CIWM unveils ambitious roadmap to Net Zero 

Original source: CIWM website

The Chartered Institute of Wastes Management (CIWM) has launched its Net Zero Roadmap, which details its Pathway to Net Zero and brings forward its target date for achieving zero emissions by 5 years, to 2035.

CIWM has also announced the formation of a new “Strategic Expert Group” on climate change, which it says will oversee and guide its work in this area.

The net zero roadmap also identifies the key areas that will be addressed to decarbonise and reduce emissions across scopes 1, 2, and 3.

CIWM says that this net zero pathway includes reducing emissions resulting from investments by 100%; decarbonising the delivery of events and training services, with 90% of training to be online; and optimising business travel, cutting car journeys by 90%, and only utilising air travel where it is unavoidable.

The Strategic Expert Group (SEG) will be led by CIWM’s Chair of General Council, Liz Parkes. CIWM says the Climate Emergency SEG will cover the waste and resources sector’s role in preventing climate change (mitigation – with a goal of net zero) as well as the need for the sector to be better prepared for climate impacts (adaptation).

CIWM is inviting members to join the SEG and form a network of “climate champions” to drive change.

CIWM’s Net Zero Roadmap includes a 2019 calculation of the organisation’s baseline carbon emissions. The institute says this provides a recent picture of emissions, before the Covid-19 pandemic, that reflects a more typical level of activity.

CIWM says its and WAMITAB’s baseline was set at 2,315 tonnes of CO2e, with 95.8% of the emissions classified as Scope 3.

CIWM says it recognises that the delivery of the Net Zero Pathway will leave some of the 2019 baseline emissions unabated. Whilst the detail is yet to be finalised, CIWM anticipates it will develop a strategy to offset these residual emissions and remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

Chair of CIWM’s General Council, Liz Parkes, said: “The waste and resources sector plays a vital role in the UK’s transition to a net zero economy.

“Formation of the new Climate Change SEG will ensure CIWM continues to lead by example and support its members on their own journey to zero emissions. This summer’s heatwaves have also shown the need to increase our resilience to the changing climate and be confident that our essential services will withstand climate shocks.

“When developing our Net Zero Roadmap, the Board of Trustees wanted us to be more ambitious and accelerate our progress towards net zero. This challenging objective will see CIWM achieve net zero well ahead of the UK’s 2050 target and play a key role in helping other sectors on their journey too.”

CIWM is also a signatory to the Pledge to Net Zero and the Professional Bodies Climate Action Charter.

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