1 Context

The Government has committed to moving towards a carbon neutral public service.

The 34 core public sector agencies have been split by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) into two categories. The 6 Stage 1 agencies[1] are required to achieve carbon neutral status by 2012. The remaining 28 Stage 2 agencies, including the Ministry of Justice, are required to be ‘on the path’ to carbon neutrality by the year 2012.

The Ministry completed their first carbon Inventory in late 2007. This inventory for the government financial year 2006/, provided a baseline position to measure progress from. Having calculated the level of emissions, it is now necessary to develop and implement an action plan that will help reduce emissions wherever practical.

It is proposed by MfE that at some future date, yet to be announced, that the remaining ‘unavoidable’ emissions will then be ‘offset’ through MfE’s Carbon Neutral Programme in order to meet the target of the core public service achieving carbon neutral status.

The success of the initiatives contained in the Emissions Reduction Plan will be assessed annually through the Carbon Inventory process.

Footnote

1 The six pilot agencies are the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Health, Ministry for Economic Development, Inland Revenue Department, Department of Conservation and The Treasury.