The UNFCCC’s Race to Zero campaign, which aims to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery, got the backing of elements of the UK water industry this week.
Water UK became the first industry trade body to be made one of 20 official partners of the Race to Zero campaign, pledging to deliver a net-zero water supply for customers by 2030.
The organisation says that it hopes that its Net Zero 2030 Routemap will make good some of its innovations in recent years. Water companies have apparently almost halved operational emissions since 2011 through a combination of renewable energy generation, energy efficiency measures, and the production of biomethane from sewage treatment processes.
So far Anglian Water and Severn Trent have signed up for the campaign
Peter Simpson, Anglian Water CEO, said: “We’re proud to be one of the first companies to join the international Race to Zero Campaign, and to share our ambition and journey as an industry to reach net-zero carbon by 2030.
“In the East of England, we face the challenges brought by climate change and population growth more keenly than anywhere else in the UK, and it is only by working collaboratively towards a common goal that we will reach our target.”
“Water UK has shone a light on the path to net-zero for the water sector with a ground-breaking plan to deliver a net-zero water supply for customers by 2030 – the world’s first sector-wide commitment of its kind,” said Nigel Topping, High Level Climate Champion for COP26.
“We’re delighted to welcome them as a partner of the Race to Zero campaign, and to catalyse ambitious climate action across the water sector as we race to COP26.”
