Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 20 March 2001. It was answered by Michael Meacher (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 March 2001 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 the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of G-8 environment ministers in Trieste. (Communique in Library Dep 01/480).

Answer: Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of G8 environment ministers in Trieste. [154208] Mr. Meacher: I am pleased with the outcome of the recent G8 Environment Ministers' meeting, which I attended in Trieste. On Climate Change, all Ministers-- including the US--expressed that a successful outcome at COP6 bis was necessary to allow early entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. Ministers also confirmed their support for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10) in 2002 and the importance of improving existing environmental governance structures. We also re-affirmed our continued support for the development of common environmental guidelines for Environmental Credit Agencies. Food safety and the links between the environment and health were also discussed. Ministers also agreed unanimously to condemn the destruction of statues and shrines in Afghanistan. I am placing a copy of the Communique in the House of Commons Library.

Secondary information