Written question asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative) on Thursday, 12 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 March 2004. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Monday, 1 March 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 plans she has to allow the carbon sink capacities of agricultural crops to be incorporated into emissions trading schemes.

Answer: Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to allow the carbon sink capacities of agricultural crops to be incorporated into emissions trading schemes. [155665] Mr. Morley: The Department recognises the important benefits of agricultural crops acting as carbon `sinks', and removing a significant greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. The inclusion of sinks in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme via Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism projects (Kyoto Protocol mechanisms) is currently under discussion at EU level where the UK supports their inclusion. The UK Emissions Trading Scheme includes direct emissions of greenhouse gases from installations and indirect emissions associates with electricity use. There is no provision for carbon sinks projects in the Scheme. The Scheme will be reviewed once final agreement has been reached on the inclusion of credits from Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism in the EU Scheme.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 418 c635-6W;418 c655-6W; 155665
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Crops Carbon dioxide Carbon EU emissions trading scheme Pollution control UK emissions trading scheme
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk