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Morley, Elliot (136)
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received regarding the climate change review; and whether she plans to make these findings public.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received regarding the climate change review; and whether she plans to make these findings public.
Asked by
Lord Barker of Battle
(Conservative)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
15 December 2005
For answer on
19 December 2005
Answered on
20 December 2005
The review of the UK climate change programme was launched in September 2004. A consultation as part of the review was launched on 8 December 2004 at a stakeholder event. Around 300 written responses were received as a result.IPA Energy Consulting was asked to complete an independent analysis of the responses. Their report can be found at the DEFRA website:"(http://defraweb/environment/climatechange/uk/ukccp/review.htm)."
Subjects
Climate change
Date
20 December 2005
Reference
39052; 440 c2664W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to announce the findings of the Climate Change Review; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to announce the findings of the Climate Change Review; and if she will make a statement.
Asked by
Lord Barker of Battle
(Conservative)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
15 December 2005
For answer on
19 December 2005
Answered on
20 December 2005
We are aiming to publish the revised Climate Change Programme well in advance of the Easter recess.
Subjects
Climate change
Date
20 December 2005
Reference
440 c2664W; 39051
House
House of Commons
The UK expects to exceed its Kyoto commitment by about 8 percentage points. The UK is committed to moving beyond our Kyoto protocol target and towards our national goal to reduce UK carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.
The UK expects to exceed its Kyoto commitment by about 8 percentage points. The UK is committed to moving beyond our Kyoto protocol target and towards our national goal to reduce UK carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Carbon dioxide; Pollution control; Standards
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1423
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The hon. Gentleman is incorrect—CO2 has gone up 3 per cent. since 1997. It went up 3 per cent. in 1996—in one year alone—and subsequently fell back. It would have gone up 5 per cent. if not for measures introduced in the 2000 climate change review. There is no room for complacency. We are committed to getting our domestic target of 20 per cent. on track. We will introduce the climate change review and, as our amendment made clear in the recent debate on climate change, we are more than willing to consider ideas from the Opposition. So far, none have been submitted.
The hon. Gentleman is incorrect—CO2 has gone up 3 per cent. since 1997. It went up 3 per cent. in 1996—in one year alone—and subsequently fell back. It would have gone up 5 per cent. if not for measures introduced in the 2000 climate change review. There is no room for complacency. We are committed to getting our domestic target of 20 per cent. on track. We will introduce the climate change review and, as our amendment made clear in the recent debate on climate change, we are more than willing to consider ideas from the Opposition. So far, none have been submitted.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
James Gray
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
I hope that one day I will have the opportunity to answer the questions, but on this occasion I shall just ask a question. The Sustainable Development Commission's report, conveniently enough for the Government, is due out tomorrow, but we understand that of all the targets in the report, three are set at red, the rest at amber, and as regards green lights, the Government achieved zero. We know that since 1999 carbon has not reduced at all in the UK; indeed, it has gone up by 9 per cent. Whatever the Government are doing, it is not working. Is it not time that they got together with the Conservative Opposition and perhaps even the Liberal Democrats to find some kind of cross-party consensus to tackle the greatest threat facing the globe for generations ahead?
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Carbon dioxide; Pollution control; Standards
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1424
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I do not agree that it is a stealth tax. If the hon. Gentleman looks at the overall accounts in relation to the Treasury books, he will find that, yes, some of that money goes into the Treasury, but the Treasury pays out a great deal more in terms of overall support to renewables. The money is not simply siphoned off.
I do not agree that it is a stealth tax. If the hon. Gentleman looks at the overall accounts in relation to the Treasury books, he will find that, yes, some of that money goes into the Treasury, but the Treasury pays out a great deal more in terms of overall support to renewables. The money is not simply siphoned off.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
Norman Baker
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
I add my congratulations to the Secretary of State for her efforts in Montreal. She has done a very good job. I look forward to her perhaps taking over the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Transport as well.
The Minister will agree that in order to deal with climate change it is important to get renewable technology up and running. Can he therefore explain or justify the fact that £210 million of the £270 million raised so far under the non-fossil fuel obligation fund has been siphoned off by the Treasury under the cloak of the Civil List Act 1952? Does he agree with that new Treasury stealth tax?
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Carbon dioxide; Pollution control; Standards
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1426
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
My hon. Friend is right, and there will be further opportunities to discuss the Montreal outcome. It gives us effective rules for implementing the Kyoto protocol, agreement on new targets and frameworks post-2012 and a global approach based on the convention, incorporating all signatories to the convention including non-Kyoto signatories—among them the US and Australia.
