§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress the UK has made with regard to the Kyoto Protocol. [66642]
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§ Mr. MeacherThe UK completed ratification of the Kyoto Protocol with all other EU member states on 31 May. In order for the Kyoto Protocol to enter into force, it must be ratified by at least 55 countries, including developed countries accounting for at least 55 per cent. of this industrialised group's emissions in 1990. We hope it will enter into force as soon as possible although in practice this is now unlikely before early 2003. The UK remains committed to the Kyoto Protocol as the framework for taking forward global action to tackle climate change. Our target under Kyoto is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008–12. UK emissions were returned to 1990 levels by 2000 and we are well on course to meet our Kyoto target.