Whitehall exceeds PM's 10% carbon target

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that carbon emissions from Government HQs and offices have been slashed by nearly 14 per cent in just one year, and now plans to put a 25 per cent target in place for 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 per cent 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 per cent target for cutting carbon emissions will have an increased scope and include business related transport.

Commenting on the 10 per cent achievement, Mr Cameron said: "A 13.8 per cent 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 per cent 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."

Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude said: "Not only have we hit the Prime Minister's ambitious target and reduced our carbon emissions, we have slashed government energy bills - driving out waste and inefficiency."

To view more guidance about Green Government initiatives issued by the Cabinet Office click here.