My hon. Friend is right, and there will be further opportunities to discuss the Montreal outcome. It gives us effective rules for implementing the Kyoto protocol, agreement on new targets and frameworks post-2012 and a global approach based on the convention, incorporating all signatories to the convention including non-Kyoto signatories—among them the US and Australia.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
Mark Lazarowicz
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
It was indeed a considerable achievement to obtain a Montreal agreement, which I notice Friends of the Earth described as an ““historic agreement”” that would ““strengthen global resolve””. The Secretary of State deserves slightly more enthusiastic praise than we heard from the Liberal Democrat Benches. In the spirit of consensus that affects us all nowadays, will my hon. Friend give us an idea of how he intends to build upon the agreement at Montreal, which was a major step forward but will clearly require a great deal of work, at European level in particular, to take it forward?
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Carbon dioxide; Pollution control; Standards
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1424
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his new position and look forward to debating with him.
Energy efficiency is a key issue in the developing countries. One of the main ways of achieving it is the application of the clean development mechanism. Under the leadership of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, the European Union has pledged significant sums to the board of the clean development mechanism to be invested in clean energy, energy efficiency and similar programmes. The Gleneagles conference itself was carbon-offset by the Government, and the offset funds have been invested in a clean development mechanism in Cape Town.
I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his new position and look forward to debating with him.
Energy efficiency is a key issue in the developing countries. One of the main ways of achieving it is the application of the clean development mechanism. Under the leadership of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, the European Union has pledged significant sums to the board of the clean development mechanism to be invested in clean energy, energy efficiency and similar programmes. The Gleneagles conference itself was carbon-offset by the Government, and the offset funds have been invested in a clean development mechanism in Cape Town.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Barker of Battle
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
Developing countries stand to be among the hardest and first hit by climate change. In combating climate change, it is essential that we are not seen, particularly in the poorest developing countries, as a brake on their drive for greater prosperity. While much progress is needed on a number of fronts, does the Minister agree that improving the efficiency of the energy sector in the developing world, especially electricity supply, is an important way of cutting the growth in emissions without hindering economic advance? What are the Government doing internationally to promote carbon reduction through energy efficiency?
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Developing countries; Pollution control
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1432-3
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
My hon. Friend is clearly very knowledgeable about such matters and I have a great deal of sympathy with what he has said, which goes well beyond the climate change conventions.
The oil companies are drawing up agreements on reducing gas flaring and taking action. I hope that we shall soon see a range of improvements in environmental quality and an engagement in social issues in all parts of the world including the region mentioned by my hon. Friend.
My hon. Friend is clearly very knowledgeable about such matters and I have a great deal of sympathy with what he has said, which goes well beyond the climate change conventions.
The oil companies are drawing up agreements on reducing gas flaring and taking action. I hope that we shall soon see a range of improvements in environmental quality and an engagement in social issues in all parts of the world including the region mentioned by my hon. Friend.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
Jim Sheridan
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
My hon. Friend may be aware of a report produced recently by the all-party group on the Niger delta. According to the report, the development of that part of the world has been held back by absolute corruption at every level of government. Will he read the report, especially the part dealing with the role of oil companies, which are using gas flares, destroying the environment and choking to death the poor people in the community surrounding the oilfields?
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Developing countries; Pollution control
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1432
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I welcome the hon. Gentleman back to the Front Bench, although given his chairmanship of the Environmental Audit Committee and the number of times that I have appeared before it, he does not appear to have been away. I welcome his recognition of the crucial role played by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State at Montreal, but he will find that non-governmental organisations and the international community think that the agreement was much more significant than his assessment. I welcome an approach based on consensus, and a consensus exists within this House on the principles, which is helpful in tackling the real environmental threat. On exploring that consensus, however, we need to know where the Opposition stand, and I repeat my invitation to them to spell out their position and ideas on climate change, because we cannot wait for 18 months while the matter is referred to a working group.
