Carbon Reduction Target and Strategy for the FE Sector in England

4th November 2009

What is it?

The government’s Low Carbon Transition Plan published in July states that: "Every part of Government will need to help drive the transition that is needed to live within the UK’s carbon budgets. For the first time, each major government department will have its own carbon budget representing its share of responsibility … From April 2010, it will also include emissions from schools, further and higher education institutions and the NHS.”

This means that by April 2010 we need to clearly identify the contribution of FE institutions to the overall Department for Business, Innovation and Skills carbon budget, have set a 2020 target to reduce these emissions and have in place a strategy for achieving that target.

The initial scope of the target and strategy is FE colleges although we would want all providers to be considering how to reduce their emissions. It is expected that the responsibility for Sixth Form Colleges will lie with DCSF following the machinery of government changes.

What are the LSC and BIS doing about it?

A research project has been commissioned to establish a baseline of emissions and propose indicative targets based on a range of scenarios to inform the development of the carbon reduction strategy.

The preliminary findings of the research project are that emissions in the sector have risen from 1996 to a peak around 2001-2004 and then reduced to below historic levels. However, this analysis is substantially based on energy use and further work is required to ensure a full picture of emissions including those due to transport and the use of materials in the sector.

How is the sector being involved?

The project Steering Group includes representatives from three colleges who provide links to Landex and the157 group. The AoC is also represented.

The Steering Group met for the first time in mid-October to discuss the initial findings of the research and provide feedback to BIS officials to inform proposals to Ministers about indicative targets. The Steering Group will meet again in December to discuss the draft carbon reduction strategy.

In January 2010 there will be a workshop for colleges and other stakeholders to launch a sector-wide consultation on the proposed target and draft strategy.

The Steering Group will meet for a third time in March to discuss the responses to the consultation and the final target and strategy for publication in April 2010.

How to find out more?

Contact Debbie Watson at the LSC debbie.watson@lsc.gov.uk.