Climate Change Act 2008

Climate Change Act 2008

2008 CHAPTER 27

Commentary on Sections

Part 2: The Committee on Climate Change

Functions of the Committee

Section 36: Reports on progress

186. Subsection (1) requires the Committee on Climate Change to make an annual report to Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly containing its assessment of the progress that has been made towards meeting the carbon budgets already set and the 2050 target (that is, unless amended, to reduce the net UK carbon account to at least 80% below 1990 levels); the further progress that is needed to meet the budgets and that target; and whether the budgets and that target are likely to be met.

187. Subsection (2) applies to progress reports in the second year after the end of each budget period (for example, for the 2008–2012 budget period, in 2014; the final figures for a budget period are not available until the second year after it ends). In those reports, the Committee is required to give its views on the manner in which the budget was or was not met, and its views on the action taken to reduce net UK emissions during the budgetary period.

188. Subsection (3) provides that the first report under this section must be laid by 30th September 2009, to take into account the fact that the Secretary of State is required to set the first three budgets by 1st June 2009 (see section 4(2)). Subsection (4) provides that each subsequent report under this section, other than the one in the second year after the end of a budgetary period, must be laid by 30th June in the year in which it is made.

189. Subsection (5) requires that each report in the second year after the end of a budgetary period must be laid by 15th July in the year in which it is made.

190. Subsections (6) to (8) allow the Secretary of State to amend the timing of the report by negative resolution order after consulting the devolved administrations.

191. See also section 59, which requires the Committee to provide progress reports on the implementation of the UK Government’s adaptation programmes under section 58. See the notes on section 59 for more detail on the timing of those progress reports.