§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's policy on the handling of radioactive waste from nuclear power stations in developing countries; and what account he has taken of the environmental and health impact of radioactive waste in formulating his position on the eligibility of nuclear power projects for inclusion in the Clean Development Mechanism. [112075]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Government have made no generic assessment of the impacts of radioactive waste in the context of the suitability of nuclear power projects for inclusion in the Clean Development Mechanism. Although international rules for the Clean Development Mechanism have yet to be agreed, the Government have noted the case for prior exclusions of certain project types, including nuclear power, as a way to ensure environmental integrity. The Government also attach importance to the need for developing countries to play a key role in determining their own sustainable development needs and priorities.
§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's policy on the design of the Clean Development Mechanism being developed under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, with particular reference to the inclusion of nuclear power and large hydro projects in the Mechanism. [112074]
§ Mr. MeacherThis Government believe that all projects under the Clean Development Mechanism must contribute to the overall objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change—to reduce and stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere—and assist the developing country host in achieving sustainable development. The design of the Clean Development Mechanism, including the eligibility of certain project types, will not be agreed until the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in November 2000. In advance of that, the Government have noted the case for prior exclusions of certain project types as a way to ensure environmental integrity, and also attach 281W importance to the need for developing countries to play a key role in determining their own sustainable development needs and priorities.