Council on Environmental Quality

Federal Leadership on Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability - EXECUTIVE ORDER 13693

As part of the Federal government’s commitment to lead by example in curbing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are driving climate change, on February 19, 2015, President Obama signed Executive Order (EO) 13693.  The EO will cut Federal GHG emissions 40 percent over the next decade from 2008 levels -- saving taxpayers up to $18 billion in avoided energy costs -- and increase the share of electricity the Federal Government consumes from renewable sources to 30 percent.

Since the Federal Government is the single largest consumer of energy in the Nation, Federal emissions reductions will have broad impacts.  The goals of EO 13693 build on the strong progress made by Federal agencies during the first six years of the Administration under President Obama’s 2009 Executive Order on Federal Leadership on Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance, including reducing Federal GHG emissions by 17 percent — which helped Federal agencies avoid $1.8 billion in cumulative energy costs — and increasing the share of renewable energy consumption to 9 percent.  

With a footprint that includes 360,000 buildings, 650,000 fleet vehicles, and $445 billion spent annually on goods and services, the Federal Government’s actions to reduce pollution, support renewable energy, and operate more efficiently can make a significant impact on national emissions. This EO builds on the Federal Government’s significant progress in reducing emissions to drive further sustainability actions through the next decade. In addition to cutting emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy, the Executive Order outlines a number of additional measures to make the Federal Government’s operations more sustainable, efficient and energy-secure while saving taxpayer dollars. Specifically, the Executive Order directs Federal agencies to:

  • Ensure 25 percent of their total energy (electric and thermal) consumption is from clean energy sources by 2025.
  • Reduce energy use in Federal buildings by 2.5 percent per year between 2015 and 2025.
  • Reduce per-mile GHG emissions from Federal fleets by 30 percent from 2014 levels by 2025, and increase the percentage of zero emission and plug in hybrid vehicles in Federal fleets.
  • Reduce water intensity in Federal buildings by 2 percent per year through 2025.

Each year, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reports on Federal agencies’ and departments’ progress toward meeting sustainability goals.  OMB’s Sustainability and Energy Scorecards help target and track the best opportunities to lead by example in clean energy; and to meet a range of energy, water, pollution, and waste reduction targets.. Visit the OMB sustainability and energy scorecards page to view individual agency scorecard results.

Resources

Executive Order 13693: Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade

Implementing Instructions for Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade Executive Order (E.O.) 13693

Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings,  February 2016

Guidance for Federal Agency Implementation of Workplace Charging

For more information on the Office of Federal Sustainability, please visit www.sustainability.gov.