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Carbon emissions
Overall performance by Government departments and agencies in tackling carbon emissions has remained extremely poor, with progress lagging far behind the trajectory required to meet the 2010-11 target (reducing carbon emissions from Government offices by 12.5% from 1999-00 levels).
The Ministry of Defence has performed better; but this progress is partly illusory, depending to an extent simply on removing the emissions of the defence agency QinetiQ following its privatisation.
Following the recent Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) report, the Government has re-examined its emissions figures and discovered additional carbon savings; while this is encouraging, these figures have yet to be examined by the SDC. In future the Government should submit the correct figures in time for the annual SDiG report.
Renewable energy
Departments have made excellent progress on increasing the use of green electricity contract. However, it is highly questionable whether the Government's use of such green tariff electricity is reducing carbon emissions. Progress on generating its own electricity from on-site or district renewables has so far been extremely disappointing. Central Government must demonstrate leadership by making rapid progress.
Carbon neutrality
The target of making the Government Estate carbon neutral by 2012 will depend very heavily on buying offsets. It is important the Government does as much as possible to reduce its own emissions. The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) should publish calculations of the amount of money the Government expects to spend on offsetting its emissions every year from 2012. The Government should look at capping the use of offsets to meet this target, as a means of forcing progress in generating its own electricity.
Energy consumption
The newly-announced Greening Government IT programme is encouraging, and should be made one of the single highest priorities of the Chief Sustainability Officer. This would be to give it the attention it deserves, given that increased use of IT would appear to be the biggest single factor in the upward trend in emissions from civil departments.
Government response to the Sustainable Development Commission
The Government has announced significant reforms in its response to the SDC's report. These are very encouraging, if belated. We expect tangible year on year progress, consistently across multiple departments, in both performance against targets and accuracy of reporting.
The departmental delivery plans that OGC is overseeing are a major step forward. They should not be a one-off exercise, but should be done annually, to set out clearly what progress each department is making, and a revised series of actions needed to meet their targets in the light of that progress.
Beyond the senior civil service, personal responsibility for sustainability issues must be increased at all levels. OGC should work with civil service unions to ensure that staff are trained, motivated, and empowered to take a leading role in mainstreaming sustainability in Government operations.
The role of the Sustainable Development Commission
The Sustainable Development Commission is having a significant influence in galvanising Government to improve its structures. It should review its presentation of Government figures, however, which in some places is too uncritical.
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