Real progress in sustainability

The OGC works with other Government departments to ensure the Government estate, as well as Government procurement, are as sustainable as possible.

Latest data shows significant improvements in all five areas of sustainable operations on its estate. This includes a 10 per cent reduction of carbon emissions from offices against the 1999/00 baseline.

According to projections, the Government can beat targets for Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) by some margin, if departments continue to implement plans.

This year, for the first time, the Government published its own performance results – a role previously taken by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC). Publication of the results was achieved with the support of the OCG’s Centre of Expertise in Sustainable Procurement, the SDC and the central departments who collate the data.

This handover of data responsibilities is a key step for Government in being able to make use of the information to drive change.

‘It’s great to see the progress that has been made in the last 12 months, thanks to considerable efforts from Government. We have seen improvements from road transport, water, waste and recycling targets,’ said Rebecca Willis, Vice Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission.

‘The world is coming to understand the urgent need to cut carbon dioxide emissions and live within environmental limits. The Government now needs to make sure that its own performance matches the scale of the challenge,’ she added.

Fiona Ross, Director of the Centre of Expertise in Sustainable Procurement said: ‘The key now is to keep up this momentum and apply it across our whole agenda to ensure government is as sustainable as possible.’

New targets for central government operations and procurement will come into place in 2011.