Our Triple Pledge
In 2019 we set a clear and bold ambition, which we have named our Triple Carbon Pledge. By 2030 we will reach:
Read more about our Science Based Targets for reducing carbon emissions.
Our climate achievements so far
In 2023, we won Net Zero Carbon Initiative of the Year at the Water Industry Awards for our programme of Delivering net zero wastewater treatment.
*See our ARA for our up to date performance.
Our carbon footprint explained
Our Triple Carbon Pledge relates to our operational carbon emissions and focusses on direct and indirect emissions we produce. These are categorised as scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. We currently report all of our scope 1 and 2 emissions, and estimate a proportion of our scope 3 emissions.
We are working to improve our data capture for scope 3 emissions, which include emissions from our supply chain companies who do work for us.
The sources of our carbon emissions
Our major emissions sources come from process emissions, electricity use, chemicals and transport.
We are investing in innovative projects that aim to reduce our emissions from all sources. Our PR24 Business Plan, covering 2025 to 2030 include investment case for how we will continue to cut our carbon emissions.
We take a range of actions to reduce our energy consumption. We regularly monitor site energy performance, challenging current practice and identifying energy saving opportunities. We’re delivering energy efficiency improvement work on all assets across the wholesale business. This includes:
We also encourage our teams to support and take responsibility for reducing our energy consumption at work. Our monthly Kill-a-Watt league recognises people who achieve the best energy saving measures each month. We engage with customers on water efficiency and sewer misuse, to reduce the amount of water and waste water we need to treat.
Across 2023/4, we self-generated the equivalent of 58% of Severn Trent Water's electricity needs.
We are able to generate green energy using the following methods:
We're currently researching, investigating and working on new projects to use a variety of renewable technologies, such as converting food waste into green energy.
We have committed to gradually rolling out the following to all our vehicles:
To support our commitment to 100% electric vehicles by 2030, we have installed over 300 charge points and will continue to roll do so across more sites
Greenhouse gases such as methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide are released through the biological treatment of sewage and biosolids.
We are running industry leading projects to better understand and quantify these emissions along with implementing new innovations to reduce them.
Our approach to reporting is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard and we have included only emissions from the assets which we own and operate and which we can directly influence and reduce, known as the financial control boundary.
Our Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions are included in the ESG Databook and our historic GHG data is available in our Annual Report and Accounts.
We were awarded the Carbon Trust Standard in 2009, and we’ve maintained it ever since.
We are now certified to the Carbon Trust’s Route to Net Zero Standard. Our Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures is included within our ARAs.