bodies. Learn more in the RESPOND FAQ
We bring businesses, local partners and science around one table.
Water resilience happens when science, local delivery and business act together. That is why RESPOND connects experts in hydrology, restoration and corporate strategy with a strong network of local project partners, science and responsible companies.
Our team
Our team
Christian Bergius - Founder & CEO. Combines Nature Finance, entrepreneurship and technology to make Water resilience projects commercially viable and scalable. He has worked in Nature Finance for over 4 years and sees Water as a potential competitive advantage for European resilience and stability. He has lived through a "Day 0", when a city runs out of Water - and works to make sure it does not happen again. LinkedIn →Kathleen McAllister - Senior Hydrology Advisor. Expert in hydrology, Nature Management and sustainable Water use, with years of experience working with large corporates and complex requirements.Oliver Dauert - Strategic Corporate Advisor. Translates Water risks into corporate decisions and partnerships. A former Nature Guide in South Africa, he now brings biodiversity and ecosystem services into corporate decision-making.Our team is backed by an interdisciplinary group of ecologists and project developers, as well as independent monitoring and verification experts.
Our clients
Our clients
Our clients are companies that treat Water as a strategic resource. These includeAWS Germany - securing long-term Water availability for one of Europe's most critical digital infrastructures.Stadtwerke Karlsruhe - protecting regional Water resources and strengthening the resilience of drinking Water supply.Further partnerships - food industry, real estate and construction, and financial companies that understand Water as a strategic resource and want to secure their sites for the long term.They all share one goal: to secure Water where their sites and supply chains depend on it.
Our network
Our network
Our projects are built together with science, public authorities and land users, as well as strong partner organisations such as:BNW - Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft. Germany's federation of leading sustainable companies, accross sectors. Future Forest Initiative - a network of pioneers, science and landowners for long-term, climate-resilient forest management.Nationale Naturlandschaften - the umbrella organisation of Germany’s national parks, biosphere reserves and nature parks.These partners anchor our projects technically, regionally and socially.
OUR PARTNERS
RESPOND: born in Berlin. Built for Europe.
From Berlin, we develop Water resilience projects in Germany and across Europe - working with local partners and building on years of project experience.
2026
RESPOND was officially founded in 2026, building on several years of intensive project development and successful pilots with Water-dependent companies.
Berlin, Germany
RESPOND is headquartered in Berlin. Projects are delivered wherever Water becomes a risk - always together with local partners in the respective regions.
Germany & Europe
As a project developer we work locally rooted across Germany, and through our partner EcoTree in neighbouring European countries such as Belgium, France, Denmark or the UK.
Let's address your Water risks together.
Book a 30-minute call with our team, to discuss your Water context, our methodology and define specific next steps.
Want to understand your Water risk better before starting a project?
Share your sites and priorities with us. Within 72 hours you will receive a first personalised and free assessment of your Water risks and options for action.