The scientific evidence contained in the three volumes of the 6th IPCC report (AR6), published between August 2021 and April 2022, are another reminder of the urgent need to respect the 2015 Paris Agreement. 195 countries agreed to the goal of limiting long-term global temperature increase to "well below 2 DegreesC" compared to pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 DegreesC by massively reducing their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs). Water and climate questions are usually addressed from the perspective of adaptation to climate change. For urban water services the mitigation aspect has been less studied up till now. These considerations fit into the broader context of the interdependence of energy and water (Water-Energy Nexus). This report approaches the question from the angle of energy use in the water sector rather than the better-known water requirements for the energy sector. Reducing GHG emissions in urban water management requires reducing both fossil energy requirements and direct emissions of nitrous oxide and methane. Finally, it must be said that the need to reduce the GHG emissions of water and sanitation services goes with the growing demand for water. It should increase by 50% between now and 2030 worldwide due to the combined effects of population growth, economic development, and the shift in consumer patterns. This synthetic report aims to provide an overview of possible levers to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of water and sanitation services and provides an analysis of how adaptation measures can embrace this low-carbon approach.

The transition to low-carbon urban water utilities is an innovative idea, only embraced by a few forward thinking utilities currently. This roadmap is directed at urban water utility managers in charge of planning future actions, as well as at the stakeholders who will support the utility action plans. Because only a few "early adopters" utilities have embarked on the Low-Carbon transition, this roadmap intends to support other utilities understand and champion the need for contribution to a carbon neutral future and well as to guide them through a process of change. This roadmap is potentially applicable to all utilities worldwide, but was specifically written for utilities in emerging economies where service performance and data management challenges are often prominent in driving future planning.

La transicion hacia unas empresas de agua y saneamiento urbano con bajas emisiones de carbono es una idea innovadora que actualmente solo ha sido adaptada por unas pocas empresas con vision de futuro. Esta hoja de ruta esta dirigida a los gestores de empresas de agua y saneamiento encargados de la planificacion de acciones futuras, asi como a las partes interesadas que respaldaran los planes de accion de las empresas de agua y saneamiento. Debido a que solamente unas cuantas empresas de agua y saneamiento urbano "pioneras" se han embarcado en una transicion hacia un servicio con bajas emisiones de carbono, la hoja de ruta pretende ayudar a otras empresas de agua y saneamiento a comprender y liderar la necesidad de contribuir a un futuro neutro en carbono y orientarlos durante el proceso de cambio. Ademas, puede aplicarse a las instalaciones y empresas de agua y saneamiento de todo el mundo, pero ha sido especificamente elaborada teniendo en mente las economias emergentes, ya que, con frecuencia, el desempeno del servicio y las dificultades que plantea la gestion de datos ocupan un papel destacado en sus actividades y la planificacion futura.