Despite urging us all to do our bit, emissions from government offices - excluding the Ministry of Defence (MOD) - have increased 22% in the past year, a Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) report reveals, repeating dire findings and a call-to-action issued by the Commission last year.

Following the 2006 report environmental charity Global Action Plan wrote to all green ministers offering support to reduce their environmental impact. The charity did not receive a single positive response.

According to the SDC report: When the MOD is discounted, the civil estate is performing poorly on carbon emissions from offices (increased 22% when MOD excluded) and energy efficiency (3.3% worse when MOD excluded).

However, businesses are pushing the agenda forward with over 20 signing up to work with Global Action Plan in the last year, looking to reduce waste to landfill by 37%, and energy use by 10% (average achievements from Global Action Plan programmes).

Trewin Restorick, Director of Global Action Plan says: "It's unbelievable that government is still lagging behind in this area given their latest calls on 2010 targets. They should be setting the agenda and making things happen. How many dire reports does it take?"

• Email this page