DCSF should cut emissions to encourage schools

17 July 2008 Lauren Higgs Education

The Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) should cut carbon emissions to set an example to schools, an independent advisor has said.

A report by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), said the government must do more to help schools reduce carbon emissions.

Carbon Emissions from Schools: Where they arise and how to reduce them found England’s school system generates 9.4 million tones of greenhouse gas emissions through school buildings, procurement, travel and waste.

The SDC is calling on the government to halve emissions by 2020, and 80 per cent by 2050.

However, the DCSF today launched a consultation into the Government’s Zero Carbon Task Force for schools, which prioritises cutting emissions from energy used in schools, but not from school procurement, travel or waste.

Instead, the consultation proposes that just school buildings become carbon neutral by 2016.

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