Annual Review and Report

Each year the Council reviews and reports on progress made during the immediately preceding year in achieving greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Under Section 12 of the Act, it is outlined that:

(1) The Advisory Council shall—

(a) conduct a review (in this section referred to as the "annual review") by 30 October in each year of the progress made during the immediately preceding year in—

(i) achieving reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,

(ii) complying with the carbon budget and each sectoral emissions ceiling for that period, and

(iii) furthering the achievement of the national climate objective,

and

(b) not later than 30 days after the completion of the annual review, prepare and submit to the Minister a report (in this Act referred to as the "annual report") on its findings and recommendations consequent upon that annual review.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the annual report shall contain—

(a) a summary of the findings set out in the most recent national greenhouse gas emissions inventory prepared by the Agency,

(b) a summary of the most recent projection of future greenhouse gas emissions prepared by the Agency,

(ba) a projection of future greenhouse gas emissions in each sector of the economy to which a sectoral emissions ceiling applies,

(bb) such recommendations, as the Advisory Council considers necessary or appropriate, in relation to sector specific actions to be included under section 4(2)(b)(ii) to address any failure, or projected failure, to comply with a sectoral emissions ceiling,

(c) such recommendations, as the Advisory Council considers necessary or appropriate, in relation to the most cost-effective manner of achieving reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in order to enable the achievement of the national climate objective,

(d) such recommendations as the Advisory Council considers necessary or appropriate, in relation to compliance with an existing obligation of the State under the law of the European Union or an international agreement referred to in section 2 ,

(e) such other recommendations or advice as the Advisory Council considers necessary or appropriate in order to enable the achievement of the national climate objective, and

(f) a summary of—

(i) the activities of the Advisory Council under section 11(2), and

(ii) any information gathered in accordance with section 11(2).

(3) Not more than 30 days after submitting an annual report to the Minister under this section, the Advisory Council shall publish the annual report by such means as the Agency may advise.