1 December 2008

Ninety eight per cent of UK Local Area Agreements (LAA) contain commitments for tackling climate change and its impacts. However the findings of new research suggest that this growing interest within local government to become green is yet to be mirrored in the establishment of internal goals, wider organisational operations and performance management.

The aim of the research, conducted by LGITU magazine, was to investigate how green IT fits within today’s wider policy agenda and budgetary constraints. It also looked at whether local government can match central government’s goal for carbon neutral ICT within four years.

According to the survey, 96 per cent of respondents say that green issues are important to their wider organisational agenda, with 87 per cent seeing technology as a key enabler of sustainability, council-wide. Only 4 per cent, however, are confident today that their council’s ICT estate would be carbon neutral within four years, matching the target of central government.

In the current economic climate it is essential that the underlying link between going green and efficiency is recognised

Helen Olsen, LGITU Magazine The main drivers for pursuing green initiatives appeared to be based on local pressures. 72 per cent identify the need to play a part in conserving the local environment and over 60 per cent recognise there is a responsibility on the council to lead local environmental action. 60 per cent of respondents also recognise the cost savings and efficiencies from ‘going green’. In contrast, 93 per cent identify lack of resources and budget as the largest barrier to their green initiatives.

“There is an unstoppable green tide washing over the public sector, but in the current economic climate it is essential that the underlying link between going green and efficiency is recognised,” said LGITU editor, Helen Olsen. “An organisation that both greens its ICT and uses technology to enable green ways of working will be in a win-win situation in terms of delivering environmental sustainability and at the same time reducing costs in transformed service delivery.”

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