Government should practice what it preaches on environment - Huhne

6.14.14pm GMT Wed 20th Dec 2006

Government buildings are emitting more carbon than ever before - with Gordon Brown's Treasury the worst offending department - according to research by the Liberal Democrats.

The results show:

• Three quarters of government departments have seen their carbon dioxide emissions rise from energy use (gas and electricity) since 2000

• The worst offenders are the Home Office, where emissions have risen by 43%, and the Treasury where emissions per square metre have more than doubled

• There has been an overall 13% increase in emissions from across the Government

• Even taking into account increases in office space, there has been a 10% increase per square metre of office space: with all but three departments seeing a rise on this basis

• Even Defra, the department which should be leading the fight against climate change, has seen emissions per square metre increase by 6% over the last few years

• The rises in energy use, driving the rise in emissions, costs the Government around an additional £3.7m a year

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP, said "The Government needs to go green, not brown. The Chancellor likes to talk about climate change, as he did in the pre-budget report, but he is not practising what he preaches.

"Given all the Chancellor's hot air, it is particularly ironic that the Treasury has seen a big rise in it's own emissions.

"This is not just lousy for the environment, it is also bad news for taxpayers, as the Treasury is just burning money as it leaves lights, computers and heating on late to no purpose.

"Yet again Gordon Brown has failed to show the leadership on climate change which is needed.

"The Government urgently needs to make the green switch itself, starting at the top."