As a water supply and drainage industry that guarantees people's livelihood, the water industry needs to take the opportunity of achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals to develop green, low-carbon and sustainable new technologies, tap the potential of carbon emission reduction, and achieve synergistic efficiency of pollution reduction and carbon reduction.
The challenge of water treatment industry towards carbon neutrality
Sewage treatment is the main sector of the water industry. The number and treatment rate of urban sewage treatment plants in my country are increasing year by year. Although compared with energy, industry, construction, transportation and other sectors, the sewage treatment industry produces a small proportion of greenhouse gas emissions, but its energy consumption per unit output value is high, which is an energy-intensive industry, and the emissions are mainly methane and nitrous oxide The warming effects of other non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases are 21 times and 298 times that of carbon dioxide, respectively.
Therefore, how the water industry plans to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality is a very urgent and challenging task. Currently, it faces four major challenges:
One is the lack of awareness among practitioners of achieving carbon neutrality in the water industry.
Second, the technical reserves for the water industry to achieve carbon neutrality need to be improved.
Third, the sewage treatment industry faces the contradiction between sewage treatment level and carbon emission control.
Fourth, the public welfare nature of the water industry has led to a certain ceiling in corporate profitability, and it is difficult to cover capital investment.
Recommendations for the water industry to move towards carbon neutrality:
One is to increase policy support for the water industry to achieve carbon neutrality goals.
The second is to increase employees' awareness of the vision of achieving carbon neutrality in the water industry.
The third is to carry out a full life cycle assessment of the water industry and promote carbon emission reduction throughout the entire industry chain.
The fourth is to focus on the research and development and reserve of low-carbon technologies in the water industry.
Fifth, increase the water industry's participation in the construction and operation of renewable energy.
Sixth, realize the multi-party coordinated development of the water industry.
The ambitious goals and tasks of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality are an inevitable requirement for the realization of high-quality economic development in our country, the meaning of the subject of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and the only way to build a community of human and natural life.
