Recommendation 9

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 reporting are those arising from business travel undertaken by government employees.20 However, scope 3 emissions can be highly significant and can, for certain organisations, account for the bulk of their carbon footprint.21 For example, National Highways has estimated that its scope 3 emissions, which include the emissions generated in the production of the cement, concrete, steel and asphalt it uses, are several times higher than its scope 1 and 2 emissions.22