PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Department for Work and Pensions: Environment Protection (25 April 2024)

Question Asked

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on meeting its Greening Government Commitment targets.

Asked by:
Dame Angela Eagle (Labour)

Answer

DWP’s 2023/24 GGC performance is currently being collated and will be submitted to DEFRA at the end of May 2024. Therefore, 2022/23 is the latest full year of GGC data that is available and a summary of DWP’s performance (including our ALBs) against each of the headline GGC targets from 2022/23 is provided below. Further details of DWP’s performance (excluding ALBs) is available in DWP’s 2022/23 Annual Report and Accounts.

Target A: Mitigating climate change: working towards net zero by 2050

DWP reduced our total greenhouse gas emissions by 32% compared to the 17/18 baseline, which is on track to meet the target to reduce by 45% by 2024/25.

DWP reduced our direct greenhouse gas emissions by 1% compared to the 17/18 baseline. During the pandemic DWP took on c.200 additional properties to respond to national requirements. These buildings were still part of the estate in 2022/23 which impacted the direct greenhouse gas emissions performance; however, significant estate rationalisation has occurred during 2023/24 and we forecast we will meet the 2024/25 target to reduce by 17%.

Target B: Minimising waste and promoting resource efficiency

DWP reduced our total waste generated by 31% compared to the 2017/18 baseline, exceeding the target to reduce by 15% by 2024/25.

Target C: Minimising waste and promoting resource efficiency

DWP reduced our water consumption by 19% compared to the 2017/18 baseline, exceeding the target to reduce by 8% by 2024/25.

Target D: Procuring sustainable products and services

DWP has a sustainable procurement policy and ensures all procurement activities comply with the Government Buying Standards, meeting the target requirements.

Target E: Nature Recovery – making space for thriving plants and wildlife

DWP has developed a draft nature recovery plan and intend to finalise this before 2024/25 to meet the target requirements.

Target F: Adapting to climate change

DWP has developed a climate change adaptation strategy which includes a climate change risk assessment and climate change adaptation plan for its estates and operations, meeting the target requirements.

Target G: Reducing environmental impacts from information communication technology (ICT) and digital

DWP provide annual reporting data against the ICT & digital services strategy and provide membership to the sustainable technology advice and reporting team, meeting the target requirements.


Answered by:
Paul Maynard (Conservative)
30 April 2024

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