HC Deb 20 November 1997 vol 301 cc279-80W
Mr. Stunell

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list(a) her Department's policies and initiatives designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and (b) the departmental policies and initiatives designed to reduce other greenhouse gases; if she will estimate for each the annual reduction in tonnage of greenhouse gas emissions achieved in the most recent year for which figures are available compared to those for 1990; and what estimate she has made of further reductions, or increases, predicted for 2000 and 2010, assuming continuation of current policies.[15538]

Mr. Foulkes

I refer the hon. Member to the United Kingdom's Second Report under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change which was published in February 1997. It reports the UK's progress in implementing its programme for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and gives a projection of what the programme is expected to deliver by 2000. The report projects forward to 2020 what the current programme is expected to achieve.

As regards developing country issues, our policy is to limit the growth of greenhouse gas emissions from developing countries through the conventions energy efficiency programme which encourages these countries to play an effective role in controlling emissions while continuing their economic development. Through this we have committed over £311 million since 1992 on projects which improve the efficient use of energy resources, encourage the use of renewable sources of energy and conduct research into climate-friendly technologies. We have also committed over £130 million to the Global Environment Facility which is the financial mechanism of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. We are prepared to make a substantial further contribution to the GEF at its current replenishment negotiations. Some 40 per cent. of these resources are allocated to climate change projects in developing countries and economies in transition. Data that quantify the effect of the above in terms of tonnes of greenhouse gases are unavailable.