Government failing to lead by example

Government ministers are under fire for not practicing what they preach as their own fleet of vehicles contains some of the highest polluting cars on the road.

Currently, 30 of the 85 cars assigned to ministers and permanent secretaries sit in VED Band F - the second most polluting band for cars that emit up to 225g/km of CO2.

What’s more, a recent report by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) revealed that initiatives to cut the carbon emissions from the departmental car fleet are failing.

It found that CO2 emissions from government cars have actually got worse rather than better.

The report revealed carbon emissions from vehicles run by government departments increased by 1.5% when compared to 2005/6.

According to the commission, no progress has been made towards achieving a target of a 15% reduction by 2010/11.

In response, the government is to create a new centre of expertise to help Whitehall departments achieve their targets for reducing carbon emissions.

It has also promised that from the summer, all new vehicles used by ministers and permanent secretaries - except a small number exempt for operational reasons - will have CO2 emissions below 130g/km.

SDC spokesman, Rebecca Willis, said that government as a whole needs to take radical action to put its own house in order if it is to be in a position to lead by example.