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Climate change

The projected impact of climate change in our region will add to a difficult situation where water resources are already stressed, and the population is increasing. We believe reducing our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and managing the impacts of climate change on our business is essential. This approach will help us to manage the challenges that climate change represents to delivering water and wastewater services.

You can download our update to the Government on our understanding and preparedness for the impacts of climate change under the 2008 Climate Change Act following on from our 2016 report. You can find out more about what we’re doing to tackle climate change and how we’re responding to the threat of increasingly turbulent weather patterns throughout this report.

Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)

We believe it's important to set our sights high to help keep global warming below 1.5°CWe're working to reduce our emissions to net Zero. 

For over 30 years, we’ve been on a journey to manage and reduce our carbon emissions. Our net market based emissions were 350.4ktCO2e in 2023/2024. Emission reduction activities include:

  • Self-generating renewably 21.1% of the electricity we used
  • Harnessing wind, solar, and poo power
  • Managing our greenhouse gas emissions

We’ve been producing sustainable energy at Mogden sewage treatment works since 1930s. In 2023, we completed our latest biomethane plant at Mogden. It will export biomethane into the gas grid to substitute fossil fuel Natural Gas. This is the equivalent to providing the heating and cooking requirements of over 4,000 homes.

A lady is kneeling down close to some plants and watering them with a spray in her hand.

Managing the impacts of climate change

The impacts of climate change are already being felt by our business. Over the past few years alone, we have experienced various extreme weather events. Some of the significant weather events since 2010 include:

2024

Three named storms in January

2023

Second warmest year on record for England since 1659 and eleven named storms

2022

New UK temperature record of 40.3°C was recorded at Coningsby 

2021

Five named storms 

2020

Wettest February since 1862

2019

Hottest temperature on record of 38.7°C in Cambridge 

2018

Freezing weather 'The Beast from the East' in February/March

2016/17

The driest October to March period since 1995/96

2016

Heatwave, torrential downpours and flash flooding in South East England

2014

Twelve major storms cause widespread damage

2013/14

Major flooding in the South East and South West of England

2010/12

Multi-year drought 

It’s widely accepted that climate change is a serious issue and a major challenge to society. Our customers have told us that they want a service that is resilient to challenges. This includes current and future challenges including climate change. It's hard to predict the full extent and precise timing of its impacts. Planning for issues can make this extremely challenging.

We regularly review the potential impacts of climate change on the business. We also develop plans to reduce this impact as part of our business planning. Key issues were found to be still broadly related to either too much, too little or the wrong sort of water. This challenge is reflected in performance commitments as agreed by Ofwat.

You can find out more information in the following: