South West Water has contributed to a regional strategy aimed at helping the South West region adapt and prepare for the adverse impacts of climate change. The Devon, Cornwall, and Isles of Scilly (DCIoS) Climate Adaptation Strategy was released at the end of last year.
It was developed by the DCIoS Climate Impacts Group, a collaboration of strategic organizations, including local authorities chaired by the Environment Agency, with support from RSK, an engineering and environmental consultancy.
South West Water played a pivotal role in shaping the strategy and will continue to play a significant role in the future to both mitigate the impacts of climate change and adapt to its future effects on the region.
The publication of the strategy follows a consultation earlier this year, in which 76% of respondents expressed concern about climate change and 69% stated that they have already experienced the effects of climate change.
It is essential to establish strategies to address both the cause of increasing greenhouse gases and their impact on our communities, known as mitigation and adaptation respectively, to effectively respond to the climate crisis.
The Strategy outlines the region’s risks from climate impacts, the prerequisites for collective action on adapting to climate change, and priority actions for regional cooperation over the next five years.
As part of the total £2.8 billion investment in the region from 2025 to 2030, South West Water is prioritizing both climate mitigation and adaptation measures.
The company has committed to achieving Net Zero by 2030, investing in climate-independent water sources, and enhancing its environmental initiatives.
South West Water will also increase waste recycling and generate enough energy to power 20,000 homes, while expanding its award-winning Upstream Thinking catchment management program to deliver improvements to 146,500 hectares of land by 2030.
Carolyn Cadman, Director of Natural Resources at South West Water, stated: “As one of the largest businesses in the region with a responsibility for managing water – a vital natural resource – we welcome the launch of the strategy especially given the pressures that climate change will bring for the South West. Everyone at South West Water is passionate about playing our part to mitigate climate change and its impacts on our natural environment. That’s why we are making significant investments in water resilience measures and reducing our own carbon footprint. We are also working to offset carbon emissions through tree planting and our leadership of the South West Peatland Partnership.”
Mark Rice, Area Director for Devon, Cornwall, and Isles of Scilly at the Environment Agency, commented: “We’d like to thank everyone who responded to the consultation. It is clear that communities in Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly are already facing increased risks due to a changing climate and are concerned about this. Therefore, it is crucial that a coordinated approach is taken by regional bodies responsible for managing the risks posed by climate change and responding to hazards. The Action Plan in the Strategy outlines what needs to be done over the next five years.”
Source :South West Water
