§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the impact on global warming of automotive emissions of one tonne to the atmosphere of(a) particulates, (b) fine particulates, (c) sulphur dioxide, (d) carbon dioxide, (e) benzene, (f) butadiene, (g) carbon monoxide and (h) oxides of nitrogen. [96834]
§ Mr. MeacherThe substances listed above all have some impact on global warming, but the effect is indirect in some cases. It is not possible to calculate the specific impact on global warming of one tonne of each of the above substances, as this amount is relatively small in comparison to emission values used for climate calculations.
(a) and (b) Large amounts of particles, known as aerosol, can either have a cooling effect on the climate by reflecting incoming solar radiation back out to space, or a warming effect, by absorbing radiation. Aerosols have a relatively short residence time in the atmosphere so their influence tends to be short-lived and regional in nature.
(c) Sulphur dioxide is an indirect greenhouse gas, as it takes part in atmospheric reactions that form products that effect the climate. These reactions include some that lead to the formation of sulphate aerosol, which tends to have a cooling effect on climate, and some leading to the formation of tropospheric ozone, which is a potent greenhouse gas.
80W(d) Carbon dioxide is the only direct greenhouse gas listed. It is the benchmark for determining the global warming potential (GWP) of other direct and indirect greenhouse gases and has a GWP of 1. Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are increasing at a rate unprecedented in at least the last 20,000 years.
(e) and (f) Benzene and butadiene are both Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). They take part in atmospheric reactions related to the formation of tropospheric ozone, and act to increase levels of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.
(g) and (h) Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) are indirect greenhouse gases. They take part in reactions that enhance the formation of tropospheric ozone and influence the lifetime of methane—the second most potent direct greenhouse gas—and other greenhouse gases.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the external costs of automotive emissions of one tonne to the atmosphere of(a) particulates, (b) fine particulates, (c) sulphur dioxide, (d) carbon dioxide, (e) benzene, (f) 1, 3 butadiene, (g) carbon monoxide and (h) oxides of nitrogen. [97250]
§ Mr. MeacherConsiderable research is in hand to improve the scientific and economic understanding of the health and environmental damages of air pollution. This work will provide important evidence on which policies will be further developed.
The Air Quality Strategy sets standards and objectives for particulates (PM10), sulphur dioxide, benzene, 1,3 butadiene, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide to be reached between 2003 and 2010. The Government have not published formal estimates of the air quality external costs per tonne of automotive emissions. The external costs of a tonne of emission from a vehicle will vary according to the pollutant in question, the type of vehicle and fuel used, where the vehicle is emitting as well as many other factors.
A Government Economic Service working paper has suggested a range from £35/tC to £140/tC (with a best estimate of £70t/C) as illustrative of the global damage cost of carbon emissions. It also suggested that these figures should be raised in real terms by £ 1t/C per annum as the costs of climate change are likely to increase over time. These values are currently under review following recent advances in the academic literature, and general developments in the UK Government economic appraisal guidance (such as the new Treasury Green Book).