I welcome the hon. Gentleman back to the Front Bench, although given his chairmanship of the Environmental Audit Committee and the number of times that I have appeared before it, he does not appear to have been away. I welcome his recognition of the crucial role played by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State at Montreal, but he will find that non-governmental organisations and the international community think that the agreement was much more significant than his assessment. I welcome an approach based on consensus, and a consensus exists within this House on the principles, which is helpful in tackling the real environmental threat. On exploring that consensus, however, we need to know where the Opposition stand, and I repeat my invitation to them to spell out their position and ideas on climate change, because we cannot wait for 18 months while the matter is referred to a working group.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
Peter Ainsworth
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
You may share my sense of déjà vu, Mr. Speaker: I am here again; you are there; the Minister is in his place; and the Secretary of State is not here—so not much has changed. I am sorry that the Secretary of State is not here because I want to place on the record my congratulations on her personal contribution to the limited success of the Montreal discussions. However, it will need more than an agreement to talk to reduce the risk of a catastrophic slide into climate change. Will the Minister reconsider his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray)? Just as it is vital to have international agreements to tackle climate change, is it not vital to have a cross-party approach to tackling those issues in order to set a framework in which to deliver climate change emission reductions?
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Carbon dioxide; Pollution control; Standards
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1425
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The hon. Gentleman should ask Zac Goldsmith, who is a member of his own party's working group, whether he agrees with that. The Prime Minister has announced an energy review, which is the responsible and sensible way forward. We need to look at this country's long-term energy demands and at energy efficiency, the range of energy mixes and the costs associated with the various energy generation options. The review will answer some of those questions.
The hon. Gentleman should ask Zac Goldsmith, who is a member of his own party's working group, whether he agrees with that. The Prime Minister has announced an energy review, which is the responsible and sensible way forward. We need to look at this country's long-term energy demands and at energy efficiency, the range of energy mixes and the costs associated with the various energy generation options. The review will answer some of those questions.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
Mark Pritchard
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
On climate change, does the Minister agree with his noble Friend Lord Sainsbury, who suggested that new nuclear is now the new green energy?
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; International cooperation; Pollution control
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1436
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I agree with the hon. Gentleman that it was a tremendous outcome at the Montreal talks. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State deserves a great deal of credit and she was much admired for the way that she led the whole EU delegation. Let me make it clear that there are two targets. First, there is our Kyoto target, which is legally binding and which we are well on track to meet and, as I said, to exceed. Then there is our domestic voluntary target of 20 per cent., which we are not on track to meet, but we are having the climate change review in order to ensure that we do so. As regards independent monitoring, the inventory is already independently monitored by the National Environmental Technology Centre, the United Nations framework convention on climate change and the National Audit Office. On individual targets, reductions in CO2 have been up and down in different years, but we are willing to consider any suggestions that the hon. Gentleman may have.
I agree with the hon. Gentleman that it was a tremendous outcome at the Montreal talks. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State deserves a great deal of credit and she was much admired for the way that she led the whole EU delegation. Let me make it clear that there are two targets. First, there is our Kyoto target, which is legally binding and which we are well on track to meet and, as I said, to exceed. Then there is our domestic voluntary target of 20 per cent., which we are not on track to meet, but we are having the climate change review in order to ensure that we do so. As regards independent monitoring, the inventory is already independently monitored by the National Environmental Technology Centre, the United Nations framework convention on climate change and the National Audit Office. On individual targets, reductions in CO2 have been up and down in different years, but we are willing to consider any suggestions that the hon. Gentleman may have.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
Simon Hughes
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
Everybody will be pleased at the progress made over recent days in Montreal, but from the written answer that the Minister gave my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 29 November at column 312 on greenhouse gases, it looks as though we will not have met our targets over the past two years. To make sure that we can all have confidence that we are going in the right direction, will the Minister agree to annual targets from now on, independently assessed and adjudicated? That way, we would know that there was no spin and no dishonesty.
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Carbon dioxide; Pollution control; Standards
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1423
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government are taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government are taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Asked by
Adam Holloway
(Conservative)
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
7 December 2005
For answer on
12 December 2005
Answered on
15 December 2005
The Government set out its policy on reducing emissions of the six greenhouse gases covered under the Kyoto protocol in its publication ““climate change: The UK programme”” (CM 4913) in 2000. We have introduced a set of flexible measures covering a range of different sectors—including energy supply, transport, agriculture, business and households.The Government are currently carrying out a review of the UK climate change programme which is looking at how existing policies are performing and the range of policies which might be put in place in the future to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Government are aiming to publish a revised UK climate change programme early next year.
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Pollution control
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
36996; 440 c2209W
House
House of Commons
The outcomes of the conference in Montreal are hugely significant. The Kyoto parties agreed to launch a process for agreeing new greenhouse gas targets beyond 2012 and all parties agreed to review the framework convention with a view to ensuring a truly global effort to tackle climate change. The Kyoto protocol was strengthened with the adoption of the Marrakesh accords compliance mechanism and greater support for the Kyoto mechanisms.
