Public sector most committed to carbon reduction

The UK's public sector is demonstrating a greater commitment to reducing carbon than the private and third sectors, a new survey has revealed.


Key findings from the Guardian Sustainable Business survey, which polled 1,256 respondents from across the public, private and third sectors, found that more than half (58%) of public sector respondents said their organisations plan to make ‘tangible investments’ in carbon reduction in 2012.

Of those, 77.9% said that carbon reduction remains a “key facet” of their organisation’s long-term goals, despite the difficult economic climate.

In contrast, less than half (46%) of private sector workers said their company will be making such investments in the coming year.

Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority (78%) of respondents said they are looking to the public sector to lead the way on carbon reduction by cutting their own emissions.

Carbon Trust programmes director Richard Rugg, said: “Even in the face of an economic downturn, the public sector clearly still recognises the benefit of managing down its carbon and sees the short-term as well as long-term benefits of doing so.”

Carys Matthews

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