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Sustainable development in Government: Third Annual Report 2004

Foreword

This Report presents information about the way in which Government Departments and their executive agencies manage their land, buildings and staff. It does not set out to provide comprehensive data on each Department's operational performance since such information is more appropriately provided at Departmental level. What it provides is a snapshot of the way in which Departments have performed in areas covered by the targets and commitments in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate , for the period April 2003-March 2004.

The Framework, launched first in July 2002, has been extended over the past year so that it now covers nine key areas of activities, environmental and social impacts. Information on the new sections - on energy, waste, procurement, estates management and construction, and social impacts - is included for completeness and continues information streams identified in earlier reports although it is too soon for Departments to have implemented the new commitments.

In its Response to the Environmental Audit Committee's Greening Government 2003 Report, Government undertook to take account as far as possible of the Committee's findings in the 2004 Sustainable Development in Government Report. This it has done. The 2004 Report is based on responses to a redesigned questionnaire and an analysis of the Departmental returns prepared by independent consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). It therefore provides much more information and comparative data than in previous reports.

The Report's findings demonstrate some improvement in Departmental performance in a number of areas, including better reporting on the sustainable development impacts of estate operations; developing waste management strategies; and in identifying significant impacts for biodiversity. The Report also includes case studies of Departmental initiatives and good practice.

Equally the Report demonstrates that much more could be done. Progress in some areas, such as reducing water consumption, is disappointing; Departmental performance is uneven; and data availability remains a serious concern. These and other issues will be addressed in the review of the Framework to be undertaken over the next year.

The task facing Government Departments to implement the Framework targets remains considerable. Nevertheless Green Ministers have committed their Departments to meeting these objectives and to set a lead to others. Managing its Estate sustainably remains a key priority for Government.

Report 2004

Updated: 23 March 2005