Authorisation of carbon dioxide storage offshore Scotland - anticipated effects of further devolution

Abstract

Following the Scottish referendum in 2014, the Smith Commission Agreement1 proposed devolution of further powers to the Scottish Government including some affecting the authorisation of carbon dioxide (CO2) storage under the seabed offshore Scotland. The Secretary of State for Scotland presented a Command Paper2 to Parliament in January 2015 setting out proposals and draft legislation to take the Smith Commission Agreement forward, with the intention that this could be quickly enacted in the new parliamentary session following the 2015 general election. The present document summarises how the proposed legislation will affect authorisation of CO2 storage offshore Scotland.