Taxpayers to fund government’s carbon failure

Millions of pounds from the taxpayer’s pocket will subsidise the failure of government departments to meet Westminster targets on reducing carbon emissions.

The government has pledged to reduce carbon emissions from its own buildings and transport 12.5% by 2012 compared to 1999 levels.

However, MPs from the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) are “unconvinced” that the government will meet its targets.

If the government fails, it will be fined millions of pounds to offset its emissions.

The EAC said government departments should be well insulated, use solar heated water, and combined heat and power units if the government is to meet its emissions targets.

However, the committee reported little evidence of this happening.

EAC chairman Tim Yeo said: “Leadership on these issues is crucial - the government can’t have one prescription for the country and another for its own operations.

“If the government expects everybody else to be getting greener, it’s important that it should lead from the front.

“In too many areas, like emissions of carbon dioxide from offices, it has made little or no progress and in others it is backsliding.”

Yeo estimates that £20-£40 million from taxpayer funds will be used to offset government emissions if departments continue on their current course.

“Unless the government gets its house in order, taxpayers could end up paying a heavy price to buy carbon credits from the private sector,” he said.

A government spokesperson refuted the EAC’s claims.

“Significant progress has been made in improving performance on sustainability,” the spokesperson said.