Government fails to tackle its own carbon footprint

11.08.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 22nd Jan 2008

The Government should practice what it preaches and set an example in meeting its own targets for sustainable buildings, according to a report by the Public Accounts Committee.

It has emerged that only one in three new government buildings were given environmental health checks, which were supposed to be mandatory, and fewer than one in 10 of these met the required standards.

Steve Webb, Shadow Minister for the Environment slammed the government stating, "The Government cannot pretend it is serious about climate change when even its own new buildings do not meet basic sustainability standards.

He added "The Government should be leading the way when it comes to raising environmental standards in buildings, yet no-one in government seems to be taking overall responsibility."