Overview of the Act and General Notes Interpretation Part 1: Emissions Reduction Targets Section 7: Preparation of plan: further consultation
55.Section 7 of the Act modifies section 35A of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, creating an express requirement for the Scottish Ministers to solicit the views of persons with particular kinds of expertise when finalising a climate change plan.
56.Section 35A of the 2009 Act prevents the Scottish Ministers from finalising a climate change plan until a draft of it has lain before the Scottish Parliament for a fixed period. This provides an opportunity for views to be received on the plan in draft form. Before they can finalise the plan, the Scottish Ministers must have regard to any views received in relation to the draft plan.
57.Section 7 of the Act amends section 35A of the 2009 Act so that, as well as laying a draft of a climate change plan before the Parliament, the Scottish Ministers must actively seek views from persons with knowledge of international law or policy relating to climate change, scientific knowledge about climate change and technical knowledge about climate change. It further amends section 35A of the 2009 Act to make clear that the Scottish Ministers must have regard to any views on the draft plan from those whose views were sought in accordance with the new duty.