Updated 9 January 2013
Sustainability and climate change
- Annual reports
- Greening Government Commitments
- Carbon reduction
- Climate change adaptation
- Procurement
- Environmental information regulations
- Older publications
- Further information
Annual reports
Greening Government Commitments
DWP are now working towards a range of targets, which are summarised on the Defra website. These commitments include:
- reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from a 09/10 baseline from the whole estate and business-related transport
- reducing the amount of waste we generate by 25% from a 2009/10 baseline.
- reducing water consumption from a 2009/10 baseline, and report on office water use against best practice benchmarks.
- ensuring government buys more sustainable and efficient products and engages with its suppliers to understand and reduce the impacts of its supply chain:
- Greening Government Commitments in full (Defra website)
- DWP Carbon Management Plan (462KB)
- DWP headquarters energy data (external website)
- How to access official information under the Environmental Information Regulations (Information Commissioners Office website)
- Email:
freedom-of-information-request@dwp.gsi.gov.uk - Post:
DWP, Central FoI Team, 5th Floor The Adelphi, 1-11, John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT. - In person:
find an office from the Directgov site - Sustainability report 2010-11 – see DWP Annual Report and Accounts –2010-11 (2.4MB) pages 22, 91-95.
- Sustainable Development Annual Report 2009 (1.68MB)
- Sustainable Development Annual Report 2008 (6.3MB)
Carbon reduction
Climate change is arguably the greatest environmental challenge facing the world today. In the last 4 years, DWP has reduced Greenhouse Gas emissions by 33%. Last year’s 14% reduction made DWP the best performing department, in absolute tonnes of CO2.
DWP has gained and been re-accredited with the Carbon Trust Standard for all its operations. We have also worked with the Carbon Trust to create a carbon management plan, outlining how we will reduce emissions by a further 25% on 09-10 levels by 2014-15. This plan is currently being updated.
DWP won the Number 10 Greener Government Competition with a 22% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at our Caxton House headquarters between September and October 2010. Access live energy data on Caxton House below.
Climate Change Adaptation
Even if we drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions now, scientists predict that the warming effect of gases already in the atmosphere will in time cause rising sea levels, changing weather patterns, and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather. We are acting now to adapt to climate change.
Procurement
DWP actively follows sustainable procurement best practice. We use an in-house Sustainable Procurement Risk Assessment Methodology (SPRAM) to ensure that our sustainable procurement objectives are factored in to contract programmes, and we adhere to the Government Buying Standards.
Environmental Information Regulations
Environment Information Regulations (EIR) came into force on 1 January 2005. The EIR are linked very closely to the Freedom of Information Act.
The definition of Environment within these regulations covers subjects like human health and the built environment as well as subjects we would normally associate with the environment, such as flora and fauna, air quality and waste.
You can make an EIR request in writing, or in person at any of our offices which are open to the public.
Older publications
DWP no longer publishes sustainable development annual reports. We now produce a short quarterly sustainability report and contribute to DWP’s annual report and accounts.
Further Information
If you have any queries relating to sustainability and climate change within DWP please email the Department's Sustainability and Climate Change Team.