The outcomes of the conference in Montreal are hugely significant. The Kyoto parties agreed to launch a process for agreeing new greenhouse gas targets beyond 2012 and all parties agreed to review the framework convention with a view to ensuring a truly global effort to tackle climate change. The Kyoto protocol was strengthened with the adoption of the Marrakesh accords compliance mechanism and greater support for the Kyoto mechanisms.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
Joan Ruddock
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
If she will make a statement on the outcomes of the climate change talks in Montreal.
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; International cooperation; Pollution control
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1435-6
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The developing countries played a positive role in the Montreal climate change talks. They supported a process that will consider further commitments of developed countries under the Kyoto protocol as well as dialogue among all parties on long-term co-operative action to address climate change by enhancing implementation of the United Nations framework convention on climate change.
The developing countries played a positive role in the Montreal climate change talks. They supported a process that will consider further commitments of developed countries under the Kyoto protocol as well as dialogue among all parties on long-term co-operative action to address climate change by enhancing implementation of the United Nations framework convention on climate change.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
Ben Chapman
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
If she will make a statement on the role of developing countries in the Montreal climate change talks.
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Developing countries; Pollution control
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1431
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
No. I know that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister pressed the Leader of the Opposition on that, but as far as I understand it, the position of the Conservatives is that they are against the climate change levy, which has made a significant contribution in reducing CO2. If they have changed their position, I will be willing to hear about where they stand now.
No. I know that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister pressed the Leader of the Opposition on that, but as far as I understand it, the position of the Conservatives is that they are against the climate change levy, which has made a significant contribution in reducing CO2. If they have changed their position, I will be willing to hear about where they stand now.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
Ed Balls
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
Will my hon. Friend report to the House on progress on building an all-party consensus on the measures that are needed to meet our climate change targets? Has there been any indication thus far that the main Opposition party intends to drop its opposition to the climate change levy?
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Carbon dioxide; Pollution control; Standards
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1426
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The principle of contraction and convergence undoubtedly has some attractive elements, and I am interested in the concept. Given the talks in Montreal, the principle does not appear to command a great deal of international support at the moment.
The principle of contraction and convergence undoubtedly has some attractive elements, and I am interested in the concept. Given the talks in Montreal, the principle does not appear to command a great deal of international support at the moment.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
Colin Challen
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
I add my congratulations to the plaudits already given to the Secretary of State for the agreement reached in Montreal. I note that Paula Dobrianski, the US Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs who was present in Montreal, said that the United States would not welcome formal discussions geared towards a one-size-fits-all approach, which perhaps ties in with the Byrd-Hegel resolution of the US Senate. May I therefore suggest that contraction and convergence are the way forward? That is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and I hope that the Government will provide time for a Bill on that point, which has its Second Reading on 14 July.
It is my Bill.
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Carbon dioxide; Pollution control; Standards
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1424-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I do not disagree with those general points, but Conservative Members have not done enough homework on the procedures by which our progress is audited. Our targets and the inventory are calculated by an independent organisation, the National Environmental Technology Centre, by the United Nations framework convention on climate change and by the National Audit Office. Those are respectable bodies that provide independent assessment, but if the hon. Gentleman does not think that they are adequate, I would be willing to consider his points.
I do not disagree with those general points, but Conservative Members have not done enough homework on the procedures by which our progress is audited. Our targets and the inventory are calculated by an independent organisation, the National Environmental Technology Centre, by the United Nations framework convention on climate change and by the National Audit Office. Those are respectable bodies that provide independent assessment, but if the hon. Gentleman does not think that they are adequate, I would be willing to consider his points.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
Peter Ainsworth
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
We will spell out our considered recommendations in due course, and I look forward to working with the Minister on them. Does he accept that normal politics are not working when it comes to climate change, because the problems are too long term and too great? May I press him again on the concept of an independent body that transcends individual Parliaments, individual Governments and individual changes in party leadership, in order to monitor progress, set targets and achieve progress against those targets? The Government are trying to provide leadership internationally on that vital issue, but that should not be undermined by failure to make progress at home.
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Carbon dioxide; Pollution control; Standards
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1425
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
It is true that China and India are not annexe 1 countries and are not therefore obliged to take targets. It is also true that what the United States does has an influence on all countries. I do not dispute that. China is engaging positively, however. In the EU-China summit, we agreed co-operation with China for a near-zero coal-burning power station as a demonstration project to develop that technology. China is moving ahead on a range of technologies, including renewables, as is India, and both those countries are keen to engage in the clean development mechanism, which also transfers technology and investment from developed countries to developing counties. All those framework issues were agreed at Montreal.
