Green Public Services: 20 government commitments in 2020

This new mechanism, put in place in the course of 2020, builds on the efforts already undertaken. It is based on mandatory actions for all government departments, public institutions, operators and the mobilization of agents to be a force for proposal.

Local and regional authorities, their associations and hospitals may join this initiative on a voluntary basis.

Actions

The State's 20 commitments are based on six themes:

The sustainable mobility of its staff:

• implementation of a sustainable mobility package in july 2020 €200 per year for State civil servants traveling to work by bicycle or carpool;
• partnerships with carpooling operators to accompany agents on their daily commute;
• deployment of a common carpooling management software to all administrations for business travel;
• Accelerating the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at the sites;
• installation of secure bicycle parking spaces in all car parks;
• new vehicles for ministers, secretaries of state and prefects must be electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles (except armored vehicles), and at least 50% of service and function vehicles acquired by the state and its public institutions must also be electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles;
• limitation of travel by air of officers (except operations of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, Customs, training flights, etc.): the air route is authorized when the travel time by rail is more than 4 hours (6 hours for a one-day trip);
• video conferencing to avoid travel.

More responsible purchasing:

• end purchases of single-use plastic items used at workplaces and events from July 2020;
• taking into account the risk of deforestation when renewing markets as from January 2021;
• use of recycled office paper when available or wholly sourced from sustainably managed forests from March 2020.

A more environmentally friendly diet:

• supply of quality and sustainable products (50% of which at least 20% organic products) in catering services and in the provision of food services at the renewal of the markets and from July 2020.

Reducing energy consumption in public buildings:

• deployment of a fluid consumption monitoring tool;
• banning from March 2020 the purchase of new oil boilers or heavy repair work on these boilers, and the complete abolition of oil boilers in the building stock by 2029 (with additional time for the Ministries of the Interior and the Armed Forces because of the specificity of their building stock);
• 2/3 reduction in energy bill and 50% greenhouse gas emissions as part of the Major Investment Plan for the delivery of these yards (expected in 2022);
• launch of a program of simple works to rapidly reduce energy consumption in buildings from March 2020;
• launch of an awareness-raising and involvement campaign.

Reduction of plant protection products:

• stop the use of pesticides to maintain green spaces, forests, roads and boardwalks, whether open or closed to the public.

Responsible Circular and Digital Economy:

• setting up a platform for the exchange of goods between services and promoting the donation of goods and materials to associations;
• raising awareness of digital eco-gestures and purchasing refurbished materials or consumables.

Mobilization of staff

Volunteers will be invited to get involved in the implementation of these measures and to identify further actions. The management will facilitate their participation in working groups for the implementation of service projects.

The Office of the Commissioner General for Sustainable Development (CGDD) will lead this community and assist departments.

A collaborative digital platform will provide technical and legal guides, and enable the exchange of information and best practices.

The CGDD will also organize an annual award for the best projects.

Follow-up of commitments

Each department will continue to provide an annual update with results related to the implementation of the mandatory measures. It will be sent to the CGDD before 31 May each year (before 31 October in 2020).

A follow-up committee will meet at least once a year under the chairmanship of the Secretary-General of the Government to review the implementation of the mechanism.