Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Accepted
Paragraph: 78
Ensure Defence sets more demanding Greening Government Commitments targets for 2025-2030.
Conclusion
The Ministry of Defence is in line to achieve its Greening Government Commitments’ carbon reduction targets early, but these are insufficiently demanding. It appears that the Ministry can meet its targets entirely by taking advantage of the decarbonisation of the National Grid. Targets are hardly stretching if they can be met without any effort, especially for a department that produces half of all central government emissions. For the next round of Greening Government Commitments from 2025– 2030, Defence should ensure its targets are more demanding and accompanied by plans to achieve them.
Government Response Summary
The government states that for the 2021-25 Greening Government Commitments, Defence agreed a 10% direct emission reduction target against a 2017-18 baseline. Furthermore, MOD officials are actively working with DEFRA and cross-government colleagues on designing the new set of GGCs for 2025-2030, aiming to shape more effective targets.
Paragraph Reference:
78
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
. The Government remains completely committed to its net zero and Greening Government Commitments and is a world leader in decarbonisation. Our targets keep us on track to meet these, and to meet international commitments including those under the Paris Agreement. 9 Sanctuary magazine - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sanctuary First Special Report: Defence and Climate Change 9 The current suite of Greening Government Commitments is focused mostly on estate specific targets and the MOD acknowledges that its emissions have historically been half of central Government’s estate emissions. The MOD’s past emission reduction performance has been driven primarily through either a reduction in the number of buildings across the estate or through the greening of the grid. To drive further decarbonisation and as part of its 21-25 Greening Government Commitments Defence agreed a 10% direct emission reduction target (against a 2017-18 baseline). MOD officials are already working closely with Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs and cross-Government colleagues on the approach and design of the new set of Greening Government Commitments. The MOD is using the experience and lessons gained in the most recent target period to shape the most effective set of new targets to drive behaviours and overall performance across the Department. The MOD does not just use the energy in buildings as shown in its Annual Reports and Accounts. Emissions are created from generating electricity to power ships alongside, air traffic and defence radars and a range of industrial processes. The focus and pace at which the Department can decarbonise is inextricably linked to military capability and maintaining UK security and we will never put our nation at risk for the sake of sustainability targets.