The Australian Government is committed to pursuing in its own operations the same level of change it is seeking to implement in the broader community through its various climate change initiatives. Given that ICT is a significant emitter of greenhouse gases, the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, in consultation with the Department of Finance and Deregulation, is developing a Wholeof-Government ICT Sustainability Plan by December 2009. The plan will:

• identify ways of improving ICT environmental performance across government departments, particularly in terms of energy efficiency;

• identify the standards that should be applied in government purchasing of ICT products and services; and

• consider the contribution that ICT can make more broadly to achieving more sustainable practices in the community.

In addition, all agencies will be required to undertake periodic independent ICT energy assessments and large government agencies are required to develop an ICT energy management plan by March 2010.