Forests - 2/10

Selling off the nation's forests must have seemed a great plan when it was dreamed up last year. First mooted as a money-making scheme, when it emerged that the costs would outweigh the income, it was re-branded "big society" – returning woodlands to the community. But the outcry from people concerned about what the sell-off would mean for public access, and for the future of England's remaining forested land, united an unlikely coalition, from ramblers and Tory knights of the shires to the Socialist Workers Party. And resulted in a humiliating climbdown.

Sustainable development - 3/10

The government's independent adviser on how the nation can start to live within its environmental means, the Sustainable Development Commission, was abolished in the "bonfire of the quangos". Its low key replacement - a seven-page plan - promised more scrutiny within the cabinet and by MPs, but was dismissed by former SDC head Jonathon Porritt (left), who called it "without a doubt the most disgraceful government document relating to sustainable development I have ever seen". Other bodies saw funding slashed: the Energy Savings Trust lost 50% of its budget, the Carbon Trust lost 40%.

Heathrow third runway – 8/10

The coalition delivered on its pledge to cancel plans for a third runway. It also ruled out new runways at Gatwick and Stansted, potentially helping curb carbon pollution from flights, which are on a steep upward trend over the long-term. But campaigners remain concerned that regional airports will expand instead. Points lost for encouraging regional airports.

Renewable heat incentive – 9/10

Heating accounts for about a third of greenhouse gas emissions, but until recently little had been done to encourage households and businesses to seek out cleaner ways to keep warm than using gas, oil or electricity. This government has at last grappled with the problem, introducing a new scheme called the renewable heat incentive, under which a supplement is paid for using low-carbon forms of heat such as biomass, solar and energy from waste. The money for the RHI comes directly from central government – and getting £860m out of the Treasury for this was no mean feat.

Green laws labelled red tape – 3/10

Last week it emerged that the coalition intended to include all 278 environmental laws in a list of "red tape" regulations to be considered by the public for the axe. The government stressed it was committed to meeting its climate change obligations and many of the laws may not be touched.

Flood defences – 1/10

Funding for flooding and coastal defences sank rapidly, with a year-on-year cut of at least 25%. David Cameron has acknowledged that global warming is raising the risks of flooding, but of the 630 projects that were in line for funding in 2011-12, just 356 will now receive money.

Badger culling – 3/10

Farmers will gang together to undertake badger shoots, under proposals to tackle tuberculosis in cattle. The government's decision, due in February, is now very late, probably because of the high emotion the issue raises in both farmers and animal rights campaigners. This has the potential to be another forests-style fiasco.

Electricity reform – 6/10

Getting every last electron of electricity from a green source in coming decades is central to slashing greenhouse gas emissions, as required by law, which makes this a flagship policy. The existing, ultra-liberal market will not deliver low-carbon power, but will the government's proposed interventions change that? And can it do it while limiting price rises and lifting people out of fuel poverty. A potential big win.

Green Investment Bank – 5/10

Setting up the green investment bank was an important achievement, and after some haggling with the Treasury the bank should have £3bn initial funding, three times as much as was first mooted. But the government failed to allow the bank to operate like a real financial institution, by raising money in the markets and issuing green bonds and other financial instruments. The loss of green ISAs – which could have raised £2bn – was a particular blow

Feed-in tariffs – 3/10

In the last financial year 30,000 solar power systems were installed in the UK – up from a few hundred a year previously. Feed-in tariffs, which reward households and businesses that install panels through payments based on how much power they generate, have been a roaring success. Too much so, it seems, for the Treasury, which has cut the money that will be available and is insisting that larger installations – big enough to cover a field, for instance – will have their tariffs slashed to an extent that will make them uneconomic.

Green Deal – 5/10

Insulation, insulation, insulation – blocking the leaks in Britain's draughty houses is one of the surest, cheapest and easiest ways to tackle emissions. The government has grasped this, and one of its key climate policies is the "green deal". From late next year, householders will be able to make energy efficiency improvements for no money upfront, with the cost recouped through an additional charge on their energy bills. The problem is, it relies solely on financial incentives - and experience shows the prospect of small savings on future energy bills does not tend to excite people.

Signing central government up to 10:10 – 10/10

Next month, the government is likely to announce that it has met its promises under the 10:10 campaign, by which individuals and organisations pledged to cut their emissions by 10% in 2010. Saving 10% of energy across the government should also have resulted in millions of pounds of budgetary savings to the cash-strapped public sector. Critics may carp that it is easy to cut carbon by sacking civil servants and axing quangos, but much of the energy efficiency gain came before the cuts took full effect. The next question is whether ministers will go ahead with the 25:5 proposal - a 25% cut in public sector emissions during the term of this parliament. A decision is likely next month.