As promised, the new government today signed up to the 10:10 campaign, pledging to cut emissions from the government estate by 10% over the next year; a measure the Labour government defeated in a vote last year.

As well as mirroring the efforts local authorities have been making to cut their estate emissions under NI185, the new government seems to be setting up a wider "we're all in this together" narrative; displayed in the cut in ministers' wages announced yesterday. Energy use of departments will be displayed in real time, bringing some welcome transparency as well as raising the profile of smart meters.

Public sector emissions as a whole increased in 2008, starkly contrasting with a fall of 2% across the whole country. As well as the potential direct effect on UK emissions, the initiative also hold a significant symbolic value in attempting to change the recent poor example set by the public sector.