2020 Budget: a huge opportunity to take a bold step towards a net zero carbon future

Commenting ahead of the 2020 Budget announcement, Christine McGourty, Water UK chief executive, said:

“Tomorrow’s Budget is a huge opportunity to take a bold step towards a net zero carbon future. Recent flooding shows how devastating the effects of our changing climate can be and it is vital that we all take action now.

“The water industry will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, the first sector to set such an ambitious target. With our pledge to also prevent the equivalent of 4 billion plastic bottles ending up as waste by 2030, the water sector is stepping up to the challenges facing our environment but we need support from policy makers.

“We want to see Budget measures to help reduce carbon emissions - for example prioritising industrial energy efficiency, reducing water consumption by labelling appliances and supporting low carbon heating. We also want to see further support for our work to protect woodland and restore vital peatland. Another measure which would really help is forcing those who harm the environment to pick up the tab for making it better it again.”