2021 No. 246
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Climate Change Governance and Reporting) (Miscellaneous Provisions and Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021
Made
Coming into operation
The Department for Communities makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 109(1)(d) and 177(2) to (4) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 19931, and now vested in it2, and Articles 55(2)(h), 224(4)(c), 225(5)(c) and 287(3) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 20053.
PART 1Introduction
Citation, commencement and interpretation1
1
These Regulations may be cited as the Occupational Pension Schemes (Climate Change Governance and Reporting) (Miscellaneous Provisions and Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 and shall come into operation on 1st October 2021.
2
The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 19544 shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.
PART 2Requirement for trustee knowledge and understanding
Requirement for trustee knowledge and understanding2
For the purposes of Articles 224(4)(c) and 225(5)(c) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (requirement for trustee knowledge and understanding: individual trustees and corporate trustees), the following matters are prescribed in the case of trustees to whom requirements specified in Part 1 of the Schedule to the Occupational Pension Schemes (Climate Change Governance and Reporting) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 20215 (climate change governance etc. requirements) apply—
a
the identification, assessment and management of risks arising to occupational pension schemes from the effects of climate change, including risks arising from steps taken because of climate change (whether by governments or otherwise), and
b
the identification, assessment and management of opportunities relating to climate change for occupational pension schemes, including opportunities arising from steps taken because of climate change (whether by governments or otherwise),
in so far as these matters are relevant to meeting those requirements.
PART 3Amendments
Amendment of the Register of Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes Regulations3
In regulation 3(1) of the Register of Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 20056 (registrable information) at the end add—
k
in the case of an occupational pension scheme in respect of which the trustees are required to publish a report in accordance with regulation 6(1)(b) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Climate Change Governance and Reporting) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (climate change reporting and publication requirements)—
i
the website address where the most recent report has been published, or
ii
where no report has been published, whether the period for publication specified in regulation 6(1) of those Regulations has ended;
l
in the case of an occupational pension scheme in respect of which the trustees are required to publish the information specified in regulation 29A(2), (2A) or (2B) of the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Disclosure of Information) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 20147 (publishing charges and transaction costs and other relevant information), the website address where the information has been published.
Amendment of the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Disclosure of Information) Regulations4
1
The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Disclosure of Information) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (5).
2
In Schedule 3 (information to be given on request) in Part 5 (information that applies to the scheme) after paragraph 348 insert—
34A
Where the trustees are required to publish a report on a website in accordance with regulation 6(1)(b) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Climate Change Governance and Reporting) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (climate change reporting and publication requirements), the website address where the report for the year has been published.
3
In Schedule 4 (summary funding statements) after paragraph 9 add—
10
Where the trustees are required to publish a report on a website in accordance with regulation 6(1)(b) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Climate Change Governance and Reporting) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (climate change reporting and publication requirements), in relation to the most recent report published—
a
the information specified in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) of regulation 27(2), and
b
a statement explaining any circumstances in which the report will be provided on request in hard copy form.
4
In Schedule 5 (statements of benefits: non money purchase benefits) in Part 2 (information for active and deferred members) after paragraph 6 insert—
6A
Where the trustees are required to publish a report on a website in accordance with regulation 6(1)(b) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Climate Change Governance and Reporting) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (climate change reporting and publication requirements), in relation to the most recent report published—
a
the information specified in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) of regulation 27(2), and
b
a statement explaining any circumstances in which the report will be provided on request in hard copy form.
5
In Schedule 69 (statements of benefits: money purchase benefits and cash balance benefits) in Part 1 (information for all money purchase members) after paragraph 5B10 insert—
5C
Where the trustees are required to publish a report on a website in accordance with regulation 6(1)(b) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Climate Change Governance and Reporting) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (climate change reporting and publication requirements), in relation to the most recent report published—
a
the information specified in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) of regulation 27(2), and
b
a statement explaining any circumstances in which the report will be provided on request in hard copy form.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 9th September 2021
(This note is not part of the Regulations)