Written question asked by Ashok Kumar (Labour) on Wednesday, 3 November 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 November 1999. It was answered by Michael Meacher (Labour) on Thursday, 11 November 1999 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what penalties will be applied to the United Kingdom if it fails to meet the legally-binding Kyoto greenhouse gas emission targets; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what penalties will be applied to the United Kingdom if it fails to meet the legally binding Kyoto greenhouse gas emission targets; and if he will make a statement. [97626] Mr. Meacher: I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and I have recently returned from the Fifth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The issue of the development of a compliance system for the Kyoto Protocol was one of the key points of discussion at that meeting. The UK, along with other EU member states, believes that there should be a strong, robust and comprehensive system of compliance for ensuring Parties meet their emissions reductions targets and other commitments undertaken under the Kyoto Protocol. The detailed design of the compliance system for the Protocol, including a full range of actions for failure to meet the Kyoto targets, is still being discussed.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 97626; 337 c724W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Air pollution Climate change Carbon dioxide Environment protection Pollution control