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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of possible benefits arising from global warming in respect of (a) lower energy costs and (b) higher crop yield. [218965] Mr. Morley: [holding answer 2 March 2005]: The information is as follows: (a) The UK's energy projections take account of the effect of increasing temperatures on energy demand, although we have not identified the impact separately. We are not aware of any detailed studies of the potential for higher temperatures to reduce energy usage globally, although space heating and cooling are both key users of energy, so rising temperatures, whilst reducing winter heating requirements, will lead to increased use of air conditioning, which will counteract and possibly outweigh any gains. (b) A study entitled Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture was carried out for Defra in 2004 by the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER). Among its findings, the study demonstrated that warmer temperatures resulting from climate change will increase the potential growing season of arable and other crops, earlier sowings will be possible, and crops will grow and ripen faster. In particular, maize will have a higher yield potential in an extended growing season.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

431 c1500-1W;431 c1494-5W; 218965

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Crops Agriculture Costs Consumption Climate change Energy Increases Production Temperature

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk