A word from our leaders
Welcome to our fourth Annual Environment Report which builds on the progress made during the first three years of RIIO-GD2. It further demonstrates how we’re incorporating stakeholder feedback from customers, partners, sustainability and environmental specialists and industry into every aspect of our business.
We’re committed to being transparent about our decisions and accountable for our actions, and this report clearly sets out our environmental performance against our RIIO-GD2 Environmental Action Plan commitments. I’m pleased to say we are continuing our very strong performance in this area, but we’ll never rest on our laurels, there is always more we can do.
Over the past year we’ve diverted our waste from landfill, planted over 7,000 trees to improve air quality in some of the most polluted towns and cities in our region and embedded sustainability principles in our supply chain. We’ve also installed solar panels at our offices and depots to generate our own renewable energy. All in all, our total carbon emissions for this period are down by 6.5%, saving 22,000 tCO2e.
Meanwhile, we are continuing with our extensive mains replacement programme with hundreds of kilometres of ageing metallic pipes being replaced with new, more durable plastic versions during this period – reducing the risk of leaks, which in turn reduces gas emissions.
Also, our work to progress hydrogen as an alternative fuel to natural gas for powering electricity generation and critical industry continues, and we remain committed to progressing sustainable solutions such as this to help to achieve net zero.
We make sustainable investment decisions which will deliver long-term value. This is a responsibility we take incredibly seriously – one that is deeply engrained in our business, and one we’re passionate about delivering. We ultimately remain committed to delivering a value for money service for our customers, and ensuring that customers on the lowest incomes and in our most disadvantaged areas experience a fair and equitable energy transition.
I’d like to also extend a huge thank you to our amazing Northern Gas Networks colleagues, partners and supply chain. Your invaluable contributions are helping us build on our achievements from previous years, and deliver our environmental and sustainability improvements this year.
Mark Horsley Chief Executive Officer Northern Gas Networks
In 2024/25, we’ve continued to make strong progress against the goals set out in our Environmental Action Plan, focusing on the areas where we can make the greatest impact.
Our performance in reducing gas leakage and diverting waste from landfill remains consistently high, reflecting our commitment to operational excellence and environmental responsibility.
We’ve also advanced our programme of environmental remediation, addressing historic ground contamination across our sites, remnants from the pre-natural gas era. These efforts are part of a longer-term strategy, with further remediation projects already in the pipeline for the coming year.
Our Environmental Action Plan is shaped by the voices of our stakeholders and reflects a bold ambition to lead on sustainability. Even amid economic challenges, our customers continue to tell us that environmental performance matters deeply to them. We’ve responded by setting ourselves demanding targets and we work hard every day to achieve them, driven by a belief that long-term environmental stewardship benefits everyone across our region.
Neil Whalley Head of Environment and Sustainability Northern Gas Networks
