Corporate report

Greening government commitments: Defra’s performance

Updated 10 April 2024

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

We aim to achieve the greening government commitments (GGCs) 2021 to 2025 targets by the end of March 2025. 

Progress made towards these targets from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 (the last 4 quarters), compared with 2017 to 2018, is that:

• paper use reduced by 80% against a final target of 50%
• flight emissions reduced by 41% against a final target of 30%
• total greenhouse gas (GHG) reduced by 27% against a final target of 50%
• direct GHG from buildings reduced by 13% against a final target of 15%
• 7% of waste went to landfill against a final target of less than 5%
• 67% of waste was recycled against a final target of more than 70%
• total waste increased by 44% against a final target of 15% reduction
• water use reduced by 20% against a final target of 8%

1. Quarterly figures

Time period	GHG from buildings and travel (tonnes)	Recycling ratio	Landfill ratio	Waste (tonnes)	Water (m3)	Domestic flight emissions (tonnes)
Total Baseline data (2017 to 18)	76,188	49%	20%	7,244	612,505	265
1 Apr to 3 Jun 2021 (Q1)	11,379	38%	14%	1,096	122,929	0.3
1 Jul to 30 Sept 2021 (Q2)	10,705	29%	13%	1,109	103,024	5
1 Oct to 31 Dec 2021 (Q3)	13,301	35%	13%	1,278	73,892	11
1 Jan to 31 Mar 2022 (Q4)	15,509	43%	18%	1,346	105,953	11
1 Apr to 3 Jun 2022 (Q1)	11,408	31%	22%	1,858	158,947	24
1 Jul to 30 Sept 2022 (Q2)	10,350	38%	14%	1,717	163,424	20
1 Oct to 31 Dec 2022 (Q3)	15,191	55%	20%	2,575	89,731	18
1 Jan to 31 Mar 2023 (Q4)	16,025	65%	9%	2,539	158,480	25
1 Apr to 30 Jun 2023 (Q1)	12,362	58%	10%	2,169	146,512	44.1
1 Jul to 30 Sept 2023 (Q2)	10,598	63%	8%	2,540	142,216	33.4
1 Oct to 31 Dec 2023 (Q3)	16,346	67%	7%	3,185	101,590	52.5

Quarterly numbers relating to the current reporting year may have changed from those previously published, due to refinements made during the most recent data collection exercise.

2. Commitment statements

Defra reports on its energy use and commitments to sustainability in several ways: 

• Defra’s annual report and accounts contain a sustainability annex outlining the department’s performance and commitment to sustainability
• Defra reports on its property performance through the pan-government ‘State of the Estate’ report
• Defra published the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 – this is our delivery plan for the environment

3. Climate Change Adaptation (CCA)

We are taking steps to understand and plan for the risk of climate change to our operations across Defra group.

This will form the basis of our work to meet our Greening Government Commitment to develop a climate change adaptation strategy.

4. Mitigating climate change 

Defra group is committed to using renewable energy technologies and has installed several self-generating installations onto its sites, such as: 

• wind turbines
• photovoltaic panels
• solar water heaters
• ground source heat pumps

Defra is also committed to using low carbon technologies to mitigate its use of higher carbon fossil fuels and replacing gas boilers at their end of life with heat pumps.

5. Nature recovery

Defra group is responsible for a large and diverse portfolio of land, from the grounds of our offices and depots to nationally significant protected sites.

We continue to work collaboratively across Defra group to better understand the distribution and habitat classification of our natural assets.

This work will support our Greening Government Commitment to develop and deliver a nature recovery plan.

6. Sustainable procurement

Defra has specific policies to support sustainability within procurement.

Sustainable procurement is a core objective for procurement staff. It is built into the commercial governance approach through category boards and the Senior Leadership Team. Contracts must demonstrate how sustainability risks will be managed before they are signed off.

A sustainability risk assessment is completed at the earliest opportunity to determine:

• which sustainability impacts and opportunities are relevant to the contract 
• how they will be managed throughout procurement and for the entire life of the contract

Government Buying Standards are mandated to each of the relevant procurement categories.

The Environment Agency uses a carbon calculator tool to monitor and report emissions from construction activities at the project level. They are working with service providers and suppliers to track the embodied carbon impact.

To avoid harmful plant diseases, all contracts include a specific question on biosecurity and non-native species. This is supported by risk management techniques where relevant.

The plan for Defra group’s Commercial Team sets out its sustainability commitments. These include addressing priority areas such as Net Zero Carbon, modern slavery and social value, and ensuring they are embedded within relevant contracts and monitored throughout the contract life-cycle. A key focus is to provide category specific guidance and training on sustainable procurement.

7. Green ICT

Defra (through the Chief Digital and Information Officer) are the Senior Responsible Owner and Policy owner for digital sustainability, or green ICT, across government.

Defra has authored and adopted the Greening Government ICT and Digital Services Strategy. In addition, Defra has a Departmental Sustainable ICT Strategy and Policy which applies to all Digital, Data and Technology services that are delivered.

Stringent key performance indicators (KPI’s) and standards are applied. This ensures that ICT delivers sustainability improvements, working towards Net Zero and wider sustainability commitments. 

As part of the Digital Services Strategy, Defra reports: the GHG and power consumption for all our Defra group ICT, a full breakdown of waste, using the waste hierarchy, including value retained and charitable donations, strategy statements and results.

More information can be found in the Greening Government ICT and Digital Services annual reports. 

Defra leads engagement with two key stakeholder groups: 

1. The Sustainable Technology Advice and Reporting (STAR) group, which comprises representatives from across government. The purpose of the group is to collate and share data for annual sustainability reporting, as well as sharing knowledge on tools, techniques, and best practice on sustainable technology and sustainable procurement.

2. The Government Digital Sustainability Alliance (GDSA), a collaborative working group that brings together Defra, current and prospective government suppliers and their supply chain. The main purpose of GDSA is to promote knowledge and to support capabilities to deliver sustainable digital data and technology across UK Government and their suppliers.