Energy & climate change

Our plans to tackle climate change are based on addressing our current greenhouse gas emissions and planning for the long-term impacts of climate change.

In 2007, we set out our carbon management strategy with targets on cutting emissions and influencing both our own employees and our stakeholders in order to achieve our targets.

To deliver our targets of reducing carbon emissions by 26 per cent by 2012*, we are expanding our renewable energy generation and exploring how we can make greater use of sewage gas as a heat, energy and fuel source. We have also researched what low carbon utility service provision might look like in 2050 for the communities we serve.

Our carbon strategy is a key focus of our senior leadership team. In 2007, we developed a 'Think Carbon' campaign aimed at engaging our employees to get behind our plans. We have since established a 'Carbon Champion' network of 40 employees and have embarked on a programme of carbon leadership workshops.

We have also been communicating our carbon message to our customers and suppliers and we have developed an online water meter calculator which includes a carbon figure to enable customers to monitor and understand the impact their own water use has on carbon emissions.

Our future investment plans will include our intention to manage climate change impacts, such as flooding of properties and our own critical assets and protecting water resources.

Our strategic direction statement (SDS) sets out what we think we will need to do over the next 25 years and the challenge of addressing climate change is a key part of this.

* Target consists of at least 8% carbon reduction from our own activities and the remainder from certified renewable energy contracts.

For more detailed information follow the links below

 Carbon strategy

Our carbon footprint

Energy

Adaptation and mitigation