2 Sustainable Development in Government
Assessment 2007-08
SOGE Targets
7. Last year we expressed concern about the Government's
poor performance against some of its Sustainable Operations on
the Government Estate (SOGE) targets. As in 2006-07, the 2007-08
data show that government is not on track to meet targets in two
key areas: carbon emissions from offices and the sourcing of electricity
from combined heat and power (CHP). The Sustainable Development
Commission (SDC) noted:
- A decrease of 6.3% in carbon
emissions from offices since the baseline year. This is an improvement
of 2.3% from 2006-07. However, government is still not on track
to meet the 2010-11 target of a 12.5% decrease, and rate of reduction
still needs to be accelerated to meet the SOGE target.
- Some progress against the CHP target with a total
of 8.7% of electricity derived from CHP, compared to 2006-07's
5.8%. However, government is still not on track to source at least
15% of electricity from CHP by 2010.[5]
There are also areas where "good progress"
is reported against the target, but where performance is worse
than it was in 2006-07. The SDC noted:
- Good progress against the renewables
target with 22% of electricity derived from renewable sources.
However, government is performing less well than 2006-07 when
28.3% of electricity was derived from renewable sources.
- Performance against the recycling target reported
good progress with a recycling rate of 35.0%. However this was
a slight drop compared to 2006-07 (38.5%).[6]
We disagree that a drop in performance can constitute
"good progress", even where the Government remains on
track to meet a target.
8. Minas Jacob of the SDC argued that the deterioration
in performance against the target for the generation of electricity
derived from renewable sources was mainly due to a lack of local
leadership, funds and skills. The Government offered no explanation
for the drop in the total percentage of electricity derived from
renewable sources but said that "the Department of Energy
and Climate Change (DECC) is currently considering what more needs
to be done on the use of renewables on the Government Estate."[7]
This is an inadequate response to a striking deterioration.
9. The Sustainable Development
Commission has awarded Government four stars (out of a possible
five) in its rating of pan-government performance against the
Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate targets; this
represents an improvement of one star compared to the 2006-07
reporting period. We welcome the progress that government has
made against its SOGE targets in a number of key areas, including
waste, water consumption and emissions from road travel. Performance
against a number of important targets has, however, been poor.
The Government must ensure that in the 2008-09 reporting year
it is on track to meet all of its SOGE targets. Where the Government
is meeting its targets, it must not be complacent; if progress
against a given target is slowing, it must offer an explanation.
Mandated mechanisms
10. The Government received only two stars (out
of a possible five) in the SDC's assessment of its implementation
of mandated mechanisms. The SDC described this performance as
"relatively poor".[8]
Of particular concern is the finding that:
Figures continue to show poor performance against
the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
(BREEAM) commitment, with only 42% of total projects (new build
and major refurbishments) achieving the required standard.[9]
11. The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has
announced that it will be "working to resolve the issues
and barriers that are preventing 'mandating' from meaning exactly
what it is supposed to mean".[10]
OGC has already identified a number of these barriers, including
"the limitations of specific mechanisms, suitability for
tailoring to individual departmental need, and the availability
of support tools and guidance".[11]
It is completely
unacceptable that central government departments are failing to
comply with mandatory requirements. A marked improvement in the
Government's performance against its targets for the use of mandated
mechanisms in the 2008-09 reporting year is needed.
Sustainable procurement
12. As a result of its enormous buying power,
the Government is in a powerful position to influence the wider
economy through its own suppliers. The SDC gave the Government
a two star rating (out of a possible five) for compliance with
commitments set out in its Sustainable Procurement Action Plan
(SPAP). It noted that "Government is not yet on track to
meet all of the SPAP commitments and urgently needs to address
these if it is to become an EU leader in sustainable procurement
by the end of 2009".[12]
The SDC drew particular attention to the fact that only 14 of
21 departments included clauses for Quick Wins/extended mandatory
product standards in all relevant contracts, and described this
as "very disappointing".[13]
Budget 2008 announced the creation of the Centre for Expertise
in Sustainable Procurement (CESP) within OGC, and the Update to
OGC's Delivery Plan announces a number of measures to improve
the Government's performance on sustainable procurement.[14]
13. The Government is in a position
to exert a powerful influence on its own suppliers and on the
wider economy. Recognition of this potential must result in a
serious commitment to sustainable procurement and decisive, radical
action to ensure that the Government meets and, where possible,
exceeds its own targets on procurement. The creation of the Centre
for Expertise in Sustainable Procurement is a step in the right
direction; we hope to see solid evidence of its effectiveness
in the data reported during 2008-09. In particular, we expect
to see a significant increase in the number of departments including
clauses for Quick Wins or extended mandatory product standards
in all relevant contracts.
5 Sustainable Development Commission, Sustainable
Development in Government 2008: Challenges for Government,
p. 42 Back
6
Sustainable Development Commission, Sustainable Development
in Government 2008: Challenges for Government, p. 42 Back
7
Ev 26 Back
8
Sustainable Development Commission, Sustainable Development
in Government 2008: Challenges for Government, p. 42 Back
9
Sustainable Development Commission, Sustainable Development
in Government 2008: Challenges for Government, p. 43 Back
10
Office of Government Commerce, Sustainable Procurement and
Operations on the Government Estate: Delivery Plan Update,
December 2008, p. 10 Back
11
Ibid., p.14 Back
12
Sustainable Development Commission, Sustainable Development
in Government 2008: Challenges for Government, p. 44 Back
13
Sustainable Development Commission, Sustainable Development
in Government 2008: Challenges for Government, p. 45 Back
14
Office of Government Commerce, Sustainable Procurement and
Operations on the Government Estate: Delivery Plan Update,
December 2008, p. 16 Back
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