Andy King: The Green Transition is our collective responsibility for a sustainable future

As we face unparalleled environmental challenges, the concept of the Green Transition has become more critical than ever before. Today, I want to share my thoughts on what the Green Transition is, why it matters, and the challenges and opportunities it presents.

Defining the Green Transition

Broadly speaking, the Green Transition encompasses sustainability in its most comprehensive context. As a society, we are undeniably damaging our planet, its climate, and nature. The Green Transition represents a societal movement toward sustainability – a shift whereby we minimise our collective environmental impact, protect and enhance nature, reduce our shared carbon footprint, use precious resources wisely, and ultimately work towards net zero emissions.

In simple terms, we can think of the transition as moving away from fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas as we switch to greener alternatives. It’s about making a concerted effort to reduce carbon emissions, improve natural ecosystems, and adopt sustainable practices – both individually and as communities.

My journey in Sustainability

My professional journey has been deeply rooted in sustainability from the very beginning. After completing my Environmental Management MSc in 1995 and several years working as an environmental professional, I took on my first role specifically focused on sustainability in 2004 as the Sustainability Manager for a major civil contractor. This position marked the beginning of my dedicated focus on Sustainability with a capital ‘S’ – as a standalone specialism.

I’ve seen the emphasis on sustainability ebb and flow, particularly during economic downturns when financial priorities often eclipsed environmental considerations. However, the significance of sustainability has more recently gained widespread recognition thanks to influential advocates like David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg.

Balancing cost and reward

One of the critical questions around the Green Transition is how to balance cost and reward. Despite financial pressures, we must pursue sustainability. Fortunately, there are smarter, more cost-effective ways to achieve our sustainability goals. In the energy sector, we are shifting to renewable sources like wind and solar power, hydrogen, and nuclear energy – along with grid stability through innovations like pumped storage hydro and carbon capture-storage.

In the water sector, addressing pollution and ensuring clean water supply remains challenging. However, nature-based solutions offer promising, sustainable (and often cheaper) alternatives to traditional methods heavily reliant on concrete, rebar, energy, and chemicals.

Drivers of the Green Transition

Several factors drive the Green Transition, including shifts in government policy informed by scientific research and a surge in public awareness. Political pressure has significantly increased, especially post-COVID, as people have gained a deeper appreciation for their local environments.

Corporate initiatives are also pushing for more sustainable solutions. At Sweco UK, the Green Transition is the driving force behind our work. It’s about aligning the macro goals of the projects we undertake with broader sustainability objectives, to serve both people and the planet.

Current trends and challenges

In the water sector, nature-based solutions are emerging as major trends, with £3.3 billion earmarked in AMP8 for these solutions to our infrastructure’s biggest challenges. We’ve historically relied on concrete and chemicals, but now we’re discovering that natural methods can be equally, if not more, cost-effective and certainly more sustainable.

In the energy sector, principles like circular economy, net-zero solutions, and considerations around six-capitals approaches are reshaping our outlook at Sweco. Our recently completed “Truly Sustainable Substation” study for SPEN exemplifies how these three drivers can revolutionise our projects when packaged as a holistic response to enabling a secure and scalable grid.

Harnessing digital tools and AI

In our quest for better sustainable solutions, digital tools and AI play an instrumental role. With constant advancements in carbon analysis, digital twins, and augmented reality, we can assess the environmental impact of materials and methods, allowing us to design alternatives that minimise further damage and can even reverse some of the destruction we have caused. Predictive intelligence using big data allows us to build virtual models before physical construction, optimising efforts and reducing risk from the outset while pre-evidencing sustainability gains.

Embedding the Green Transition

To embed the Green Transition, we must communicate its importance clearly. At Sweco, this means helping colleagues understand how their roles contribute to broader sustainability goals. For clients, it’s about educating them on how their projects align with the energy, water, and industrial transitions necessary for transformational progress.

Future prospects

Looking forward to 2050, my hope is that we achieve our net-zero ambitions as set out in the Climate Act. Ideally, we will have a power system entirely reliant on green sources well before 2050. Furthermore, I envision a future where ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) metrics hold more significance than just financial ones alone, marking the profound societal shift in mindset that is a prerequisite for the physical shift in our built and rural environments.

Why this matters to me

My dedication to sustainability has driven my entire career. It dates back to when I worked on a project to restore a river channel to attract migratory birds. This early experience instilled in me the importance of local environmental efforts within industrial contexts.

Choosing to pursue environmental management and improve standards from within organisations has been my path, and one I’m more proud to walk than ever. While the Green Transition is a tangible movement to follow, it’s simply the latest term for sustainable development and environmental stewardship. Every day, I am driven by the desire to make a difference in the world around us – and I’m proud that Sweco and my Energy, Water and Environment colleagues are leading the way in doing just that.

Conclusion

The Green Transition is not just an imperative. It’s our collective responsibility. By adopting sustainable practices, educating ourselves and our clients, and leveraging digital tools, we can pave the way for a better, greener future. By working together, we can ensure that our impact on the planet is positive for generations to come. Download our ‘roadmap’ to a better future below.