History of the Department

The Climate Department of the Velocity Interoperability Network is a young institution. The milestones below record the work that preceded its establishment and the decisions taken on the day of it, and will be extended as returns begin, as adaptation works are carried out and as progress against the targets is reported.

1. Before September 2026

   No common measure of the Network's emissions

   Before the Department existed, each member organisation of the Network measured its emissions, if at all, by its own method and against its own baseline. There was no Network-wide inventory, no common target and no assessment of the climate risks to the principal sites.

2. August 2026

   Site survey and staff survey

   In preparation for the Department's establishment, the six principal sites were surveyed for climate risk with the Interior Department, and a staff survey was carried out to estimate commuting emissions. The survey findings became the basis of the first climate risk register.

3. 10 August to 5 September 2026

   The transition period

   In the four weeks before establishment, 47 member organisations supplied returns of their energy use, fuel, travel, freight, purchases and waste for the twelve months to 31 August 2026, and the Interior Department transferred the energy and fuel records of the principal sites. From these the baseline inventory of 184,600 tonnes was compiled.

4. 6 September 2026

   Department established

   The Climate Department of the Velocity Interoperability Network was formally established, with responsibility for the Network's emissions targets, the adaptation of its sites and services to a changing climate, and climate reporting by departments and member organisations.

5. 6 September 2026

   Official website launched

   The Department launched climate.gov.vin, carrying press releases, official statements, the baseline inventory, the targets, the adaptation programme, the climate risk register and reporting guidance.

6. 6 September 2026

   Baseline, targets, adaptation programme and reporting arrangements published

   On the day of its establishment the Department published the baseline inventory and reduction targets of 15 per cent by 2028, 35 per cent by 2030, 60 per cent by 2035 and net zero by 2040; an adaptation programme of seven works at the principal sites and the first climate risk register; and the arrangements under which departments and member organisations report their emissions each quarter.

7. Forthcoming

   First returns, first surveys and first quarterly report

   Reporting officers are to be named by 30 September 2026 and the first quarterly returns are due by 21 October 2026. Site surveys for the adaptation programme begin in October 2026 and the first planting season opens in November 2026. The first quarterly report, covering 6 to 30 September 2026, will be published on 27 November 2026 and the first annual report on 30 April 2027.

Announcements are published in the Newsroom. For the Department's present responsibilities, see About the Department; for the targets and the baseline they are measured against, see Targets and the Emissions Inventory.