§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is the case, as reported in the New Scientist of 1st April 1995, that an economist at the World Bank's Global Environment Facility has been permitted to calculate the costs of global warming and its possible prevention in terms of the life-time earnings of individuals in different parts of the world, with the result that the life of one US or European citizen is valued at $1.5 million and of a citizen from certain poor countries at $150,000.
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Viscount Ullswater)TheNew Scientist article relates to draft material circulated for comment by Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This group has a remit to review the current economic literature on climate change, including studies of the costs and benefits. It has no remit to make policy recommendations.