HC Deb 16 December 1991 vol 201 cc62-3W
Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions of competing theories of global warming have taken in the European Council of Ministers.

Mr. Baldry

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the principal international forum for discussion of the science of climate change. The conclusions of the EC joint Energy/Environment Council meeting in October 1990 referring to the forthcoming second world climate conference recorded the Council's wish thatthe concern of the IPCC about the increase of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, 'resulting on average in additional global warming', be recognised. The IPCC will be producing a supplementary report for the international negotiating committee for a framework convention on climate change in February 1992.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the most recent scientific advice on climate change due to emission of carbon dioxide; what data he has received via satellites; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Baldry

The scientific assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published last year, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House, remains the most complete and authoritative statement of scientific advice available. The IPCC is currently preparing a supplementary report to be presented to the international negotiating committee on a climate convention in February next year. This will take into account information produced since the first scientific assessment including data from instruments on Earth observation satellites.

Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information and data his Department receives from satellites regarding the greenhouse effect.

Mr. Baldry

Information from satellite data studies was included in the scientific assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published last year, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. New findings from satellite programmes will be included in the supplementary report that the IPCC will submit to the international negotiating committee on a climate convention next February. The Department commissioned a study on data requirements for climate change research which gives details of existing and proposed satellite missions, the instruments carried and the scientific questions to which they would contribute. I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.