Profiting from global change is a theme many investors are concerned about. But is there an ethical way to make money and do your bit?

Rain. Nothing more likely to break the heart of an Englishman in June, delighting in the heat and the moment in which the cold husk of winter is left behind.

Pattering at speed, it is often cursed. The “rain is at it again” or “can’t go out it’s raining”.

Yet far from cursing the rain we should praise its arrival, and express thanks we live in a nation that doesn’t face droughts or water shortages on a regular basis outside of the occasional heatwave.

Yet for billions of people water is a scarce and precious commodity and one that is likely to fuel future conflicts.

Indeed, wars in Darfur and Syria have been blamed on climate change, or at the very least water shortages, crop failure and the related issues have exacerbated conflicts, although causality in something as multi-faceted as war of course cannot be broken down or proven so simply.

The ethics of investing in water are complicated, and worth further investigation.

One area worth considering and which brings both personal benefit (or the prospect of it) and a social benefit is companies that develop water preservation technologies.

From desalination to water management, the use of such technologies will undoubtedly prove essential for our future long term survival.

Desalination is particularly important for water-stressed regions that face a combination of political woes and the unimaginable misery of a life without regular water.

The Water Resources Institute has an online tool that enables viewers to analyse water challenges on a number of different metrics from drought risk to water depletion. It is available here.

The next area of potential interest is going into a water investment through the ETF route.

The iShares Global Water ETF was one that caught my attention, with exposure through the ETF to companies such as Swedish water company Alfa Laval and leviathans such as the American Water Works.

ETFs present their own risks and challenges, and all prospective investors should seek out financial advice before considering any investment.

As the world faces increasing pressure, using our hard-earned cash to develop technologies that promote a healthy, happy and sustainable planet are of immense importance.

Note: The above does not constitute investment advice. Readers should seek out the services of an Independent Financial Advisor or its equivalent in their nation.