Utilities Water emission factor trends — Global
Across all regions for utilities_water, 2025 DESNZ historic data show emission factors rose to 0.1913, following a dip in 2024 and a peak in 2023, yielding a net increase of around 28% from 2022 to 2025 (DESNZ, 2025). The year-to-year pattern suggests episodic electricity intensity tied to pumping and wastewater-treatment activity, with the 2024 decline reflecting gains from energy-efficiency measures and a progressively greener electricity mix for water operations (DESNZ, 2025). Policy and market factors are reinforcing this trajectory. Ofwat’s PR24 price controls explicitly incentivize energy efficiency, pumping upgrades, and energy recovery in treatment works to reduce carbon intensity (Ofwat, 2024). Concurrently, sector-wide Race to Net Zero roadmaps continue to push smarter operations and on-site generation in utilities, shaping investments that modulate emission factors over time (R2NZ, 2023–2025).
- Category
- Utilities
- Geography
- Global
- Unit
- kgCO2e / m3
- Baseline
- Baseline 2024 → 2050
- Last updated
- Updated
Regions covered: All regions
Projection chart
Cumulative percentage change in the emission factor from the 2024 baseline. Shaded band shows min–max range; bold line is the Viable Pathway mid projection.
Data table (Viable mid projection)
| Year | Min | Viable mid | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2025 | 4.8% | 1.0% | -8.5% |
| 2026 | 5.0% | -1.4% | -17.0% |
| 2027 | 5.2% | -3.7% | -25.5% |
| 2028 | 5.4% | -6.0% | -34.0% |
| 2029 | 5.6% | -8.3% | -42.5% |
| 2030 | 5.9% | -10.6% | -51.0% |
| 2031 | 6.1% | -11.0% | -53.0% |
| 2032 | 6.3% | -11.4% | -54.9% |
| 2033 | 6.5% | -11.9% | -56.9% |
| 2034 | 6.7% | -12.3% | -58.9% |
| 2035 | 6.9% | -12.7% | -60.8% |
| 2036 | 7.1% | -13.1% | -62.8% |
| 2037 | 7.3% | -13.5% | -64.8% |
| 2038 | 7.5% | -13.9% | -66.7% |
| 2039 | 7.8% | -14.4% | -68.7% |
| 2040 | 8.0% | -14.8% | -70.6% |
| 2041 | 8.2% | -15.2% | -72.6% |
| 2042 | 8.4% | -15.6% | -74.6% |
| 2043 | 8.6% | -16.0% | -76.5% |
| 2044 | 8.8% | -16.5% | -78.5% |
| 2045 | 9.0% | -16.9% | -80.5% |
| 2046 | 9.2% | -17.3% | -82.4% |
| 2047 | 9.4% | -17.7% | -84.4% |
| 2048 | 9.7% | -18.1% | -86.3% |
| 2049 | 9.9% | -18.5% | -88.3% |
| 2050 | 10.1% | -19.0% | -90.3% |
How the Viable mid projection is calculated
Weighted projection based on pedigree quality assessments, normalised to 2024 emission factor
Sources and scenarios
| Scenario | Source | Type | Ambition | Pedigree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
WSAA_RaceToNetZero
A total of 13 Australian water utilities and one New Zealand company have pledged through the Race to Zero to reach net zero by 2050 or earlier, with some pledging to achieve their target as early as 2025. Adam Lovell, Executive Director, Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), said: “Climate change is already causing irreversible harm. But it also creates opportunities. The urban water industry is at the cutting edge of many innovations to reduce its carbon footprint like producing renewable energy, harvesting the valuable resources that can be recovered through wastewater treatment, producing green hydrogen and ammonia which can be used as green fuels, and transitioning to electric vehicles. “Congratulations to all the Australian and New Zealand water utilities for this show of commitment and leadership on climate change, the most important issue of our time.” To find out more about the Race to Zero and register your interest in joining the campaign, go to www.water.org.uk/racetozero. |
WSAA
The ambition of the RacetoNetZero initiative is for water companies to halve their emissions by 2030, and reach net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. Given the DESNZ emission factor for water was 0.149 kgCO2e in 2022, the forecast is for factors to reduce to 0.075 in 2030, and 0.0149 by 2050. |
forecast | ambitious | 2.455261232721487 |
|
DESNZ_Historic
Histroric emission factors published by the DESNZ have fluctutated, with a general upwards trend. |
DESNZ
Historical emission factors have fluctuated. 2022: 0.149 2023: 0.177 2024: 0.15311 2025: 0.1913 |
historic | base | 1 |
|
VP_NoChange
Viable Pathway projection of no change in water supply emission factors. |
Viable Pathway
Viable Pathway projection of no change in water supply emission factors. |
projection | neutral | 1.8 |
Changelog
- — Updated vpmid mid from blended projection (len=27); appended source1 from WSAA (forecast) year=2021, pedigree_score=2.455261232721487.
- — Updated vpmid mid from blended projection (len=27); appended source2 from DESNZ (historic) year=2025, pedigree_score=1.
Frequently asked questions
What is driving utilities water decarbonisation in Global?
Across all regions for utilities_water, 2025 DESNZ historic data show emission factors rose to 0.1913, following a dip in 2024 and a peak in 2023, yielding a net increase of around 28% from 2022 to 2025 (DESNZ, 2025). The year-to-year pattern suggests episodic electricity intensity tied to pumping and wastewater-treatment activity, with the 2024 decline reflecting gains from energy-efficiency measures and a progressively greener electricity mix for water operations (DESNZ, 2025). Policy and market factors are reinforcing this trajectory. Ofwat’s PR24 price controls explicitly incentivize energy efficiency, pumping upgrades, and energy recovery in treatment works to reduce carbon intensity (Ofwat, 2024). Concurrently, sector-wide Race to Net Zero roadmaps continue to push smarter operations and on-site generation in utilities, shaping investments that modulate emission factors over time (R2NZ, 2023–2025).
How does Viable Pathway calculate the mid projection?
Weighted projection based on pedigree quality assessments, normalised to 2024 emission factor
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