Public Body Reporting on Climate Change
The Climate Change (Reporting Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (‘the Regulations), which came into operation on 3rd May 2024, place reporting duties on 40 large-sized public bodies. The Regulations delivered on the first legislative requirement under section 42 of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and require public bodies to report on their climate change actions through two key reports – mitigation and adaptation.
Who is required to report
The public bodies specified in the schedule to the Regulations can be viewed at: List of Specified Public Bodies.
The Regulations focus on these large-sized bodies as they are likely to be the most capable to be able to report and show climate change leadership, they have 250 or more staff related to their greenhouse gas emissions, and they have strategic influence, such as councils. Climate change reporting is an iterative process, which will evolve and improve over reporting cycles as experience beds in, climate change understanding improves, reporting capabilities and data improves, etc.
In addition to the 40 public bodies that are required to report, we are aware of others who also wish to report on their climate action, and mechanisms have been put in place to allow those bodies to voluntarily report to DAERA.
Importance of Reporting
Reporting under the Regulations will help drive and enable the public bodies to take well-informed timely action to tackle climate change, including how best to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and adapting to climate change impacts. The reported data will be key to their sustainability, to help them optimise green opportunities and for effective contingency planning. It can also be used by central government to inform future climate policies and interventions. The Reporting is therefore an integral part of helping Northern Ireland move to a net zero economy and society through a just transition.
Requirements of the Regulations
Reporting on climate change mitigation and adaptation are split between two separate reporting cycles:
- The first mitigation reports are due by 31st October 2025, with subsequent reports required every 3 years thereafter.
- The first adaptation reports are due by 31st March 2026 covering a period of 4 years. Subsequent reports are required every 5 years thereafter.
Climate Change Mitigation Reports
The first mitigation reports will:
- set the baseline year for greenhouse gas emissions* (GHG) covering the financial year beginning 1st April 2024 and ending 31st March 2025. This baseline will be used for assessing and reporting on progress;
- contain the amounts and sources of GHG emissions for that financial year; and
- contain the proposals and policies for reducing emissions in the exercise of its functions, and the timescales for implementation.
* Reporting on Scope 1 and 2 emissions is required. Reporting on Scope 3 emissions is voluntary, but it is encouraged.
The Second and subsequent reports will include an assessment of the progress made by the public body.
Climate Change Adaptation Reports
The first adaptation reports must relate to the period of 4 years beginning with 1st January 2026 and will include:
The first adaptation reports must relate to the period of 4 years beginning with 1st January 2026 and will include:
- an assessment of the current and predicted impact of climate change in relation to the organisation’s functions; and
- the proposals and policies for adapting to climate change in the exercise of its functions, along with implementation timescales.
The second and subsequent reports are required every 5 years and will include an assessment of the progress the body has made towards implementing the proposals and policies set out in any previous climate change adaptation reports.
Further Requirements of the Regulations
The Regulations also require the public bodies to have regard to the following, so far as relevant:
- the latest 5-year UK Climate Change Risk Assessment, laid in the UK Parliament under the UK Climate Change Act 2008 (which contains the impacts and risks relevant to Northern Ireland from climate change);
- the latest 5-year Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme (which is the Northern Ireland government’s response to the 5-year UK Climate Change Risk Assessment) laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly under the UK Climate Change Act 2008; and
- the desirability of coordinating their climate change actions to tackle climate change both in reducing their emissions and adapting to risks and impacts, with other parts of the UK, Republic of Ireland or elsewhere.
The Regulations also:
- provide for co-operation between reporting bodies in the preparation of a report, for joint reporting and for corrections to be made to reported data on agreement with DEARA; and
- require publication of the reported data and information on both the reporting bodies own website and on the DAERA website.
Support to Public Bodies
DAERA continues to work closely with the specified public bodies and is providing a wide package of support to help public bodies meet their reporting duties under the Regulations including:
- continuing to develop co-designed mitigation and adaptation reporting guidance and templates of questions;
- delivering an online reporting portal for the reporting bodies to enter their data into (i.e. a reporting tool) - with DAERA aiming to launch the portal ready for mitigation data entry in early August 2025, well ahead of when the first mitigation report is due;
- providing training on mitigation and adaptation reporting, including the practicalities of using the portal- including in-person and online training along with slides and training videos;
- provision of a help desk for public bodies to use to contact DAERA on any issues or questions they may have; and
- establishment of a Public Body Reporting Peer Support Network – supported by Climate Northern Ireland. More information on Climate Northern Ireland, and the Peer Support Network can be found on the Climate Northern Ireland website.
Next Steps
- DAERA will develop and publish a synopsis of the high-level findings from each reporting period.
- DAERA will encourage voluntary reporting by public bodies not required to report under the Regulations. Some organisations have already expressed interest in voluntary reporting.
- Climate change reporting is an iterative process. Support to public bodies will, therefore, continue to evolve over reporting cycles. This includes improvements and updates as appropriate to DAERA’s online reporting portal and guidance through a co-design process.
- Exploring the automation of data over future reporting cycles, e.g. automation of relevant data from DAERA’s Farm Carbon Calculator (once established) and the Department for the Economy's Energy Carbon Data Repository system.
Mitigation Reporting - Training
DAERA untook the following training event with public bodies as part of support to help them meet their mitigation reporting duties under the Regulations - further information including the presentation slides and accompanying video can be found at:
Other useful links
- The Climate Change (Reporting Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024
- Section 42 of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022
- Summary of Responses and Next steps: Consultation on Climate Change Reporting by Specified Public Bodies – Developing New Regulations
- Consultation on Climate Change Reporting by Specified Bodies – Developing New Regulations
Contact Details
If you have any queries on public body reporting requirements, please direct them to the team at the following helpdesk:
Email - ClimatePBR@daera-ni.gov.uk; or
Telephone - (028) 9081 6611
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (except public holidays)