Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Huhne and Oliver Colvile

Thursday 26th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Con)]

15. What assessment he has made of British Antarctic Survey research on the effects of historic industrialisation on global carbon dioxide levels.

[The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Chris Huhne)]

Ice core measurements by the British Antarctic Survey reveal that over the last 800,000 years, global carbon dioxide levels varied between 180 and 300 parts per million. Those peer-reviewed results provide crucial data on past natural levels for climate science research. Observations show that global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are currently increasing at about two parts per million per year, and are now at 391 parts per million, as a result of emissions from industrial and other human sources.

[Oliver Colvile]

May I thank the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker) for going to Bristol recently to launch the marine energy strategy? How does my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State perceive it working in delivering fewer CO₂ emissions and helping with the energy strategy?

[Chris Huhne]

Marine energy parks are an important part of developing a tremendously good natural resource for us in this country. We may not have quite as much sunshine as in southern Spain or Arizona, but we have an awful lot of wind, an awful lot of waves and an awful lot of tidal resource. Within the ministerial team, my hon. Friend the Minister of State has been leading the charge on marine energy parks precisely to make sure that we do not let those enormous opportunities slip through our fingers.