Keynote Address: A Vision for a Low Carbon Water Industry 2050
Professor Issy Caffoor, Knowledge Transfer Manager, Environmental Sustainability KTN,
(free)
‘Water is the new oil’, and carbon is the currency which will drive the Water Sector to make significant changes to reduce its carbon budgets. The industry will be a significant player in the Carbon Reduction Commitment in 2010 and contribute to the UK’s carbon reduction targets. This report outlines ways of driving a vision for a low carbon water industry in 2050. It recognises that a multifaceted approach will
be required that:
• builds on research, technology and skills development;
• requires policy and institutional reform, that allows new approaches;
• requires cross boundary cooperation and systems; builds stakeholder
capacity to understand risk and mitigation; and
• provides financial support to incentivise a low carbon approach.
The report describes the potential business, social and infrastructure changes that may result, and outlines how demand reduction, water sensitive urban design, including community based solutions, and significant changes to water industry operations will contribute to the low carbon vision. The report identifies the many barriers that inhibit a low carbon approach and suggests that the climatic stresses
of the future will contribute to the removal of these barriers and to a culture change in the stakeholder base.
