§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the targets agreed at the Rio summit in 1992, indicating progress so far achieved with each of them by(a) the United Kingdom, (b) each other country for which information is readily available and (c) internationally. [10818]
§ Mr. Clappison[holding answer 13 January 1997]: At the Rio earth summit, the Prime Minister and other world leaders agreed the Rio declaration, conventions on climate change and biodiversity, a statement of forest principles, and Agenda 21. Shortly after Rio, the United Kingdom, with other members of the European Union and the Group of Seven, adopted an action plan to give practical effect to the Rio agreements. The United Kingdom has met in full its commitments under that action plan, including the ratification of the climate change and biodiversity conventions, and the production of a national strategy for sustainable development.
The strategy sets out measures and targets designed to promote the implementation of Agenda 21 and is monitored through annual White Papers which report on progress.
The UN's Commission on Sustainable Development was established after Rio to monitor progress on the implementation of the Rio agreements. The United Kingdom submits annual reports to the commission, copies of which are placed in the Library. We do not keep information on other countries' progress in implementing Rio commitments.