Other stories from last week

(by Karma Loveday)

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology announced a new AI Growth Zone in North Wales as part of a policy paper on building the infrastructure to underpin AI development. The paper deals with accelerating grid connections, enabling developers to build their own high voltage infrastructure, targeted electricity price support, planning reforms, community benefits and the formation of a dedicated AI Growth Zone Delivery Unit. But there was little mention of water infrastructure or supply. 

Affinity Water has joined the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). The TNFD provides a global framework for companies to measure and disclose how their operations depend on and impact the natural environment, in the same way the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures supports climate-related reporting. Affinity said this marks an important step in strengthening its transparency around environmental risks and natural capital, particularly as the sector looks to improve resilience and accountability. Fewer than ten water utilities globally are currently listed as TNFD adopters, but four are from the UK. Alongside Affinity, these are Severn Trent, United Utilities and Northern Ireland Water.  

Lila Thompson has stood down from her role as a non-executive director at Glas Cymru after three years. This is to concentrate on her role as British Water chief executive. 

WaterAid has welcomed Dutch development charity Simavi to its global federation. Simavi works with communities in Asia and Africa to improve access to clean water and toilets, with a particular focus on enhancing the lives of women and girls. It also works to promote female leadership, and social and climate justice. WaterAid said the decision to come together was made because of shared goals and values and similar ways of working, and that this reflects the desire for more unified and collaborative action to tackle the world’s most pressing water and sanitation challenges.