Part 4 - Reports by Committee on Climate Change
Section 43: Progress report during budgetary period
This section places a duty on the Committee on Climate Change to send a report to the Department, before the end of 2027, on its view on the progress that has been made towards meeting the targets in the Act and the carbon budgets set under section 23. The report is to indicate whether the targets and carbon budgets are likely to be met and identify further action required to meet these targets. This will be the first significant assessment of progress made towards the targets set out under the Act by the Committee on Climate Change. The subsequent sections in Part 4 place further requirements on the Committee on Climate Change concerning the assessment of progress against targets and carbon budgets and progress with the implementation of policies and proposals to meet carbon budgets.
Subsection (2) places a duty on the Department to lay the report in the Northern Ireland Assembly. A similar requirement is set out in respect of other reports provided by the Committee on Climate Change under Part 4 of the Act.
Section 44: Progress reports after statement about each budgetary period
This section places a duty on the Committee on Climate Change to provide the Department with a report on the meeting (or otherwise) of a carbon budget. This should be provided within 6 months of the Department laying its final statement for a budgetary period under section 39. The report must set out the Committee’s views on the way in which the carbon budget was or was not met, actions taken by the Northern Ireland departments to reduce net Northern Ireland emissions of greenhouse gases during the period, progress that has been made towards meeting the emissions targets and carbon budgets set under the Act, whether those targets and budgets are likely to be met and any further measures that are needed to meet those targets and budgets.
Section 45: Progress report after each statement about emissions target for 2030
This section places a duty on the Committee on Climate Change to send a report to the Department within 6 months of the Department laying its statement, under section 41, on compliance with the 2030 target.
The report should advise whether the targets for 2040 and 2050 are the highest targets that are achievable and, if not, what the highest achievable targets are and what measures are needed for Northern Ireland to meet those targets.
Section 46: Progress report after each statement about emissions target for 2040
This section places similar duties on the Committee on Climate Change to that set out in section 45. This duty is in regard to the statement laid in respect of compliance with the 2040 target.
The report should advise whether the 2050 targets are the highest targets that are achievable and, if not, what the highest achievable targets for 2050 are and what measures are needed for Northern Ireland to meet those targets.
Section 47: Response to progress reports
This section places a requirement on the Department to respond to the Committee on Climate Change on any points it raises within reports produced under sections 43 to 46 within 6 months of receiving one of the reports from the Committee.
Section 48: Adaptation programme reports
This section places a duty on the Committee on Climate Change to provide a report to the Department on progress which is being made with the implementation of adaptation programmes. The report must be provided within 3 years of the Department laying an adaptation programme under section 60 of the Climate Change Act 2008. The Committee is required to set out its assessment of the progress made towards implementing the objectives, proposals and policies set out in the programme and any recommendations it has for the next adaptation programme. This report will help to influence the development of the subsequent adaptation programme.
Section 49: Response to adaptation programme reports
This section places a duty on the Department to respond to the Committee on Climate Change report under section 48 on the progress which has been made with adaptation programmes.
