Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 26 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 December 2004. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Monday, 6 December 2004 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 further action she plans to reduce emissions of methane. - Inc figures.

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further action she plans to reduce emissions of methane. [200690] Mr. Morley: There has been a 42.7 per cent. reduction in methane emissions in the UK between 1990 and 2002, the most recent year for which data is available. Methane is one of the greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol. Following the decision of Russian to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol it is due to come into force on 16 February 2005. The UK remains on course to achieve its Kyoto target to reduce emissions of all greenhouse gases by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008-12. Provisional estimates suggest that in 2003 greenhouse gas emissions were about 14 per cent. below the baseline. A review of the Climate Change Programme was launched on 15 September. The review will evaluate the success of the existing policy measures in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and will examine the scope for further reductions in the future.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 200690; 428 c273-4W
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Air pollution Climate change Pollution control Standards Climate Change Convention Methane Pollutants
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk