Sustainability

Targets

In 2005 "Securing the Future" the UK's Sustainable Development Strategy was launched, committing the public sector to leading by example in sustainable development. This commitment was reinforced in June 2006 with the launch of "Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate" (SOGE), a set of mandatory  targets and requirements for all government departments and executive agencies .

As government's independant advisor and watchdog on sustainable development the Sustainable Development Commission was given responsibility for reporting on government's performance in its annual "Sustainable Development in Government" (SDiG) report.

View SOGE targets
View SOGE requirements
View SDiG reports

In line with these policies each Government department should have its own Departmental Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP).

In addition to SOGE, the government is also committed to a sustainable procurement agenda which will affect activity on the civil estate. The "Sustainable Procurement Action Plan" (SPAP) was published in March 2007 as a follow-up to "Securing the Future" and specifically focused on the role of procurement in sustainability, rounding out the background to achieving sustainable outcomes through procurement. SPAP details how the UK will become one of the leaders of sustainable procurement in Europe by 2009.

Read more about SPAP

In parallel with these government specific measures, recent European planning and energy legislation will have a major impact on the way government uses resources. The European Energy Services Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive are currently being implemented in the UK.

View other legislative requirements
Read more about EU Energy Services Directive
Read more about EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive