§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evidence he obtained about global warming during his visit to the Maldives; and what conclusions he has drawn from it. [75691]
§ Mr. Prescott[holding answer 18 March 19991: Small island states are especially vulnerable to global warming and its associated effects. During my visit to the Maldives, I heard from the Government and local marine scientists about the effects of global warming, rising sea 241W temperatures and pollution on some of the coral reefs there, and the particular threat that is posed by these phenomena to island states like the Maldives.
I was also able to see some of the damage to the reefs for myself, particularly the evidence of coral bleaching event recorded during April to June last year, the result of high sea-surface temperature caused by El Niño. This was the worst ever recorded in the Maldives and affected some 95 per cent. of the reefs. On one of the sites that I was shown, over 35 per cent. of the corals were bleached and approximately 40 per cent. were dead.
There are clear links between climate change, oceans and land-based sources of pollution—everyone has a part to play in helping to solve the problem. In addition to the ongoing efforts to tackle climate change, I intend to continue to highlight this issue and to press for improved international co-ordination on oceans matters when I attend the Commission on Sustainable Development meeting in New York next month.