Wessex and SES Water join Race to Zero

Two more water companies, including the first water-only company, have joined the carbon-busting Race to Zero campaign.

Last week, Water UK, an official campaign partner, announced both Wessex Water and SES Water had joined.

Chief executive of Wessex Water, Colin Skellett, said: “There is no doubt we are in the midst of a climate crisis.

Unless substantially reduced or removed, these gases will result in a level of global warming that will be catastrophic for humanity and most of the world’s remaining ecosystems. The climate is changing rapidly and the effects will become more severe unless we act now. It is critical that we focus our efforts on ways to neutralise our carbon footprint and are committed to achieving net zero operational carbon emissions by 2030. However, we must decarbonise all aspects of our work, and will work to achieve net zero total emissions by 2040 at the latest.”

Chief executive of SES Water, Ian Cain, said: “We’re proud to be the first UK water-only company to make this commitment, demonstrating that our smaller size has no impact on the level of our environmental ambitions. Over the last ten years we have made great strides in reducing the emissions we create, cutting them by nearly 90%, by generating more of our own solar power, switching to 100% renewable electricity and having the most extensive fleet of electric vehicles in the industry.

“But each day we use enough electricity to power 13,000 homes and it’s clear there is much more we need to do, along with the rest of the sector, to reduce the impact of pumping, treating and distributing millions of litres of water every single day. That’s why we will be working hard - with our employees, customers and suppliers - to deliver what is in our route map and play our part in not only protecting the environment but improving it for the benefit of everybody.”

The Race to Zero is a UN-backed global campaign rallying non-state actors – including companies, cities, regions, financial and educational institutions – to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier, fairer zero carbon world.

Water UK is working as an official partner to the Race to Zero to encourage providers of water and wastewater services around the world to commit to achieving net zero ahead of the COP26 Climate Conference this November. The campaign’s ambition is to mobilise major water companies responsible for 20% of global water supply, with the aim of delivering the full decarbonisation of water and wastewater services in 20 countries by 2030.