The UKWP joins the CE taskforce
The UK Water Partnership is proud to announce that it has joined the UK Government’s Circular Economy Taskforce. This significant step follows the publication of our Circular Water Economy White Paper earlier this year and sets the stage for our upcoming white paper, which will be developed in collaboration with AtkinsRéalis, the University of Bath, and Veolia.
The increasing demand for the water sector to establish and achieve robust sustainability objectives is driving the adoption of the Circular Economy framework. This framework aligns with global standards such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, ISO59020, PAS2080, and the Global Reporting Initiative, providing a comprehensive ecosystem of metrics for achieving and measuring these objectives.
Our recent white paper highlights the critical role of a circular economy in protecting nature by minimising waste and resource consumption while regenerating natural systems. It offers recommendations to the sector and underscores the importance of collaboration among policymakers, regulators, and commercial entities to overcome the challenges posed by the lack of enabling policy, regulatory, and commercial frameworks.
Role of the Taskforce
The Circular Economy Taskforce will leverage its expertise to co-design the first strategy aimed at transitioning to a circular economy in England. This strategy will:
- Support economic growth
- Create green jobs
- Promote efficient and productive use of resources
- Accelerate the transition to net zero emissions
The taskforce’s key objectives include identifying and assessing mechanisms to underpin a Circular Economy Strategy for England. This strategy will enable the UK government, industry, and civil society to:
- Drive economic growth by stimulating investment in technologies, sectors, and infrastructure that enable resource circularity
- Create jobs across the circular economy and bolster the security of supply chains
- Increase resource efficiency and productivity
- Reduce emissions and accelerate the transition to net zero
- Contribute to the government’s missions to kickstart economic growth and establish Britain as a clean energy superpower, supporting the UK government’s Industrial Strategy and refreshed Carbon Budget Delivery Plan
What’s Next?
Phase Two of our initiative will delve deeper into delivering Circular Economy solutions and shaping policy and regulation. This phase will focus on enhanced wastewater systems, managing biosolids and bioresources, addressing chemical use in water management, and implementing localized circular economy solutions. The new phase will be co-led by the University of Bath, Veolia, and our new member AtkinsRéalis.
If you would like more information about this, please get in touch at secretariat@theukwaterpartnership.org