Major environmental challenges for the water sector

 A quick post on some of the major environmental challenges for the water sector:

1. Climate change – water is a key medium through which we feel the impacts of climate change but the sector is also energy intensive

A major challenge is achieving Net Zero carbon emissions, including Net Zero operational emissions by 2030 and for all emissions by 2050. Embedded emissions currently account for a fifth of industry emissions but are the hardest area to address and require changes in national and global supply chains. The latest costs of carbon from BEIS for use in policy evaluation could have a major impact on investment decisions based on carbon.

Mitigation options such as bioenergy and hydrogen production also have impacts on water demand and the water environment.

Adaptation is another challenge that needs to be addressed at the same time to reduce the impacts on our infrastructure. Climate change is a key driver of investment in water resources (with an additional 111Ml/d needed in the South East alone) as well as increasing surface water flooding and drainage. The CCC Climate Change Risk Assessment identifies wider impacts and investment needs – flooding, freeze-thaw and heatwaves.

2. Water Quality

England’s rivers, including 85% of the world’s rare chalk streams, are a valued resource, yet only 14% are in good ecological health. They face impacts from agriculture, the water sector and urban and transport sectors, which creates a complicated picture around who is responsible and who should pay for improvements.

More than 400,000 CSO events in 2020, investment is required to reduce the impact of these, especially in light of public pressure but it is also extremely costly.

3. Water Resources

We face the challenge of finding 720 Ml/d to replace unsustainable abstraction and improve the environment. In terms of drought, there is a1 in 4 change of a serious drought between 2018 and 2050. Work by NIC suggests greater costs to address this than are currently accounted for.

Tackling these challenges

A strategic approach is required for the water sector to address these challenges and should be:

• Developed along with conversations linked to WINEP and WISER
• Include a review of water company Net Zero plans, adaptation plans and previous environmental outcomes
• Developing approaches to Natural Capital, nature recovery and environmental net gain (in context of wider six capitals and public value)

There is a need to influence policy on national water and environmental policy, including:

• Environment Act targets
• Planning and supporting housing growth
• Farming and land management

Supporting an adaptive planning approach. 

• Given the nature and scale of the environmental challenges, particularly those longer-term linked to climate change, this supports the use of an adaptive planning approach
• Some water companies taking this approach in WRMPs but there is a need to join-up with DWMPs - nature-based solutions separately – need to join-up for efficient delivery

Supporting innovation required to tackle these challenges 

• Culture change and institutional innovations are key to enabling nature-based solutions – needed at all level within organisations as there is often disconnect and this varies widely between companies

The Government’s role in building the UK’s resilience to climate change

We are already facing the impacts of climate change and regardless of mitigation actions and emissions scenarios we need to increase resilience in the UK.  The Met Office 2020 State of the climate report highlights these:

We have seen the impacts of shocks to our economy and society from Covid-19 and recent economic change. Climate resilience needs to form a major part of wider national resilience measures. This post briefly sets out the role of Government in the UK and how adaptation actions can be prioritised.

Role of Government

The Government has a key role in building the UK’s resilience to climate change. This includes:

• Leading on resilience for the UK and promoting the importance of adaptation alongside mitigation efforts
• Prioritising and facilitating actions across government 
• The Committee on Climate Change third climate risk assessment (CCRA3) has recognised the need to include adaptation more within wider policies, highlighting that 11 of 15 relevant major UK Government announcements didn’t include adaptation alongside mitigation policy
• Formal role in producing the National Adaptation Programme (NAP), under the Climate Change Act (2008)
• Respond to the CCRA3 risks identified
• Identify actions across Government but also devolved administrations, local authorities, infrastructure provides and wider
• Delivery, monitoring and reporting against the NAP
• Adapting essential services and infrastructure: Adaptation Reporting Power
• Adaptation at the international level – COP26 core goal - call on countries to increase action on adaptation and reduce loss and damage; C40 Cities and other programmes increasing focus on adaptation
• Research and innovation for adaptation
• Note - devolved governments also have a key role to play with different approaches being taken in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

How to prioritise actions?

The Committee on Climate Change's Third Climate Change Risk Assessment provides a range of actions and a framework for adaptation. It sets out 61 risks and opportunities with 8 highest priorities for adaptation in the next two years. Many risks and actions are relevant to the environment – habitats, farming, soil health etc. but health and business/ energy risks also and indirectly influenced by transport, housing and other sectors. The Adaptation Reporting Power will highlight specific risks for sectors and organisations reporting also.

Adaptive Planning provides another approach. This can be based on water resources and flood risk (e.g. Thames Estuary 2100) approaches as well as international examples - identifying the decision points and where we can do the planning but not necessarily implementing all the changes, with a range of actions and options to take in the future.

Taking an impact assessment approach using costs and benefits, including:

• Ecological, economic and social impacts
• Inequalities – impacts on poverty
• Multiple benefits from measures
• Impact on sectoral climate resilience assessments

Considering stakeholder and political elements:

• Citizen assembly – this approach is being used by many local authorities and has been successful internationally on adaptation or specific resilience topics e.g. water resources
• Consultations - the more traditional stakeholder consultation approach over 12 weeks can engage with industry and others on adaptation

There is an opportunity to build on COP26 and the leadership position the UK is taking on climate change action. The Government has a central role in coordinating and promoting an integrated approach to adaptation and mitigation.