Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative) on Wednesday, 16 December 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 5 January 2010. It was answered by Chris Bryant (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 January 2010 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Climate Change: Antarctic

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Antarctic Survey has commissioned research into the causes and effects of climate change and global warming in the last three years.

Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 9 December 2009, Official Report, column 376W and on 19 October 2009, Official Report, column 1239W. As indicated previously, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has developed a new strategic science plan, Polar Science for Planet Earth. This is described in a new publication (http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/about_bas/publications/pspe_document.pdf) which identifies several critical research challenges concerning climate change and its impacts. In addition BAS is leading a major initiative (Ice2sea), funded by the EU, aimed at improving projections of the contribution of ice to future sea-level rise.

Secondary information