The Response to the Committee on Climate Change Report (Extension of Period) Order 2025

Published: Thu 4th Sept 25 Came into force: Tue 14th Oct 25

Department: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Made under: Climate Change Act 2008

The 2025 Order extended the deadline for the UK government's response to the Committee on Climate Change's 2025 report.

The Response to the Committee on Climate Change Report (Extension of Period) Order 2025 extends the deadline for the UK government's response to the Committee on Climate Change's 2025 report from October 15th, 2025, to October 29th, 2025.

The order cites the need to allow sufficient time for a thorough response to the report's recommendations.

It was made under the powers granted by sections 37(5) and 90(3)(a) of the Climate Change Act 2008 and applies to the whole of the United Kingdom.

Arguments For

Need for more time: The extension provides additional time for thorough consideration and consultation on the Committee's complex report, allowing for a more robust and comprehensive government response.
Ensuring policy effectiveness: More time facilitates the development of effective and well-considered policies in response to the report's recommendations, improving the likelihood of achieving climate goals.
Avoiding rushed decisions: A potential consequence of imposing a stringent deadline would be poorly informed policies that could hinder climate-change mitigation efforts.
Legal precedent: This is done within existing legal framework, under the Climate Change Act 2008, by exercising the powers given to the Secretary of State.

Arguments Against

Delayed action: The delay could potentially impede the implementation of crucial climate action plans, creating lags before effective measures are put in place.
Loss of momentum: Postponing the response might slow down the momentum of climate action initiatives at a time when rapid progress is crucial.
Perceived lack of urgency: An extension can be interpreted by some as a sign of insufficient dedication to urgent climate change issues by government.
Administrative burden: Processing the response might lead to additional administrative burdens and may necessitate additional resources without sufficient justification.

Citation, commencement and extent1.

(1)

This Order may be cited as the Response to the Committee on Climate Change Report (Extension of Period) Order 2025 and comes into force on 14th October 2025.

(2)

This Order extends to the United Kingdom.

Section 1 details the Order's title, effective date (October 14th, 2025), and geographical scope, stating that it applies across the United Kingdom.

Extension of the period for the response to the Committee on Climate Change’s 2025 report2.

(1)

The Secretary of State’s response under section 37 of the Climate Change Act 2008 to the Committee’s2 2025 report must be laid before Parliament not later than 29th October 2025.

(2)

In this article, the “Committee’s 2025 report” means the report of the Committee under section 36 of the Climate Change Act 2008 laid before Parliament on 25th June 20253.

Section 2 specifies that the government's response to the Committee on Climate Change's 2025 report, mandated by Section 37 of the Climate Change Act 2008, is now due to Parliament by October 29th, 2025.

It defines the "Committee’s 2025 report" as the report submitted to Parliament on June 25th, 2025, under Section 36 of the same Act.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Under section 37 of the Climate Change Act 2008 (c. 27) (“the Act”) the Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a response to the points raised by the report of the Committee on Climate Change (the “Committee”) under section 36 of the Act. This Order extends the period within which the Secretary of State must lay the response to the Committee’s 2025 report, changing the final day of that period from 15th October 2025 to 29th October 2025.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instruments as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary sector or community bodies is foreseen.

The explanatory note (not legally binding) clarifies that the Order extends the deadline for the government's response to the Committee on Climate Change's report (under Section 37 of the Climate Change Act 2008) from October 15th to October 29th, 2025.

It also notes that a full impact assessment was deemed unnecessary due to the anticipated lack of significant effects on the private, voluntary, or community sectors.

Explanatory Memorandum PDF View Source

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