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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the outcome of the COP9 conference of parties to the United Nations framework convention on climate change held in Milan this month; if she will place in the Library copies of all papers (a) submitted by the United Kingdom and (b) submitted by other parties which include information relevant to the United Kingdom; and if she will publish details of website addresses which give information on the conference. [144509] Mr. Morley: The Ninth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP9) took place between 1-12 December in Milan, Italy. The Secretary of State and I represented the UK during the ministerial segment on 10-12 December. Agreement was reached on a range of important and forward looking items on the COP agenda, including the following: rules for inclusion of forestry projects (sinks) in the Clean Development Mechanism; the guidelines for operationalising two of the three funds for developing countries agreed at COP7 in Marrakech (the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund); the level of the Convention budget for the biennium 2004-05 including provision for activities to implement the Kyoto Protocol once it comes into effect; two new agenda items, building on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Third Assessment Report, examining the scientific, technical and socio-economic aspects of mitigation and adaptation; and the scope of further methodological work required in the next few years to advance the work of the Convention. This means that all the key decisions have now been taken to enable implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. During the three ministerial round table discussions, many countries underlined the importance of the Kyoto Protocol and looked forward to its entry into force. The view was also widely expressed that further action to tackle climate change is urgently required. Some speakers focussed on the need for further action on the impacts of, and vulnerability and adaptation to, climate change, and on the transfer of low carbon technology to developing countries, while others argued strongly for deeper cuts in emissions from developed countries and the important role of existing and new technologies to achieve them. In the international climate change negotiations, the UK negotiates as part of the European Union. I have therefore placed copies of all EU statements, which incorporate the UK's views and reflect the EU consensus, in the Libraries of both Houses. The UNFCCC website (http://unfccc.int/) gives complete information on the Conference and copies of all papers.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

144509; 416 c92-3W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Disclosure of information Air pollution Climate change Developing countries Finance International cooperation Forestry Pollution control Climate Change Convention Conferences

Link

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