The Response to the Committee on Climate Change Report (Extension of Period) Order 2026
Extended the statutory deadline for the UK government to respond to the Climate Change Committee's 2026 report to 17 December 2026.
The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero must lay a response to the Climate Change Committee's 2026 progress report before Parliament by a revised deadline of 17 December 2026.
This extension modifies the original statutory deadline of 15 October 2026 established under the Climate Change Act 2008.
The provision applies across the United Kingdom and directly affects the reporting obligations of the relevant government department.
Arguments For
The order exercises statutory powers under sections 37(5) and 90(3)(a) of the Climate Change Act 2008, which explicitly permit the extension of the response window.
The explanatory note states that no significant impact on the private or voluntary sectors is anticipated, indicating that the extension does not create new administrative burdens for external organizations.
Proponents can argue that setting a clear, extended deadline of 17 December 2026 maintains legal certainty and transparency regarding when the government will address the Committee's findings.
Arguments Against
Environmental organizations and climate analysts could argue that delaying the government's response postpones critical parliamentary scrutiny of UK climate progress.
Critics may note that the two-month extension delays official feedback on the statutory recommendations delivered by the Climate Change Committee in June 2026.
Legal or policy observers might question the necessity of the delay given that the original statutory framework anticipated a shorter response turnaround.
Citation, commencement and extent
- -(1) This Order may be cited as the Response to the Committee on Climate Change Report (Extension of Period) Order 2026.
- (2) This Order comes into force on 14th October 2026.
- (3) This Order extends to the United Kingdom.
Establishes the official title of the statutory instrument and sets its commencement date as 14 October 2026.
It dictates that the legal provisions apply uniformly across all nations within the United Kingdom.
Extension of the period for the response to the Committee on Climate Change's 2026 report
- -(1) The Secretary of State's response under section 37 of the Climate Change Act 2008 to the Committee's( 2 ) 2026 report must be laid before Parliament not later than 17th December 2026.
- (2) In this article, the 'Committee's 2026 report' means the report of the Committee under section 36 of the Climate Change Act 2008 laid before Parliament on 24th June 2026( 3 ).
Directs the Secretary of State to present the government's formal response to the Climate Change Committee's June 2026 progress report to Parliament no later than 17 December 2026.
This legally alters the original response window, which required a response within a shorter period following the report's publication.
The obligation applies specifically to the government minister overseeing energy security and net zero.
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