§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the carbon modelling consortium research showing potential absorption of carbon dioxide by carbon sink young trees; and if he will make a statement. [57878]
§ Mr. MealeA preliminary assessment by the Hadley Centre of recently published research by the carbon modelling consortium suggests that the uptake of carbon by forests in North America may have been overestimated in this study. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is currently producing a special report on land use change and forestry issues to be published in 2000, and a full review of all relevant research on the global uptake of carbon by vegetation will be published by the Panel in its Third Assessment Report in early 2001.
§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy on the inclusion of absorption of carbon dioxide by carbon sink young trees in the Kyoto emission reduction negotiations between the European Union and the United States of America. [57879]
10W
§ Mr. MealeThe Kyoto Protocol allows the uptake in the commitment period, 2008 to 2012, of carbon by trees planted since 1990 to be taken into account in meeting commitments to limit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The text of the Protocol makes it clear that the natural regrowth of trees cannot be counted against commitments. Our policy is to ensure that the detailed rules on implementation of the Protocol reflect the fundamental principles agreed in Kyoto.