Whitehall urged to step up its own emissions efforts

The environmental audit committee of MPs has stepped up its criticism of the government's climate change record with the publication of a new report claiming that it is not doing enough to cut carbon emissions from its own buildings and activities.

The report, which is based on research undertaken by the National Audit Office and the Sustainable Development Commission, claims that emissions from government departments have dropped by just 0.7 per cent in the last seven years, leaving it well adrift of its target of cutting emissions by 12.5 per cent on 1999/2000 levels by 2010/11.

The committee also found that the government's lukewarm support for onsite renewable energy technologies also extends to its own activities with just 0.0004 per cent of the power used at government properties generated on site.

Committee chairman, Tim Yeo MP, said that the government's failure to make better progress towards its own emission reduction targets meant that it would "find it hard to maintain the moral authority to influence the rest of us".

The comments follow an equally critical report from the committee last week, which claimed the UK's credibility at international climate change negotiations was being damaged by its failure to deliver deeper emissions cuts. In particular, the report claimed that plans for airport expansion and the government's support for buying in foreign carbon credits to help meet domestic carbon targets could "undermine" the UK's negotiating position.

In related news, Gordon Brown last night reiterated his support for a new generation of nuclear power stations designed to reduce dependence on oil imports and curb carbon emissions.

Speaking at a meeting of EU and Mediterranean states in Paris, Mr Brown outlined the government's plans for an expansion in clean coal and renewables, but also called for a "renaissance" in nuclear power.

"Britain is moving quickly to replace its ageing fleet of nuclear power stations," he said. "All around the world I see renewed interest in this technology, as countries contemplate the alternative – continued oil dependence and unchecked climate change."

According to Guardian reports, Downing Street officials said the government was now fully committed to the building of at least eight new nuclear power stations with a view to the first coming online as early as 2017.