§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his assessment of the report published by the intergovernmental panel on climate change on global warming; and if he will make a statement. [33558]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe intergovernmental panel on climate change second assessment report is the most comprehensive and authoritative review of climate change ever undertaken and provides an excellent basis for developing policy further under the framework convention on climate change.
The key conclusions—that the balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate, that there will be far-reaching effects on natural systems and human society for many generations to come and that major reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases will 74W be necessary eventually to limit future global temperature rise—show that action by the international community is now urgent.
In fulfilment of its commitments made under the climate change convention, the United Kingdom is well on target to return its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2000. The United Kingdom is pressing developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 5 to 10 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010 at the forthcoming negotiations to strengthen commitments under the convention.