Public spending 'to drive low-carbon transition'
Monday, 05 Mar 2007 19:42
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Environment secretary David Miliband has laid out how the government's public spending will help drive the transition to a low carbon economy.
Presenting the government's sustainable procurement action plan, Mr Miliband outlined ways in which its supply chains and public services will be "increasingly low carbon, low waste and water efficient, respect biodiversity and deliver wider sustainable development goals".
Speaking at the University of Cambridge, he argued for a low carbon economy and radical cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
"Public sector purchasing power must be harnessed to transform the market for innovative and sustainable solutions to make them more widely available and affordable to others," Mr Miliband said.
"Procurement is key in tackling climate change and as a government we must do more and practise what we preach in terms of tackling climate change."
His speech came ahead of the publication of a draft climate change bill next week.
A report published last week by the Commons' environmental audit select committee said Britain needed to redouble its efforts to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2050.
"We know that good procurement is sustainable procurement and we will work in tandem with the government's action plan to strive for a carbon neutral estate by 2012 as we support the UK in meeting its Kyoto targets and tackling climate change," John Healey, financial secretary to the Treasury, said.