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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the recent Royal Society report, "The Role of Land Carbon Sinks in Mitigating Global Climate Change". [4039] Mr. Meacher: The Royal Society's report is a valuable contribution to the debate on how to respond to the threat of climate change. In particular we share the Society's view that, because of the finite size, uncertainty and potential reversibility, sink enhancement should not divert resources from technologies which reduce emissions. We also agree with the Society that steps should be taken to manage forests and crops in a way that protects and enhances their role as a carbon sink in a manner compatible with other goals of sustainable development, and accept the need to increase accuracy of monitoring and verification of land sinks. The Society's conclusions are consistent with the policy that the UK pursues in the international climate negotiations, and with UK policies for sustainable agriculture and forestry. We congratulate the Society on timely publication of the report shortly before the successful resumption of the climate change negotiations in July.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

4039; 372 c1050W;372 c1049-50W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Climate Crops Air pollution Climate change Carbon dioxide Environment protection Forests Pollution control

Link

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