PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
CLIMATE CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT (26 October 2005)

That this House believes that reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto protocol is an inescapable commitment for the governments of wealthy countries including the UK; further believes that wealthy countries should start planning for major additional reductions after 2012; welcomes the Up in Smoke reports published by the International Institute for Environment and Development and others which set out the challenges to development posed by climate change; is concerned that poorer countries, particularly in Africa, will suffer the greatest from climate change, though they have contributed least to the problem; believes that the UK Government and the governments of other wealthy countries have a major responsibility to support, through considerable investment, the efforts of poor people to adapt to changes in climate and achieve sustainable economic development; calls on the Government to contribute substantially to the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund set up under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to support adaptation in developing countries; notes the forthcoming United Nations meeting in Montreal (COP11 28th November to 9th December) to take forward the Kyoto process; and urges the Government to ensure that Europe takes a lead in putting sustainable development and action to support poor people at the heart of the Montreal agenda, including support for innovative solutions for sustainable energy supplies, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Sponsored by:
Colin Challen (Labour)