Action Plan for achieving net zero emissions

Summary

The request sought status updates on net zero actions and research, plus 2020 climate spending; the authority provided a link for action updates and specific spending figures but withheld research updates pending publication.

Key Facts

• Status updates for Appendix 1 actions are available on the NetZero website.
• Information regarding Appendix 2 research items was withheld under section 41 of the Act.
• The withheld information is scheduled for publication on 1st April 2022.
• No amounts were expended from the Climate Change Mitigation Initiatives capital budget in 2020.
• A bid of £415,917 was approved for the Environmental Protection Fund in August 2020.

Data Disclosed

• 2022-02-14
• 2022-03-16
• 1st April 2022
• £10m
• £415,917
• £352,892
• 12 August 2020
• 31 March 2021
• 2020
• 2050

Exemptions Cited

• Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information intended for publication)

Original Request

Please provide - 1. A status update for each of the 'Actions' listed in Appendix 1 of the IOM Government Action for Achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2050. 2. A status update for each of the research items listed in Appendix 2 of the Plan referred to. 3. The amount expended in 2020 from the initial £10m provided to Climate Change.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244 Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 2260798 16 March 2022

Dear ###,

We write further to your request which was received on 14 February 2022 and which states:

"Please provide - 1. A status update for each of the 'Actions' listed in Appendix 1 of the IOM Government Action for Achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2050. 2. A status update for each of the research items listed in Appendix 2 of the Plan referred to. 3. The amount expended in 2020 from the initial £10m provided to Climate Change."

Our response to your request is as follows: " Please provide - 1. A status update for each of the 'Actions' listed in Appendix 1 of the IOM Government Action for Achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2050. The Phase One Action Update can be found on the NetZero website here is the link: https://www.netzero.im/our-programme/our-programme-and-action-plan/. The next update will be added to the website by 1st April 2022. 2. A status update for each of the research items listed in Appendix 2 of the Plan referred to. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the information is exempt from disclosure under section 41 of the Act as it is held with a view to being published on the 1st April 2022 and in all the circumstances it is reasonable that the information be withheld from disclosure until that time. As section 41 is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large.

Factors in favour of disclosure Draft information held.

Factors in favour of withholding The information is in the early development stages and requires contribution from other Government departments who have not yet provided their input. Disclosing any information would be unfair to the other departments involved. The status updates that will go into 'Appendix 2' will summarise the evidence gaps and research needs to further inform the Government's Phase 2 Action Plan, and there is already public concern over the Phase 2 proposed Action Plan. To ensure that the public are properly informed it's essential that this information is correct and signed off by all contributing areas. A number of research reports have been produced by external suppliers to properly inform the Island's pathway to Netzero, the outcomes of these reports inform the status updates required for 'Appendix 2' and we would need this information clearly communicated to avoid contravening previous work. The information requested is in the early development stages and has not been confirmed nor agreed with contributing departments. If this information is disclosed without the agreement of the contributing departments it could be inaccurate and therefore misleading. The Appendix 2 updates require collaborated status updates from multiple departments and this requires time to organise and agree sign off. It would be reasonable to hold any information until publication on the 1st April 2022.

In taking these factors into account the Cabinet Office determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information. 3. The amount expended in 2020 from the initial £10m provided to Climate Change. " Environmental Protection Fund – Cabinet Office had a bid for £415,917 approved on 12 August 2020 which applied to the period ended 31 March 2021. The final amount drawn down in March 2021 was £352,892 in respect of this bid. Climate Change Mitigation Initiatives – no amounts were expended from this capital budget line during the calendar year 2020. Please quote the reference number 2260798 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.