Global call for investment into process emissions

Water sector representatives from around the world have called for investment and government support to tackle process emissions from wastewater treatment.

Trade bodies from participating countries jointly called on governments to commit to collaborate to find a way to cut greenhouse gas emissions from processing sewage, which account for half the sector’s total emissions.

Treating sewage produces nitrous oxide, biomethane and carbon dioxide – gases that have scope to be captured and utilised as commodities rather than waste.

As part of COP26, Water UK, together with its counterparts in Europe, the US, Australia and New Zealand, appealed to governments and the global water industry to work together to tackle these emissions.

The group said governments could help secure long-term funding to enable companies to go further and faster in reducing process emissions.

It will form a research directory and global forum to share efforts and research conclusions from around the world as well as creating a platform for collaboration on future activity in this area.

Christine McGourty, chief executive of Water UK, said: “The water sector cannot play its full part in net zero without the reduction of emissions from processing wastewater. Governments around the world need to concentrate their efforts on one of the great challenges of our time, emulating the success of wind power, enabling a step change of technology at systems-scale.”

Developing and investing in solutions also has the potential to unlock new materials for the circular economy, and help others decarbonise, she added.

As part of the Public Interest Commitment to reach net zero by 2030, Water UK coordinated the creation of a routemap that included significant offsetting of process emissions. The trade body said its methodology would be updated through the decade as new technology and innovation enabled alternative and improved approaches.