The committee launched a series of linked inquiries into aspects of climate change policy in December 2005.
A report on the first inquiry, which looked at the role of renewable energy in meeting the UK’s climate change aims, is currently being prepared.
Terms of reference for the second inquiry – the “citizen’s agenda” which looks at the actions people can take to help tackle climate change – were announced in June.
Now the third inquiry – international climate policy post-2012 – is to get under way.
The committee explained that Phase One of the Kyoto Protocol set legally binding greenhouse gas reduction targets for developed countries for the period 2008-2012. More than 160 countries ratified the treaty, but its rejection by a number of countries – including the US – means environmental, economic and political issues must be addressed as Phase Two is developed.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has agreed a two-year dialogue on strategic approaches for long-term global co-operative action to address climate change which is already underway.
The committee’s inquiry will examine the prospects for international agreement under the convention and Phase Two of Kyoto, possible models and timescales for agreement, and the action that the UK government needs to take to ensure progress is made.
Submissions should be sent by e-mail to jamesae@parliament.uk by January 5, 2007.
