The Committee on Climate Change

The complainant requested information from the Committee on Climate Change (“the CCC”) which related to the CCC’s publication Net Zero - The UK’s contribution to stopping global warming. Specifically, he requested spreadsheets that had been used to compile information on a document which the CCC had provided to him in response to an earlier request. The CCC refused the request as being manifestly unreasonable, on grounds of cost and diversion of resources, under the exception at regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR. The Commissioner’s decision is that regulation 12(4)(b) is not engaged in respect of the request. The Commissioner requires the CCC to take the following step to ensure compliance with the legislation: issue a fresh response to the complainant which does not rely on regulation 12(4)(b) in respect of the request. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2020/0231 dismissed.