To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many officials are travelling to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali; and what estimate he has made of the (a) cost and (b) volume of carbon dioxide produced by their flights; (172017)

The total number of UK Government (including agencies) delegates, including officials and Ministers, attending the UNFCCC conference in Bali is 47. The carbon dioxide emissions attributable to the Defra delegation's flights has been calculated to be 209 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. The cost to offset this quantity of CO₂, via the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund (GCOF), which offsets all UK Government ministerial and official travel overseas, is £2,071.19.

While much necessary contact can be made by electronic means, it is not possible to reach agreement among 192 countries on complex issues without meeting.

Significant multilateral and bilateral conference calls do of course, take place.