Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
Memorandum of Understanding between the Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Standards Scotland
Dated 13 April 2023
Memorandum of Understanding between the Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Standards Scotland
Dated 13 April 2023
1.1 The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) and Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) share common interests in respect of addressing climate change. Accordingly, they wish to enter into this Memorandum to work together to maximise their respective contributions to addressing climate change and minimise scope for duplicating activity.
1.2 This Memorandum sets out a framework for how the parties intend to work together, for example through information sharing and communication in order to maximise the value of the resources available to both organisations.
2.1 In summary, the roles and responsibilities of each organisation are as follows: The CCC’s role as set out in the Climate Change Act 2008
3.1 The CCC and ESS will cooperate under the following principles that will underpin the working relationship:
4.1 The parties will each nominate a representative to act as their main point of contact for matters arising under this Memorandum.
4.2 The parties’ representatives will meet every six months, or at such other frequency as the parties may agree, inviting to their meetings such colleagues as they consider appropriate. The aim of such meetings shall be to discuss the parties’ overall collaborative working arrangements, including ongoing and planned projects, developments in the parties’ respective work programmes and other matters of mutual interest. The meetings will be minuted and reported to the CCC and the ESS Chief Executives.
4.3 The parties’ Chief Executives will meet at least once a year, with boards/ chairs meeting on occasion, as and when appropriate.
5.1 The parties will share work plans and consult with each other when commissioning work with a shared interest and may choose to collaborate on or co-fund commissioned work.
5.2 The parties agree to share, relevant; data, models, information, analysis, methodologies and findings as appropriate, and whilst taking account of the needs related to different types of information. In addition to the principles set out in para 3.1 the parties will consider the following on a case-by-case basis:
5.3 Where required, data sharing agreements will be agreed between ESS and CCC and used as appropriate, in order to ensure the parties meet their responsibilities under the Data Protection Act, and other relevant legislation.
6.1 Where there are disagreements or disputes between the CCC and ESS in connection with this Memorandum, these should firstly be resolved by consultation between the parties’ representatives.
6.2 If disagreements or disputes cannot be resolved within a reasonable time at this level they should be escalated, if necessary, to their Chief Executives. However, if a disagreement or dispute cannot be resolved at Chief Executive level, it may be left unresolved (as a reflection of the parties’ distinct legal identities and independence) and the different views of each organisation should be noted. In practice, Chairs and Chief Executives may discuss this through the regular engagement process.
7.1 This Memorandum is not itself intended to be legally binding but forms the basis of an agreement to cooperate.
8.1 This Memorandum shall commence on 13 April 2023 and shall be reviewed on or before 13 April 2024.
8.2 Following the review, the parties will update the Memorandum if considered appropriate. Any amendment to this Memorandum will only take effect once agreed in writing and signed on behalf of both parties.
9.1 The CCC and ESS shall publish this Memorandum, and any subsequent versions amended in accordance with paragraph 8.2 on their respective websites.