The Prime Minister has announced that carbon emissions from Government HQs and offices have been slashed by nearly 14% in just one year and told Whitehall it would have to go further by cutting emissions by 25% by 2015. It is estimated that energy bills have been cut by £13 million as a result of bearing down on energy wastage in Government departments. The 10% target covered around 300,000 civil servants in 3,000 buildings.
Between 14 May 2010 and 13 May 2011 over 100,000 tonnes of CO2 was saved.
The new 25% target for cutting carbon emissions will have an increased scope and include business related transport.
A great result
Commenting on the 10% achievement, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “A 13.8% cut in emissions in just one year is a great result and the civil service should be very proud of this achievement. But to be the greenest government ever we need to do more to stamp out energy waste in Whitehall, and make it easier for people and business to use energy more efficiently. That’s why I’m committing the Government to go further by reducing emissions by 25% by 2015.”
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne said: “This achievement has shown that we’re serious about leading by example and, when we promise to cut carbon, we mean it. This is only the start and we’ve now got to get on and slash Whitehall’s emissions by a quarter by the end of this Parliament.”