ECAM User Manual

The User Manual was developed as an instrument to support the use of the ECAM tool (Energy Performance and Carbon Emissions Assessment and Monitoring). It can help users to estimate greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from the Urban Water Sector activities. This document is intended to be practical, accessible and “straight to the point”. To understand the conceptual framework of the ECAM tool, the user can consult the additional document “Methodology Guide”.

White paper: Net Zero. The race we all win (Xylem)

The race to net-zero emissions is on. Since the Paris Agreement of 2016, more than 70 countries, accounting for 76 percent of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, have pledged to meet ambitious net-zero goals. Most have committed to a 45 percent cut in GHG emissions by 2030, and net zero by 2050. That’s a challenge for water utilities. Water and wastewater infrastructure is a major GHG contributor – making up approximately 2% of global GHG emissions, on par with the global shipping industry. Utilities are not just required to deliver on financial metrics. They must also meet their communities’ need for safe, affordable water and sanitation, and comply with regulatory requirements. Those imperatives don’t pause for emissions reduction. And they don’t have to. Utilities can reduce emissions quickly and affordably. With the right approaches and proven technologies, net zero is possible

Adapting to rising river flood risk in the EU under climate change

River flooding is the costliest natural disaster in Europe. Global warming and continued development in flood prone areas will progressively increase river flood risk. Direct damages from flooding could become six times present losses by the end of the century in case of no climate mitigation and adaptation. Keeping global warming well below 2°C would halve these impacts. Adequate adaptation strategies can further substantially reduce future flood impacts. In particular, implementing building-based damage reduction measures and reducing flood peaks using retention areas can lower impacts in a cost-efficient way in most EU countries, even to flood risk levels that are lower than today. Restoring natural wetlands and floodplains to retain excess water also improves the state of water and ecosystems.

Nature for Climate Action: Nationally Determined Contributions

Failing to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is one of the greatest risks facing the world today. However, even dramatic cuts in emissions at this stage will only begin to slow the rate of climate change. As of the middle of 2021, ever dramatic impacts of climate change are already here, and we need to aggressively cope with additional impacts that will occur in the coming decades, potentially even centuries.

Locking Carbon in Wetlands for Enhanced Climate Action in NDCs

The purpose of this report is to demonstrate the value of wetlands as a way to achieve climate mitigation targets, while simultaneously unlocking co-benefits, with biodiversity conservation being chief among them. Locking Carbon in Wetlands for Enhanced Climate Action in NDCs is written for policymakers and national climate planners with three goals in mind: 1) to illustrate the scientific rationale behind the use of wetlands as a climate mitigation tool; 2) to demonstrate the prevalence and function of wetlands across landscapes and geographies; and 3) to provide a set of clear policy recommendations that will enable Parties to the UNFCCC to conserve, restore and wisely use wetlands by incorporating them into their climate mitigation plans.

HELP Guiding Principles for Drought Risk Management under a Changing Climate

In recent years, countries around the world have been hit hard by drought events that affect food supplies, agricultural incomes, employment, drinking water supplies, ecosystem health, transportation systems, and energy production. As the risk of drought is increasing due to ongoing climate change the HELP community started the flagship initiative to draft a report as guidance for supporting, defining and
refining DRR for drought risk management. In this report proactive approaches, having greater emphasis on building resilience, are advocated.

Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Inventories

Cities are the global centers of communication, commerce and culture. They are also a significant, and growing, source of energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A city’s ability to take effective action on mitigating climate change, and monitor progress, depends on having access to good quality data. Planning for climate action begins with developing a GHG inventory.
An inventory enables cities to understand the emissions contribution of different activities in the community.

Water Climate Discussion

The Water Climate Discussion series creates a space to come together and help the water sector build its leading role in addressing the climate crisis. The series is the result of close collaboration between water institutions who recognise climate change as an
existential threat and wish to have a voice promoting a key message: water is climate. This report is based on the recorded third discussion of
the series: Energy Transitions, which was aired on Thursday, 1 July 2021. The discussion was hosted by Martin Currie and led by Ivan Vølund of VCS Denmark, John Sammon of Scottish Water Horizons and the interaction of the participants.

Hydrogen 2021: A Roadmap to Net Zero

As the world recognizes the growing impacts of climate change, there is a sense of urgency to accelerate the transition to energy, transport and industrial systems with fewer greenhouse gas emissions and effectuate more sustainable modes of production
and consumption. To enable this transition, new energy carriers will be needed to transfer the increased levels of decarbonized energy
to consumers, without impacting the quality of service to residential, industrial and transportation users. Hydrogen offers
a versatile solution and is emerging as an increasingly important energy vector for decarbonized fuel sources, as well as for the storage and transport of renewable energy. Hydrogen is expected to play a critical role in decarbonizing power generation and transport, heating domestic and commercial buildings, and supporting industrial feedstock and industrial processes — including hard-to-abate sectors such as
steel, refining, cement and agriculture.

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