Sustainable boating

Increasing sustainability on the waterways

We want boating on canals and rivers to be more sustainable and – even though the current overall contribution to UK carbon emissions is very small – we want to help reduce emissions on the waterways.

Inland waterways can themselves help the country to be more sustainable by providing an alternative for freight traffic and generating hydro-electricity from weirs.

We’re calling for:

Charging points

Would reduce emissions from stoves for heating and engines run for charging batteries – as well as help the move towards more boats with electric propulsion

Dredging

Whole network

A national dredging programme on the inland waterways would make propulsion more efficient – improving water quality and increasing capacity for flood waters

Research

Biofuels & alternatives

As existing boats and engines can have lives of over 50 years, many will remain diesel-powered until well after 2050 so research into the production, use and distribution of biofuel is required to significantly reduce the environmental impact of existing diesel engines.

Research into alternative forms of propulsion would allow them to be developed and trialled in new build boats. This includes hydrogen production and distribution, hydrogen and solid oxide fuel cells and the use of supercapacitors.

Downloads

IWA Vision for Sustainable Propulsion

Authored by IWA’s Sustainable Propulsion sub-committee, this report brings to life IWA’s vision for more environmentally friendly waterways

(833.33KB)

Download

Campaign updates

Stay up-to-date with our canal and river campaigns and find out how you can help.

News

Trustee vacancies – join our board

We are seeking applications from candidates who demonstrate the experience and skillsets that will be needed over the next three…

News

Hammersmith Bridge Ongoing Closure

We have joined The Company of Watermen & Lightermen of the River Thames in calling for full navigation under Hammersmith…

News

North Eastern Waterways Freight in Jeopardy

Plans for freight traffic on the waterways of the North East are at risk, due to ongoing delays in dredging…

Feature

Celebrating an unusual year of volunteering

This has been a year like no other when we’ve all had to adapt in ways we had not planned,…

News

Invasive plants to look out for on the waterways

Invasive species are a problem because of the threat that they can pose to the native environment, the economy and…

Feature

Covid-19 and using the inland waterways

We have been engaging with DEFRA on how the proposed steps of the Government’s roadmap, announced in February, should be…

Increasing sustainability on the waterways

Sustainable boating

Campaign

We’re calling for:

300

Charging points

Dredging

Whole network

Research

Biofuels & alternatives

Downloads

IWA Vision for Sustainable Propulsion

Campaign updates

Campaign updates

Trustee vacancies – join our board

Hammersmith Bridge Ongoing Closure

North Eastern Waterways Freight in Jeopardy

Celebrating an unusual year of volunteering

Invasive plants to look out for on the waterways

Covid-19 and using the inland waterways

Waterways heritage

Our waterways heritage is what makes Britain’s canals and rivers special and it must be actively protected – through the local planning system and sufficient funding – for the future.

Waterway underfunding

Hundreds of miles of waterways – along with their unique heritage and habitats – are currently starved of funding and rely on constant lobbying by us to safeguard their future.

Waterway restoration

Restoring the UK’s blue infrastructure – our inherited network of navigable canals and rivers – is good for people and places.

Waterway businesses

The government needs to intervene at the earliest possible opportunity to save this vital sector of the British economy and what could be a core element of the British stay-at-home leisure and holiday sectors in the coming years.

Waterways affected by HS2

We’re campaigning to protect canals and rivers from the damaging effects of HS2, especially where the tranquillity of the waterways is under threat.

Love your waterways

Increasing sustainability on the waterways

Sustainable boating

Campaign

We’re calling for:

300

Charging points

Dredging

Whole network

Research

Biofuels & alternatives

Downloads

IWA Vision for Sustainable Propulsion

Campaign updates

Campaign updates

Trustee vacancies – join our board

Hammersmith Bridge Ongoing Closure

North Eastern Waterways Freight in Jeopardy

Celebrating an unusual year of volunteering

Invasive plants to look out for on the waterways

Covid-19 and using the inland waterways

Waterways heritage

Our waterways heritage is what makes Britain’s canals and rivers special and it must be actively protected – through the local planning system and sufficient funding – for the future.

Waterway underfunding

Hundreds of miles of waterways – along with their unique heritage and habitats – are currently starved of funding and rely on constant lobbying by us to safeguard their future.

Waterway restoration

Restoring the UK’s blue infrastructure – our inherited network of navigable canals and rivers – is good for people and places.

Waterway businesses

The government needs to intervene at the earliest possible opportunity to save this vital sector of the British economy and what could be a core element of the British stay-at-home leisure and holiday sectors in the coming years.

Waterways affected by HS2

We’re campaigning to protect canals and rivers from the damaging effects of HS2, especially where the tranquillity of the waterways is under threat.

Love your waterways

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