As far as the United States is concerned, what struck me at Montreal was that a number of American companies, American organisations, American states, American mayors and, not least, a former American President attended to say that their Government should do more. I am sure that that bottom-up pressure will have an effect on the attitude of the Administration in due course.
It is true that China and India are not annexe 1 countries and are not therefore obliged to take targets. It is also true that what the United States does has an influence on all countries. I do not dispute that. China is engaging positively, however. In the EU-China summit, we agreed co-operation with China for a near-zero coal-burning power station as a demonstration project to develop that technology. China is moving ahead on a range of technologies, including renewables, as is India, and both those countries are keen to engage in the clean development mechanism, which also transfers technology and investment from developed countries to developing counties. All those framework issues were agreed at Montreal.
As far as the United States is concerned, what struck me at Montreal was that a number of American companies, American organisations, American states, American mayors and, not least, a former American President attended to say that their Government should do more. I am sure that that bottom-up pressure will have an effect on the attitude of the Administration in due course.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
Michael Jack
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
Welcome as the Minister's comments about the new co-operative atmosphere with China are, China builds each year the equivalent of the United Kingdom's entire power output, predominantly using coal. What has China committed itself specifically to do to engage in the process of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, along with India? How will the Government persuade the United States to participate fully in that whole programme? Without that, China and India will carry on saying comfortable things but not contributing positively to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Developing countries; Pollution control
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1432
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Yes, I agree with my hon. Friend. I found the atmosphere at Montreal, in relation to the views and co-operation of developing countries, much better than at Buenos Aires last year. One reason for that was the successful Gleneagles process involving China and India. The Gleneagles dialogue, which came out of that process, with the first meeting on 1 November, helped to build confidence and pave the way for the successful outcome in Montreal. China played a positive role in that, as did other major emerging economies.
Yes, I agree with my hon. Friend. I found the atmosphere at Montreal, in relation to the views and co-operation of developing countries, much better than at Buenos Aires last year. One reason for that was the successful Gleneagles process involving China and India. The Gleneagles dialogue, which came out of that process, with the first meeting on 1 November, helped to build confidence and pave the way for the successful outcome in Montreal. China played a positive role in that, as did other major emerging economies.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
Ben Chapman
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
Will my hon. Friend join me in welcoming the fact that China, despite being driven by the need to cater economically for its growing 1.3 billion population, has been a key supporter of the Kyoto process, and that, as the world's second largest producer of greenhouse gases, it will, along with other developing countries, play a key role in future climate change talks?
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; Developing countries; Pollution control
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1431-2
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
It is not just 4x4s that guzzle gas. Other models also do so, but I understand my hon. Friend's point. If we are going to have a consensus—there are good arguments for having one—there are some difficult issues that we have to address. For example, with rising world fuel prices and with some people taking to the streets and putting up blockades, we need to argue the case for achieving the right balance of environmental taxation to reflect the environmental impact of road transport, rather than trying to get a few populist headlines by talking about cutting fuel duty, given the chance to do so. The opportunity exists for all parties to address these issues, including differential rates of taxation, in a mature and sensible way. I look forward to that debate.
It is not just 4x4s that guzzle gas. Other models also do so, but I understand my hon. Friend's point. If we are going to have a consensus—there are good arguments for having one—there are some difficult issues that we have to address. For example, with rising world fuel prices and with some people taking to the streets and putting up blockades, we need to argue the case for achieving the right balance of environmental taxation to reflect the environmental impact of road transport, rather than trying to get a few populist headlines by talking about cutting fuel duty, given the chance to do so. The opportunity exists for all parties to address these issues, including differential rates of taxation, in a mature and sensible way. I look forward to that debate.
Answered by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Asked by
David Chaytor
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Oral answers to questions
My hon. Friend will know that some of the biggest challenges that lie ahead relate to constraining emissions in the transport sector. What are the prospects of achieving all-party consensus on the greater use of environmental taxation as a means of reducing transport emissions? Does he think that the basis exists for a consensus on a more progressive form of taxation to deal with gas-guzzling 4x4 vehicles, which would be hugely popular with the 95 per cent. of the population who do not drive 4x4s?
Subjects
Air pollution; Climate change; International cooperation; Pollution control
Date
15 December 2005
Reference
440 c1436-7
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons