Monday 7 March 2011

Cameron to launch Carbon Plan to buck-up ministers

David Cameron is said to be furious that his bid to create "the greenest government ever" is being undermined by some Westminster departments not doing their bit to cut carbon.

And tomorrow Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Energy Secretary Chris Huhne will unveil The Carbon Plan, which a spokesman for DECC today told ELN would be a blueprint to ensure that ministers are "doing what they are supposed to do" to reduce their department's emissions.

It is believed that all ministers will have to step up their commitment to green issues, with their jobs on the line if they fail to deliver.

It is also anticipated that The Carbon Plan will also bring in non-government groups such as Greenpeace to play a monitoring role in the energy plans of Westminster.

Just days after becoming Prime Minister, Mr Cameron pledged to make green policies and action a cornerstone of his coalition, but some departments are said not to be pulling their weight. A report yesterday in particular singled out Transport Secretary Philip Hammond as one minister who was not on-message. Greenpeace UK's executive director John Sauven was quoted as saying that Mr Hammond was "still confused". Mr Sauven urged Energy Secretary Chris Huhne to drag Mr Hammond "away from Top Gear and force him to spend some time watching the news".

Last October, Mr Cameron launched an inter-Westminster contest to see which department could slash its energy use the most over the month. Winners were the departments of Work and Pensions, Business, Innovation and Skills, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Some, however, only managed to increase their energy use, including the Department of Health, Culture, Media and Sport and Mr Cameron's own Number 10 office.

ELN will bring you full details of The Carbon Plan when it is unveiled tomorrow.