Written question asked by Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 11 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 September 2002. It was answered by Michael Meacher (Labour) on Thursday, 19 September 2002 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what regional climate change scenarios have been modelled by her Department in the last five years; and if she will make a statement. - (Holding answer 22 July 2002).

Answer: Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regional climate change scenarios have been modelled by her Department in the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [70533] Mr. Meacher: [holding answer 22 July 2002]: In April 2002, the Department launched the 2002 UK Climate Change Scenarios. The Department funded the development of these scenarios to support the UK Climate Impacts Programme, the purpose of which is to help public and private sector organisations assess the impact of climate change on their sectors and plan ways of adapting to its consequences. The new scenarios were produced using a regional climate change model and represent a significant step forward in our understanding of possible consequences of climate change for different parts of the UK. They replace an earlier set of scenarios funded by the Department and published in 1998. The Department is also funding the application of regional climate change models in developing countries to improve our collective understanding of the effects of climate change, for example through projects with India, China and South Africa. Additionally, we currently fund (with the Department for International Development) work at the Hadley Centre on a portable Regional Climate Change Model (PRECIS) which will enable developing countries to carry out their own assessments of how climate change will affect them.

Secondary information