Written question asked by Chris Ruane (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 May 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 May 2006. It was answered by Ian Pearson (Labour) on Thursday, 18 May 2006 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Climate Change

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of methane emissions from trees and other plants.

Answer: Following publication of a study suggesting that trees and other plants may be a source of methane emissions, my Department assessed available scientific literature and sought expert opinion on this issue. This showed that, even if the findings of the study are confirmed, the possible methane source would offset no more than a few percent. of the carbon taken up by growing forests. Therefore, the climate change benefits provided by forests through storage of carbon far outweigh their possible contribution to global warming through methane emissions.

Secondary information