If she will make a statement on the role of developing countries in the Montreal climate change talks.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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?

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.