A new Centre of Expertise is to be set up to help Whitehall departments achieve their targets for reducing carbon emissions and waste across the government estate.

Details of the Centre of Expertise for Sustainable Procurement (CESP) were unveiled as the Government published its response to the Sustainable Development Commission's latest report on how the Government is meeting its own sustainable objectives for tackling climate change.

Today's 6th annual Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) report by the independent watchdog and adviser on sustainability shows a small improvement in the Government's overall performance against its key 'eco' commitments - including a 4% fall in carbon emissions across the estate by the end of 2006/7. However, the Commission called on departments to urgently build on initiatives already taken to ensure targets can be met and to demonstrate that the Government is leading by example on sustainability.

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The CESP will be set up within the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) alongside the Government's Chief Sustainability Officer - a new post to be appointed to take forward a culture of change across all departments in sustainable operations and procurement.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "In the year that has elapsed since the period covered by this report, departments have been working to cut emissions, waste and water use and to increase recycling levels.

"The measures we're announcing today will help us to do better in the year ahead."

(CD/JM)