§ 2.54 p.m.
§ Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What will be the immediate aims of the proposed international conference on the ozone layer and the greenhouse effect, to be held in the United Kingdom in 1989.
763The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)My Lords, the aim of the conference which will be held in London on 5th to 7th March next year is to secure increased support for existing international efforts to protect the ozone layer. In particular we hope that the conference will recruit further signatories to the Montreal Protocol, improve awareness of the facts concerning depletion of the ozone layer, and highlight the practical opportunities for realising the reduced emissions of chlorofluorocarbons for which we are calling.
Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for his reply and congratulate the Government on this initiative which is especially relevant now that depletion of the ozone layer has been observed both over the Arctic and the Antarctic. Can my noble friend indicate how many countries are likely to attend the conference and whether other atmospheric problems, such as acid rain, will be discussed?
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, I cannot tell my noble friend how many countries will be attending the conference. I hope a great many developed and developing countries will attend.
The answer on other matters such as acid rain is, no, we want to limit the conference to the ozone layer.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, may I tell the Minister—
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, there must be some form of words.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, is it possible to convey to the Minister that we on these Benches strongly support any efforts by the Government to strengthen the control of the chemicals which cause damage to the ozone layer? We welcome the conference to which the Minister has referred. Will he draw to the attention of his colleagues the recent report by the Worldwatch Foundation in Washington, which claims that there is a serious risk that depletion of the ozone layer of up to 20 per cent. could occur in densely populated areas within 40 years? Does that not increase the urgency of the efforts that are required?
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord for his welcome of the government action on this. It is precisely for the reasons that the noble Lord has mentioned that we felt it right to call an international conference. It will be basically for governments. It will complement the UNEP Conference in Helsinki in April which will be looking at the possibility of improving the Montreal Protocol.
I can inform the House that we have offered to host the second Montreal Protocol Revision Conference in 1990 in London. This has been accepted by the Executive Director of UNO.
§ Lord StrabolgiMy Lords, does the noble Earl know whether China and India will be attending the conference?
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, I do not know at the moment but my right honourable friend the Secretary of State is now in China with an invitation to them to attend.
Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, has my noble friend noted the valuable contributions already made at the recent conference in London on 28th and 29th November? Some of these contributions came from Members of this House.
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, indeed. We are again fortunate in this House to have many experts on this subject, but we welcome all contributions from every part of the world.
§ Lord John-MackieMy Lords, has the noble Earl noted that one of the causes of the greenhouse effect is deforestation in some countries and the lack of afforestation in others, including this country?
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, of course the noble Lord is right to point out the link between afforestation or deforestation and the greenhouse effect. The conference next year will be dealing solely with CFCs—the man-made product.