HC Deb 08 September 2003 vol 410 cc289-90W
Mr. Dhanda

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with(a) the United States, (b) the European Union and (c) environmental organisations on international measures to assist developing nations in reducing climate change. [128216]

Mr. Morley

As climate change is a global problem, it is important that all countries engage constructively in international action to tackle it. With this in mind, Defra, along with other Government Departments, has regular discussions in both formal and informal fora with the United States, other European Union member states and environmental organisations on measures to assist developing countries to address climate change. These discussions include: the need to integrate climate change into national strategies for sustainable development; the importance of capacity building; the role of technology transfer and, the operationalisation of the Clean Development Mechanism.

Mr. Dhanda

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with(a) the United States, (b) the European Union and (c) environmental organisations on the obligations of (i) the UK and (ii) others to reverse (A) climate change and (B) energy shortage. [128217]

Mr. Morley

As climate change is a global problem, it is important that all countries engage constructively in international action to tackle it. With this in mind, Defra, along with other government departments, has regular discussions in both formal and informal fora with the United States, other European Union Member States and environmental organisations on action to address climate change. Although these discussions are often linked to energy policy, the security of energy supply is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Mr. Dhanda

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with the Department of Trade and Industry on investment in renewable energy. [128220]

Mr. Bradshaw

Achieving the commitments set out in the energy white paper will require close integration across departments and much more widely. To make this a reality the white paper announced the creation of a Sustainable Energy Policy Network of policy units from across Government departments, the devolved administrations, regulators and key delivery organisations that are jointly responsible for delivery. Working within this framework my Department has regular discussions with the Department of Trade and Industry on a wide range of energy policy issues, including the development of renewable energy.