Government failing own emission targets

4 June 2009

The Scottish Government's Environmental Performance Report 2007/08 shows increase in CO2 emissions from Government buildings and travel. SDC Scotland welcomes the report but is concerned that Government is not going to meet its own targets for cutting emissions.

The Scottish Government is setting very ambitious targets for reducing CO2 emissions in the Climate Change Bill currently being debated in Parliament. But performance in several key areas in the Government’s own estate shows a worrying negative trend. CO2 from energy use in buildings has gone up by 2.5% since the year before, despite the target to cut emissions by 12.6% from 1999/2000 levels by 2011.

Professor Jan Bebbington, vice chair of SDC Scotland said: "Government is making progress with waste reduction, but the overall picture is mixed. Carbon emissions from Government buildings have been on the increase since 2001. It is true that over this period staff numbers have risen and that the last winter was colder, but this doesn’t change the fact that Government has set itself an absolute target, so is clearly falling behind.”

Travel is another area showing a negative trend. Business travel emissions are up by 6% on the previous year despite a commitment to cut them by 20% by 2011. Government has continued to reduce air travel and to use more videoconferencing but there has been an increase in the use of private cars.

In a Carbon Management Plan, also published today, sustainable travel is a focus. SDC Scotland will follow the roll out of the travel initiatives and the rest of this plan very closely. The Plan identifies a need for 15% reduction in overall emissions from energy use, business travel and waste production by 2014 from 2007/08 levels.

SDC Scotland is also worried about the way Government is monitoring its performance. More transparency is needed to ensure independent scrutiny of the Government estate.

Professor Bebbington said: “At a time when Government is promising to lead by example, it is clear that we need to see better progress in how Government manages its offices and travel to reduce its impacts. What is of most concern is the need for greater transparency. The UK Government has independent scrutiny of its environmental reporting, and the Scottish Government must put such a system in place in order to have credibility in leading Scotland in sustainable development.”

Please find more on the SDC's Sustainable Development in Government work here

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