Two Tomorrows helps Grontmij assure MOD 2009 sustainability report

Two Tomorrows has supported engineering consultancy Grontmij in the independent assurance of the UK Ministry of Defence’s 2009 Sustainable Development Report.

To assess the claims made in the report, the Grontmij/Two Tomorrows team interviewed selected directors, senior commanding officers and senior managers within MOD responsible for management of sustainability issues. Interviewees included the 2nd Permanent Under Secretary for Defence, members of the Safety, Sustainable Development & Continuity Division, RAF Air Command, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), Land Command, Permanent Joint Headquarters, Royal Navy Command and Defence Estates.

To ensure high standards were met, we used the criteria in the Global Reporting Initiative G3 Quality of Information Principles to guide the assessment process.

We found evidence of strong engagement within the parts of the MOD that take responsibility for key impact areas, such as Procurement and Estate Management, as well as a good level of awareness and engagement among senior management and commanding officers.

Grontmij project manager, Linsey Cottrell, said: “The project was a fascinating insight into how a major government department is translating the concepts of sustainable development into day to day actions of its staff and managers.”

Appointing third parties for assurance of sustainability reporting is currently being considered by HM Treasury as a means of promoting and monitoring the Government’s commitment to achieving improved sustainability performance within its own operations.

The MOD is one of the largest and most diverse of all government departments, so it plays an important role in achieving government sustainable development objectives, including reducing energy, waste and carbon emissions. Like other departments, it publishes annual reports setting out progress in approaches to sustainable development, in particular in meeting mandated targets known as the sustainable objectives for the government estate.

Read the Grontmij/Two Tomorrows report on our assurance of the MOD’s report (PDF file)