Water in the Race to Zero
Nigel Topping, CMG
Founder Ambition Loop, former UN Climate Change High-Level Champion at COP26, Member UK CCC, NED at UK National Wealth Fund
With less than 100 days to go before global leaders converge on the banks of the River Clyde for COP, I am delighted to support the efforts of Water UK and their partners in raising awareness of the critical role of water in mitigating and managing the devastating impacts of climate change.?
The sector is making solid progress on the road to net zero with an increasing number of utilities making firm commitments that place them at the very heart of climate leadership. In just the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen plans published by two UK firms: the first from South West Water followed swiftly by our newest member, Northumbrian Water, who have set out their plan to make the company net zero for operational emissions by 2027, a full 23 years ahead of the UK Government's target.
Together with their fellow Race to Zero members around the world, these companies are putting climate at the heart of their business, fully integrating it into their strategies and ensuring accountability for water and climate targets at the highest level.?But there is still a long way to go, and I want to call on all water utilities today to follow their lead in joining our critical collective efforts to deliver a healthier, more resilient, zero carbon world.?
We are already in this race to zero emissions and greater resilience in the 2040s. But we need to go faster – and the water industry will benefit if it gets out ahead.
As of 2020, emissions from water utilities were on par with those from shipping and on track to more than double by 2040. Growing demand from increasingly scarce water supplies was expected to drive the need for more energy intensive sources such as desalination, large water transfers and more treatment. As a result, water demand is forecast to exceed sustainable supply by 40 percent by 2030.?
No one has all the answers but there can be no doubt that it is with the highest level of bold ambition, innovation and commitment to transparency that will help us get to a healthier, cleaner, safer 2050 - where people and communities are surviving and thriving, and the worst impacts of climate change have been averted. Join us.?
Find out more about?how the water sector can take action on climate change by joining the Race to Zero.
Building opportunity for the Water Industry Creating a New Paradigm economic model
3 年If we can not create economic feasibility these goals can not be met. The current economic models clearly demonstrate that we have not achieved economic feasibility. Here is a new economic model that provides economic feasibility https://ideas.repec.org/p/pra/mprapa/924.html A Water Monetary Standard: an economic thesis
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3 年There is some to doo ! ??#TOPten4greenFuture - helps save the climate and creation with clean and license-free ideas. ?? Urgently needed SOLUTIONS to the problems of industrial production that help reduce CO2, steel and concrete consumption by 80%! Please visit www.tubewaysolar.at and learn more about sustainable opportunities for #mobility, #plastic, #agriculture, #construction and more. ?? Thank you for your feedback and for sharing the link.
Communication and Knowledge Management Associate | Stakeholder Engagement | Research and writing | Design Thinking
3 年Hope to see the ripple effect across geographies to recognise the role of water in mitigating climate change and rethinking new ways of water management.
Human Sustainability Institute
3 年Nigel, I am currently engaged in a project along the Pacific Coast striving to implement a Plasma System for waste on the back end and a New Potable water collection, storage, and transport system in the front. If you have the opportunity to speak to Nestle representatives, we are already speaking to their packaging materials group in Mexico. We need high level corporate sponsorship to push through beaurocratic issues, as well as, funding support. Legal support would also be helpful. Thank you again for all of your effort. HSI/Pivot Projects is a resource from analysis and planning through implementation. Iain White Peter Head Ian Abbott-Donnelly Arthur Wood Amaranta Cárdenas Geno Wilson Daniel Christian Wahl, PhD