Commentary on Sections National reports and programmes Section 60: Programme for adaptation to climate change: Northern Ireland
261.This section requires the relevant Northern Ireland department to prepare adaptation programmes.
262.Subsection (1) places a duty on the relevant Northern Ireland department to lay before the Northern Ireland Assembly adaptation programmes covering its objectives in relation to adaptation to climate change, and its proposals and policies for meeting these objectives (indicating an appropriate a timescale). The programme should address the risks identified in the most recent report under section 56.
263.Subsection (2) provides that the objectives, proposals and policies should contribute to sustainable development.Subsection (3) provides that subsequent programmes must include an assessment of the progress made towards implementing the objectives, proposals and policies in the earlier programmes.
264.Subsection (4) requires the relevant Northern Ireland department to lay the adaptation programme before the Northern Ireland Assembly as soon as is reasonably practicable after the report under section 56 has been laid before Parliament and subsection (5) requires the department to send a copy of it to the Secretary of State, the Scottish Ministers and the Welsh Ministers.