HL Deb 31 October 1990 vol 522 cc1889-90WA
Lord Butterworth

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the outcome of the European Community Environment Council on 29th October.

Baroness Blatch

My right honourable friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Energy, represented the United Kingdom at a joint session of the Environment and Energy Councils, at which a concerted position on the Community's approach to global warming was agreed. This will enable the Community to play a leading role at the Second World Climate Conference. The agreed position endorses the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and recognises the need for a global response to the problem through the negotiation of a framework convention on climate change and related protocols, under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organisation, by the time of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. A concerted position on targets for the stabilisation of carbon dioxide emissions was also agreed which acknowledges the UK's published programme. In the Environment Council, a proposed directive to tighten up emission standards for all classes of cars was discussed. The United Kingdom pressed for early agreement of this directive, and substantial progress was made on resolving many of the outstanding points.

The council adopted conclusions on the use of economic and fiscal mechanisms as instruments of environmental policy. The council agreed on the potential importance of such instruments and the need to examine the possible scope for action at Community level. It took note of the European Commission's intention to produce proposals in this area. Proposed directives on the treatment of sewage discharges and on the management of hazardous waste were both discussed in detail. In each case some progress was made and some outstanding issues were resolved, giving the prospect of agreement in the near future. The Council discussed a proposed regulation establishing a programme of action for the protection of the Mediterranean (MEDSPA). Agreement was reached in principle on the main elements of the proposal pending receipt of the European Parliament's opinion. There was also a brief discussion on the proposed new Community regulation on substances which deplete the ozone layer.