Commentary on Sections National reports and programmes Section 56: Report on impact of climate change
247.This section places a duty on the Secretary of State to lay reports before Parliament assessing the risks of the current and predicted impact of climate change for the UK, which might include the risks to the natural environment, to infrastructure, to the economy, to society or any other risks.
248.Subsections (2) and (3) require the Secretary of State to lay the first report before Parliament no later than three years after the section comes into force, and subsequent reports at intervals of no more than five years. Subsection (4) allows the Secretary of State to extend the period for laying a report, but requires him to publish a statement setting out his reasons and saying when the report will be laid.
249.Subsection (5) requires the Secretary of State to take the Committee on Climate Change’s advice under section 57 into account before laying the report before Parliament and subsection (6) places a duty on the Secretary of State to send a copy of the report to the other national authorities (defined in section 95 as the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers and the relevant Northern Ireland department).