Whitehall 'missing green targets'

12 April 2012

Government departments are failing to meet carbon, waste and water targets, according to a new report.

The report by the Government watchdog the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), assesses operations to ensure that resources are managed sustainably.

Departments generated more waste than last year, with total waste increasing from 163,847 tonnes to 186,380 tonnes. Nine departments could not provide proper waste data.

Departments are not on track to meet the carbon reduction target of 12.5% by 2010. On average, departments have reduced carbon emissions by 0.5% since 1999. However, 15 departments increased carbon emissions in the last year. But most departments are using energy less efficiently than they did in 1999.

Departments also failed to meet the target of 7.7m3 of water per person. Instead departments consume an average of 10.2m3 per person. The Cabinet Office was furthest from the target, consuming 19m3 water per person. And from reporting departments, CO2 emissions from road transport have decreased by 14% since 2002. But this performance was devalued as eight departments were unable to provide proper data.

The Department for Transport has increased CO2 emissions from road transport by approximately 40% since 2002. However the report Sustainable Development in Government did identify some areas of progress. Overall, recycling has risen by 8%. The Department of Health now recycles 85.4% of its waste. And Government is buying 3% more of its electricity from renewable energy sources, compared to last year.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest are well managed across the Government estate, the report found..

The Sustainable Development Commission report goes on to assess the performance of individual departments. It highlights the strong performance of the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions - but criticises the very poor performances of the Cabinet Office, the Department for Transport, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Law Officers Department and the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

Sir Jonathon Porritt, SDC Chairman said: "Overall, Government performance is simply not good enough. Against a background of non-stop messages on climate change and corporate social responsibility, the Government has failed to get its own house in order. It's absolutely inexcusable that Government is lagging so far behind the private sector, when it should be leading the way.

"For Government to truly get to grips with this, it must ratchet up responsibility to the most senior level, instead of leaving it to hopelessly under-resourced officials down the line. It's time Permanent Secretaries were held accountable for meeting these targets."

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