Leading by example: cutting energy bills and carbon emissions in the public and higher education sectors

We are interested in evidence, and views, about the action required to deliver an ambitious decarbonisation programme across the public and higher education sectors, in England over the next 10 years.

We particularly welcome your comments on the introduction of a voluntary emissions target for the public and higher education sector - excluding central government departments and their agencies which already have their own targets.

Under the Climate Change Act, the UK has committed to reduce its carbon emissions by at least 80%, against 1990 levels, by 2050. Parliament has recently approved the next interim target. This fifth Carbon Budget requires a 57% reduction in UK emissions by 2032.

Central government has already set carbon targets for its own estate and, to date, has made good progress in cutting emissions through the Greening Government Commitments. By 2015 to 2016, emissions from central government had been reduced by 27%, and energy costs reduced by £147 million, against 2009 levels. We now want to expand this approach to the rest of the public sector and to organisations in the higher education sector.

In the Clean Growth Strategy, the government announced its intention to put in place a voluntary emissions reduction target for the public (and higher education sectors in England. This reflects their important role in cutting emissions and in providing leadership across the rest of the economy. The target is to achieve at least a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 against a 2009 to 2010 baseline.

This call for evidence seeks your views about targets and implementation, including the design of a reporting framework. You may also have views about other policies that would help in reducing emissions. Evidence is particularly sought from organisations that would be covered by the target, but views from any interested party are very welcome.