Climate Change: EU — Question

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 2:42 pm on 28 April 2009.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Minister of State (Sustainable Development, Climate Change Adaptation and Air Quality), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Minister of State (Sustainable Development, Climate Change Adaptation and Air Quality), Department for Energy and Climate Change, Minister of State (Department of Energy and Climate Change), Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (Sustainable Development, Climate Change Adaptation and Air Quality) (also in the Department for Energy and Climate Change), Deputy Leader of the House of Lords 2:42, 28 April 2009

My Lords, I am reliably informed that any change in the sun's cycle of activity has nothing to do with daylight saving time. My understanding is that the sun's 11-year cycle of activity is currently at a minimum. Although its brightness is lower than during other recent minima, scientists expect its activity to increase again in the coming months. I understand that contrary to what has been reported, the influence of the sun's natural variability on the climate is small compared with the impact of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases.