§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress the UK has made towards meeting its carbon dioxide reduction target agreed in Rio. [64433]
§ Mr. MealeThe UK is on track to exceed its commitment agreed in Rio, to return greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2000.
Total emissions of greenhouse gases from the UK have fallen from 215 million tonnes carbon equivalent in 1990 to 204 million tonnes carbon equivalent in 1996, the latest year for which all figures are available. Emissions of carbon dioxide are available for 1997 and show a 7.8 per cent. reduction from 1990 levels.