Government lagging on CO2 curbs, say MPs

James Randerson, science correspondent
The Guardian,
Monday July 14, 2008

The government is "lagging far behind" in its efforts to curb carbon emissions from its buildings and activities, according to a report from a committee of MPs.
The report from the environmental audit committee (EAC) said that emissions from government departments had dropped by just 0.7% over the period 1999-2000 to 2006-07, much less than the 8% necessary to hit its target of a 12.5% reduction by 2010/11.
This modest performance was highly dependent on a large cut in emissions by the MoD, but the report criticised the MoD for trying to move some emissions "off balance sheet" in order to make its performance look better.
The report also criticised the tiny amount of renewable energy generated on-site at government property - just 0.0004% of the total.
The report, which draws on the annual review of government performance by the Sustainable Development Commission, as well as a review carried out by the National Audit Office, said that the government's record was "very disappointing".
"Until the government shows that it is living up to its commitments it will find it hard to maintain the moral authority to influence the rest of us," said the committee's chair, Tim Yeo.
Central government offices produce around 2.3m tonnes of CO2 emissions and 309,000 tonnes of waste. The government is committed to being carbon neutral by 2012.