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MPs criticise government over CO2 | MPs criticise government over CO2 |
(1 day later) | |
The government has made "very poor progress" on reaching its own carbon emissions-cutting targets, MPs say. | The government has made "very poor progress" on reaching its own carbon emissions-cutting targets, MPs say. |
Ministers want departments and agencies to reduce emissions by 12.5% by 2010/11 compared with 1999/2000 levels - and to be carbon-neutral by 2012. | Ministers want departments and agencies to reduce emissions by 12.5% by 2010/11 compared with 1999/2000 levels - and to be carbon-neutral by 2012. |
But the influential environment audit committee said a cut of just 4% had been achieved by 2006/07. | |
Chairman Tim Yeo said this damaged the government's "moral authority" on environmental issues. | Chairman Tim Yeo said this damaged the government's "moral authority" on environmental issues. |
'Degree of confusion' | 'Degree of confusion' |
The committee said it was "extremely disappointed" that only 0.0004% of all electricity consumed by the government was generated on Crown property using renewable energy sources such as wind, solar or biomass power plants. | The committee said it was "extremely disappointed" that only 0.0004% of all electricity consumed by the government was generated on Crown property using renewable energy sources such as wind, solar or biomass power plants. |
The government is fully committed to protecting the environment...in particular within our own estate and across our operations Government spokesman | |
Ministers were relying "too heavily" on buying offsets to help achieve carbon neutrality, the report - Making Government Operations More Sustainable - said. | Ministers were relying "too heavily" on buying offsets to help achieve carbon neutrality, the report - Making Government Operations More Sustainable - said. |
There was a "degree of confusion" about how the targets would be met and these "essential issues" should be worked out urgently, the committee added. | There was a "degree of confusion" about how the targets would be met and these "essential issues" should be worked out urgently, the committee added. |
Mr Yeo, a Conservative former minister, said: "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." | Mr Yeo, a Conservative former minister, said: "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." |
But a government spokesman said it was "fully committed to protecting the environment" and limiting the effects of climate change by reducing carbon emissions and waste across its own estate and operations. | |
"Government is already excelling in some areas, notably the procurement of renewable energy," he said. | |
'Significant progress' | |
"However, we recognise that much more needs to be done to achieve our goal of being a leader in the EU in this area. | |
"The Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell is accordingly giving this work his personal leadership." | |
The spokesman added that data used in the committee's report was for 2006/7. "Since then further significant progress has been made," he said. | |
In its report, the committee also expressed concern over the reliability of emission figures. | |
Members criticised the Ministry of Defence for claiming a big cut in emissions after it sold the defence agency QinetiQ. | Members criticised the Ministry of Defence for claiming a big cut in emissions after it sold the defence agency QinetiQ. |
In reality, the committee said, the government was simply moving these emissions "off-balance sheet" to the private sector. | In reality, the committee said, the government was simply moving these emissions "off-balance sheet" to the private sector. |
A committee spokesman said: "The government has now stopped claiming this as a cut in emissions, but the committee warns it not to make similar claims in the future." | A committee spokesman said: "The government has now stopped claiming this as a cut in emissions, but the committee warns it not to make similar claims in the future." |
The Office of Government Commerce should annually publish details of the amount the Government expected to spend on offsetting emissions, it was added. | The Office of Government Commerce should annually publish details of the amount the Government expected to spend on offsetting emissions, it was added. |
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