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Local public bodies including Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Southern Health and Social Care Trust and the Southern Regional College will be required to report on their actions to mitigate climate change from early May.
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir who made the announcement today has said the new regulations introducing climate change reporting duties on the public bodies will have a crucial part to play in delivering and supporting climate action in Northern Ireland. The Minister was speaking as he announced the laying of regulations that will place climate change reporting duties on specified public bodies in line with duties under the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.
Forty public bodies including Councils, police and ambulance services, health boards and education sectors will be required to report on their carbon emissions, as well as their plans and progress in reducing these emissions. The bodies will also be required to report on what they plan to do about, and their progress in, tackling their risks and impacts from climate change.
The regulations will come into operation in early May 2024, 21 days after they are laid in the Assembly. However, the first reports by public bodies required under the regulations, will not be due to be submitted until October 2025.
Minister Muir said: “These regulations are a positive milestone in delivering on our obligations in relation to the Act and reporting will give bodies an opportunity to show continued leadership on climate action within the public sector, providing positive examples and shared learning of what effective climate action can deliver.
“Many public bodies are already gathering some climate change data, but requirements to report under these regulations brings structure, transparency and comparability to that process and will allow sharing of experience and expertise across public bodies which is of benefit to all of us,” he added.
The Minister’s announcement follows Executive approval and an extended 13-week public consultation period.
“It is important that all public bodies take action to reduce emissions, recognise the impacts of climate change on their functions and have a clear plan in place to reduce these risks and manage impacts,” Minister Muir said.
“These regulations will put in place a climate change reporting framework for the specified public bodies, which can enable them to take informed, and timely climate action.
“This will make those bodies more sustainable and will give them the opportunity to provide a positive example and exploit the opportunities that early and effective climate action can deliver.”
The regulations require the specified public bodies to submit the first of their 3-yearly reports on mitigation by 31 October 2025, and the first of their 5-yearly reports on adaptation by 31 March 2026.
The Department intends to provide practical support through the provision of guidance co-designed with public bodies themselves, training and an online portal for reporting bodies to use.
