[13APermitted use of carbon units purchased by the Scottish MinistersS
This section has no associated Explanatory Notes
(1)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations set a limit representing the maximum amount of carbon units purchased by them that may be credited to the net Scottish emissions account for a [given period].
(2)A limit set in regulations under subsection (1) for a [period] must not exceed an amount which represents 20% of the planned reduction in the net Scottish emissions account for [that period].
[(2A)The planned reduction in the net Scottish emissions account for a period covered by a Scottish carbon budget is the difference between the following amounts, both being determined immediately before the regulations under subsection (1) are made—
(a)the Scottish carbon budget for the period, and
(b)the Scottish carbon budget for the immediately preceding period.
(2B)In order for the planned reduction in the net Scottish emissions account to be calculated for the first period to be covered by a Scottish carbon budget, the Scottish Ministers are by regulations to prescribe a notional Scottish carbon budget for the 5 years immediately preceding the first period to be covered by a Scottish carbon budget.
(2C)Subsections (4) and (5) of section A4 apply in relation to regulations under subsection (2B) of this section as they do in relation to regulations under that section.]
(3)The planned reduction in the net Scottish emissions account for [a year that does not fall within a period covered by a Scottish carbon budget] is the difference between the following amounts, both being calculated immediately before the regulations under subsection (1) are made—
(a)the minimum amount by which the emissions reduction target for the ... year requires the net Scottish emissions account to be lower than the baseline, and
(b)the minimum amount by which the emissions reduction target for the immediately preceding year requires the net Scottish emissions account to be lower than the baseline.
[(3A)In subsection (3), “emissions reduction target”, in relation to a year, means the annual target under section 3 or (as the case may be) the interim target under section 2 that applied in respect of the year immediately before the section was repealed.]
(4)Regulations under subsection (1) may set a limit only for [a period]—
(a)in respect of which the Scottish Ministers have not yet reported on under section 33, and
(b)which ends no more than 10 years after the year in which the regulations come into force.]