§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom by 20 per cent. of the 1997 level by 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77623]
§ Mr. MealeAt Kyoto, the EU agreed to a legally binding target to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 8 per cent. below 1990 levels over the period 2008–12: under the UK Presidency this target was shared out between the member states, with the UK agreeing to a 12.5 per cent. reduction. Achieving this target must be our priority. But the Government are committed to moving beyond that towards our domestic goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.