The procurement activities of national, state and local governments are directly or indirectly responsible for 15% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Abating these emissions will help considerably in reaching the goal of the Paris Agreement to slow global warming to well below 2°C.

Greener public procurement will likely cost more, at least in the short run. And the bureaucratic.

The opportunity

The vast majority of the emissions for which public procurement is responsible – up to 70% of the total – stem from the activities of just six industries: defence and security, transport, waste management services, construction, industrial products and utilities. The burning of fossil fuels in public transport and defence and security activities is responsible for almost all public procurement’s Scope 1 emissions. Its Scope 2 emissions, from the purchase of electricity to run operations,