Measuring and reporting public sector greenhouse gas emissions

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 9 Jun 2022 Closed: 24 Feb 2023 Parliament page
In June 2019, the government committed in law to achieving ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The overall responsibility for achieving net zero was assigned to the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy which published the Net Zero Strategy two years later in October 2021, committing government and … Read more
11 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Letter
1 Event
Activity timeline 4 events
24 Feb
2023
Report published
2 Nov
2022
Report published
8 Sep
2022
Correspondence
4 Jul
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
4 Jul 2022
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Measuring and reporting public sector carbon emissions
Ben Rimmington · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero David Hill · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Sarah Munby · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Steve Field · HM Treasury
Recommendations & Conclusions
18 results
2 Recommendation
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
The public sector as a whole lacks clear standards for measuring and reporting emissions.
The public sector as a whole lacks clear standards for measuring and reporting emissions. BEIS has set expectations that all public sector bodies should consistently measure and report their emissions, but BEIS, HM Treasury and Defra have so far only … Read more
HM Treasury
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3 Recommendation
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
Leadership and oversight of emissions measurement and reporting in central government is fragmented and ineffective.
Leadership and oversight of emissions measurement and reporting in central government is fragmented and ineffective. At present, there are at least three departments issuing guidance to central government bodies on how to measure and report emissions. However, the guidance is … Read more
HM Treasury
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4 Recommendation
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
We are not convinced that departments are making effective use of the emissions data to...
We are not convinced that departments are making effective use of the emissions data to drive decision-making. Central government and other public sector bodies need to use emissions data to decide priorities and assess the affordability of plans. While the … Read more
HM Treasury
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5 Recommendation
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
The public sector risks falling behind on the reporting of its emissions but could learn...
The public sector risks falling behind on the reporting of its emissions but could learn from developing practice in private sector and the devolved administrations. While the UK government has committed to leading by example in efforts to decarbonise, other … Read more
HM Treasury
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1 Conclusion
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence...
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Department for Environment. Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and HM Treasury on how the … Read more
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6 Conclusion
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
In addition to the BEIS dataset that covers the entire public sector, Defra publishes an...
In addition to the BEIS dataset that covers the entire public sector, Defra publishes an annual progress report for the Greening Government Commitments (GGCs). Alongside the government’s other environmental measures, this shows the progress made by central government departments and … Read more
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7 Conclusion
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
BEIS has not spelt out the assumptions underpinning its ambitions to decarbonise the public sector,...
BEIS has not spelt out the assumptions underpinning its ambitions to decarbonise the public sector, in particular the extent to which it is relying on technological innovation to meet its long-term targets. BEIS told us that it expects electric heat … Read more
HM Treasury
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8 Conclusion
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
At present, only central government departments and their arm’s-length bodies are required to measure and...
At present, only central government departments and their arm’s-length bodies are required to measure and report their emissions in accordance with HM Treasury’s Sustainability Reporting Guidance, which leaves huge areas of the public sector, including 5 C&AG’s Report, para 1.2 … Read more
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9 Recommendation
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
The current reporting requirements for central government focus on scope 1 and scope 2 emissions;...
The current reporting requirements for central government focus on scope 1 and scope 2 emissions; for example the gas used in boilers and electricity used across the government estate.19 The only scope 3 emissions that are captured by current mandatory … Read more
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10 Recommendation
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
By contrast, there are already greater requirements placed on some private sector firms to measure...
By contrast, there are already greater requirements placed on some private sector firms to measure and report their scope 3 emissions. Firms bidding, for example, for government contracts worth over £5 million are required to report five categories of scope … Read more
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11 Recommendation
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
Elsewhere in the public sector we have heard that some bodies are going further to...
Elsewhere in the public sector we have heard that some bodies are going further to report scope 3 emissions and therefore are providing a fuller picture of their carbon footprint. BEIS told us that for some time the NHS has … Read more
HM Treasury
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12 Conclusion
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
At present, BEIS, Defra and HM Treasury play important roles in setting expectations for public...
At present, BEIS, Defra and HM Treasury play important roles in setting expectations for public sector emissions reporting, with a number of other bodies, such as the Department for Transport and Office for Government Property also playing more minor roles … Read more
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13 Recommendation
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
Central government bodies are required to report their emissions in two ways: through the GGCs...
Central government bodies are required to report their emissions in two ways: through the GGCs following guidance set by Defra; and in their annual reports following the Sustainability Reporting Guidance set by HM Treasury.32 These two sets of guidance are … Read more
HM Treasury
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14 Recommendation
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
In addition to these inconsistencies, we note that the reporting guidance is not currently easy...
In addition to these inconsistencies, we note that the reporting guidance is not currently easy to use. For example, the NAO found that HM Treasury’s Sustainability Reporting Guidance was vaguely worded and did not make it clear which reporting elements … Read more
HM Treasury
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15 Recommendation
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
We are concerned that there is a lack of active leadership in this area, which...
We are concerned that there is a lack of active leadership in this area, which is leading to non-compliance with guidance and undermining efforts to produce complete, robust emissions data. Defra, which has overall responsibility for administering the GGCs, does … Read more
HM Treasury
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16 Recommendation
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
Robust data can be used to prioritise action and assess whether policies are affordable, but...
Robust data can be used to prioritise action and assess whether policies are affordable, but we are not convinced that departments are making sufficient effective use of the emissions data that they are already collecting and reporting. We asked BEIS, … Read more
HM Treasury
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17 Conclusion
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
The main source of funding currently available to help public sector bodies implement decarbonisation measures...
The main source of funding currently available to help public sector bodies implement decarbonisation measures is the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund, which will be distributing £1.425 billion of grant funding across the sector for the current spending review period.41 We … Read more
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18 Conclusion
Twenty-Third Report - Measuring an…
Given that the public sector faces a significant challenge in decarbonising at the rates required,...
Given that the public sector faces a significant challenge in decarbonising at the rates required, the centre of government could be doing more to share examples of good practice. We are encouraged that BEIS intend to use the local net … Read more
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Correspondence 1 letter
8 Sep 2022 Correspondence from Sarah Munby, Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, re PAC hearing on ‘Measuring and reporting public sector greenhouse gas emissions’, 26 July 2022
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