VCS Denmark Debating Water Challenges
In October CEO Anders Bækgaard participated as a panel expert on "Adapting Climate Change: The Water Challenge" in a symposium co-hosted by the Climate Center at the Earth Institute, Columbia University, and the Consulate General of Denmark in New York.
October 19th 2010
- I feel proud to represent a company with extensive know-how and a committed work force in this symposium amongst globally leading experts such as professor and chairman of the Danish Commission on Climate Change Policy, Katherine Richardson Christensen of Copenhagen University and Jeffrey Sachs of The Earth Institute, says Executive Director and CEO of VCS Denmark, Anders Bækgaard.
The panel was set to discuss the impacts of climate changes – and the precautions to be taken against them – on water supply and risks of flooding. The audience consisted of scientific researchers and fellow executives from leading universities, environmental companies and government agencies.
Sustainable planning and waste reduction
When mitigating the impacts of climate change on both long and short terms, sustainable planning and a thought for waste reduction will take us all a long way.
- In Odense our department for water distribution is hard at work to reduce our current NRW of 7 – 8 percent pr. year. I say this not to brag, but to inspire those who battle with NRW levels above 40 percent, Mr. Bækgaard explains: - If and when we do our sustainable planning well enough – and execute it properly – the vast majority of our current and expected supply problems will disappear.
Adapt to current reality
Gradually heavier rain falls over the past decade (including examples of 10-, 50- and even 100-year-rains in Denmark) has stressed the need for capacity improvements within wastewater – and a stronger need to think about water when planning the city’s ongoing expansion.
VCS Denmark has worked closely with other actors within the field to ensure the best long term solutions taking both ‘normal’ daily operation and flooding situations into account.
- The rains we have seen in Denmark over the last decade have made it clear that the current debate of climate change is irrelevant. We have to act on the realities we are already seeing, and carry out sustainable planning. When we do that properly, we will effectively prepare our cities for the heavy rains to come. Whether we blame the rain on climate change or not, says Mr. Bækgaard.