HC Deb 19 November 1998 vol 319 cc837-8W
Ms Ryan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Buenos Aires climate change conference. [60842]

Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress made at the Buenos Aires climate change conference. [60845]

Mr. Prescott

We achieved very significant progress in Buenos Aires.

Decisions were needed at COP 4 to prepare for the future entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol and, to strengthen the implementation of the Convention itself. It was also crucial to maintain the political momentum of Kyoto and to send out a clear signal that Governments are serious about tackling the threat of climate change.

The Conference achieved those goals. After extended negotiations, in which the UK again played a major role, we were able to reach agreement on a number of key issues. The most important of these was adoption of a decision setting out a work programme to put in place rules for the operation of the "Kyoto mechanisms". These mechanisms—emissions trading, joint implementation and the clean development mechanism—will have an important role to play in support of domestic action to enable countries to meet their Kyoto targets. The decision agreed a two year deadline for completion of the work.

Date Destination Purpose Numbers accompanying Minister
3 May 1997 Kensington Palace Privy Council meeting 3
23 July 1997 Manchester Local Government Association first Annual Conference 1—
27 October 1997 Luxembourg/Copenhagen/Oslo Pre UK Presidency Bilateral 4
20 November 1997 Villaconblay/Frankfurt/Stockholm Pre UK Presidency Bilateral 3
24 November 1997 Lisbon/Madrid/Amsterdam/Vienna Pre UK Presidency Bilateral 4
22 January 1998 Riga Heads of Government meeting of the Baltic Sea States 2
23 March 1998 Brussels Environment Council Meeting 2
29 June 1998 Brussels Environment Council Meeting 5
16 August 1998 Omagh Visit Omagh following bomb attack 3
22 August 1998 Omagh Attend Omagh Memorial Service 3
26 September 1998 Blackpool Switch on Illuminations 1
1Shared flight with Chancellor—accompanied by 4 DETR officials

We also secured agreement on elements of a workplan and a target date for completion of important procedures and guidelines on other key issues—such as a comprehensive compliance regime, including the strengthening of systems for compiling and reporting national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions and for the review of countries' performance in meeting commitments.

We were also able to agree a package of measures to enhance the technological and financial assistance which we are committed to providing developing countries.

Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals were agreed to at the Buenos Aires conference on climate change to(a) monitor, (b) regulate and (c) enforce (i) reforestation programmes and (ii) carbon trading; and if he will make a statement. [60846]

Mr. Prescott

I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my response in the Library.