§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what results were achieved at the second world climate conference; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe second world climate conference was a major step forward in the international response to climate change. Following a week's meeting on scientific issues, Ministers from some 137 countries agreed a declaration which called for an early start on negotiations on a framework convention on climate change, to be completed by 1992. We fully support this agreement, and will play an active part in the negotiations which begin in February 1991.
The conference endorsed the need for a global strategy to respond to climate change, involving the participation of all nations. To enable developing countries to play their full part in this, the declaration recognises the need for financial and technological assistance from the industrialised countries.
The declaration also welcomed the commitment of the European Community and its member states and of other developed countries to take action aimed at stabilising emissions of greenhouse gases, and particularly carbon dioxide. It urged all developed countries to establish national strategies to limit emissions of greenhouse gases.
This conference involved 137 nations, more than at any comparable gathering, and the agreements reached will give added impetus to the work of developing an effective and realistic global response to climate change ready for the 1992 United Nations conference on environment and development.