Yorkshire Water receives climate change response recognition

Yorkshire Water has today been commended as being “at the forefront” of responding to climate change.

The comments follow the publication of the company’s climate change strategy, which lays out the company’s plans to respond to ensure the security of the essential water and waste water services it provides to five million customers.

It also describes how the company will continue tackling the carbon emissions hidden in its water and waste water services.

Responding to the strategy, Jon Clubb of the Climate Change Partnership for Yorkshire & Humber, said:  “I am pleased to see Yorkshire Water is among those at the forefront of responding to the serious challenges we face from extreme weather and the changing climate.”

“The resilience of our critical infrastructure assets are key to the long term vitality of our communities and businesses, whatever the weather. Reducing our emissions goes hand in hand with being well adapted to a changing climate – so it’s also right that they are making Yorkshire’s water supply more sustainable by making renewable energy from our sewage waste and reducing their carbon emissions.”

The company, which holds the Carbon Trust Standard, last year reduced its emissions by 8,700 tonnes on the previous year.

Gordon Rogers, Yorkshire Water’s climate change strategy manager, said: “People can continue to debate the reasons behind it, but the evidence shows that our climate is changing and as a business we have a responsibility to respond to that.

“We’ve set out a detailed plan to safeguard Yorkshire’s water for future generations. The great news is that doing the right thing can go hand in hand with keeping water bills as low as possible for the long-term. For example, we are generating green and low-cost energy from sewage waste.”