Climate Change in Water and Sanitation Utilities

Climate Change in Water and Sanitation Utilities

Instructors: Alfred Hans Grunwaldt

What you'll learn

Recognize the challenges that urban water and sanitation utilities face regarding climate change and sustainability.
Identify strategies to assess climate risks, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy consumption using tools like ECAM.
Identify strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for water and sanitation utilities to transition to low-carbon operations.

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Assessments

5 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 5 modules in this course

The objective of this course is to support urban water and sanitation utilities in transitioning to climate-resilient management by reducing their carbon emissions. This course, consisting of 4 modules, addresses the concept of climate change, its impacts, risks, and actions that can be employed for its mitigation, specifically within water and sanitation utilities. In this context, an introduction to climate financing is provided, explaining how companies can secure funding for projects that yield climate-related benefits.

Furthermore, a roadmap is developed, focusing on actions that water and sanitation companies can undertake to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. To assess the carbon footprint, measure energy efficiency, and identify opportunities for performance improvement in the urban water sector, the course introduces the first holistic tool in the sector called ECAM, which stands for Energy Performance and Carbon Emissions Assessment and Monitoring Tool. Part of] the material was produced by the Water and Wastewater Companies for Climate Mitigation (WaCCliM) project (2013-2022), a joint initiative between GIZ and the International Water Association (IWA). This project was part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI), financed by the Federal Government of Germany.

This course addresses the process of supporting urban water and sanitation utilities in transitioning to reducing their carbon emissions to contribute to climate change mitigation and to benefit from the impacts of this process. We will explore the five steps of the roadmap to carry out this process, as well as the use of the Energy and Carbon Performance Assessment and Monitoring (ECAM) tool, which serves, among other things, to assess the carbon footprint and measure energy efficiency. Finally, we will conclude by addressing climate risks in urban water and sanitation companies, as well as methodologies for their evaluation.

What's included

2 readings1 discussion prompt1 plugin

In this introductory module of the course, we will delve into fundamental concepts such as climate change. Additionally, we will examine the ways in which water and sanitation companies both influence and are affected by this phenomenon. Finally, we will explore actionable strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change.

What's included

2 videos12 readings1 assignment2 plugins

2 videosTotal 6 minutes

1.1.2 Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change3 minutesPreview module
1.1.5 What is Meant by a Water Crisis?3 minutes

12 readingsTotal 160 minutes

1.1.1 What is Climate Change?10 minutes
1.1.3 The United Nations’ Paris Agreement to Limit Global Warming10 minutes
1.1.6 Water Availability and Quality10 minutes
1.1.7 How are Water, Energy, and Climate Change Related?New Reading10 minutes
1.1.8 Climate Change – Mitigation and Adaptation10 minutes
1.1.9 Activity: Differences Between Mitigation and Adaptation Measures10 minutes
1.1.10 Opportunities for Climate Change Mitigation in the Urban Water Sector10 minutes
1.2.1 Introducing Climate Finance10 minutes
1.2.2 Additional Climate Benefits30 minutes
1.2.4 Exercise: Financing Sources10 minutes
1.3.2 Module Conclusion30 minutes
1.3.3 Readings and Other Optional Resources10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

1.3.1 Evaluation Questionnaire 30 minutes

2 pluginsTotal 15 minutes

1.1.4 Water and Climate15 minutes
1.2.3 Activity: Getting Financial Resources for an Adaptation Measure0 minutes

In this module, we will focus on actions that water and sanitation companies can take to reduce their carbon emissions, following a five-step roadmap.

What's included

2 videos4 readings1 assignment4 plugins

2 videosTotal 7 minutes

2.1.1 Low-Carbon Urban Water Utility2 minutesPreview module
2.1.8 Recap of the 5 Steps5 minutes

4 readingsTotal 60 minutes

2.1.2 How Can Decarbonization Be Integrated into the Urban Water Sector?10 minutes
2.1.5 Step 3 - Identify Opportunities for Improvement 10 minutes
2.1.10 How Likely Are You to Implement the Roadmap in Your Organization?10 minutes
2.2.2 Module Conclusion30 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

2.2.1 Evaluation Questionnaire30 minutes

4 pluginsTotal 60 minutes

2.1.3 Step 1 - Motivate Action to Decarbonize15 minutes
2.1.4 Step 2 - Assess your System with ECAM15 minutes
2.1.6 Step 4 - Implement Solutions 15 minutes
2.1.7 Step 5 - Monitor Progress15 minutes

In this module, we will explore the various greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions originating from water and wastewater utilities in the urban water sector. We will also learn how to utilize the ECAM tool to analyze GHG emissions within these companies, with the aim of identifying opportunities for performance improvement and emissions reduction.

What's included

1 video11 readings2 assignments1 plugin

1 videoTotal 2 minutes

3.2.2 ECAM Tool2 minutesPreview module

11 readingsTotal 230 minutes

3.1.1 The Impacts of Climate Change in the Urban Water Sector10 minutes
3.1.3 Types of GHG Emissions Sources within the Urban Water Cycle10 minutes
3.1.4 Fundamentals of GHG Accounting in the Urban Water Sector30 minutes
3.2.1 Introduction to ECAM10 minutes
3.2.3 Benefits of Using ECAM30 minutes
3.2.4 How to Use ECAM?10 minutes
3.2.5 Assessing of Reduction Opportunities with ECAM30 minutes
3.2.6 Example of an Initial Assessment10 minutes
3.2.7 Initial GHG Assessment30 minutes
3.2.8 Initial Evaluation of Pump Efficiency of Saint George 30 minutes
3.3.2 Module Conclusion30 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

3.1.2 Knowledge Check: Types of GHD Emissions and Their Sources30 minutes
3.3.1 Evaluation Questionnaire30 minutes

1 pluginTotal 15 minutes

3.1.5 Calculation Exercise15 minutes

In this final module of the course, we will study what some of the climate risks are for water and wastewater management through available methodologies to assess them, as well as how they can be reduced.

What's included

10 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt6 plugins

10 readingsTotal 115 minutes

4.1.2 Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience5 minutes
4.1.3 The IPCC Risk Concept10 minutes
4.1.4 Actions to Reduce the Risk10 minutes
4.1.5 Methodologies for Climate Risk Assessment10 minutes
4.1.6 Disaster and Climate Change Risk Assessment Methodology for IDB Projects 10 minutes
4.1.8 AquaRating and Focused Analisys10 minutes
4.2.2 Step 2 - Identify Hazards, Vulnerable System Elements, Exposure and Define Critical Thresholds10 minutes
4.2.3 Step 3 - Apply Climate Projections and Develop Future Scenarios 10 minutes
4.3.2 Request Your Digital Badge!  10 minutes
4.3.3 Module Conclusion30 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

4.3.1 Evaluation Questionnaire30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

4.1.7 Forum: How Do You Assess Climate Risks in your Organization?10 minutes

6 pluginsTotal 90 minutes

4.1.1 Adaptation to Climate Change 15 minutes
4.2.1 Assess Climate Risks: Step 1 - Define Your System15 minutes
4.2.4 Step 4 - Analyse the Risk 15 minutes
4.2.5 Step 5 - Identify Adaptation Measures for Decreasing Climate Risks of the Identified Elements 15 minutes
4.2.6 Step 6 - Prioritize Adaptation Measures15 minutes
4.3.4 What Did You Think of the Course?15 minutes