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Consultation on EU climate and energy framework opens

The European Commission has started the process of developing a “2030 framework for climate and energy policies,” with the introduction of a Green Paper.

A public consultation will now take place across member states, EU institutions and other stakeholders, feeding into the content of the 2030 framework.

The consultation will raise questions around the type and level of energy targets for 2030; and how different member states’ capacities to act can be taken into account.

Connie Hedegaard, EU Commissioner for Climate Action, said: ’‘Europe’s dependence on foreign fossil fuels is growing every year. That means more expensive and unaffordable energy bills for Europeans. This is not very wise.

“It’s obviously not wise for the climate, but it’s also not wise for our economy and our competitiveness. That is why we have decided that in Europe we want a low-carbon society for 2050. We have targets for 2020, but for most investors 2020 is around the corner. It’s time to define the targets for 2030. The sooner we do that, the more certainty we get to our companies and our investors. And the more ambitious these targets are, the better for the climate.’’

The consultation runs until July 2, and the EU hope to have tabled the 2030 framework by the end of this year.

Rhian Kelly, CBI Director for Business Environment policy, said: “It’s critical to get political agreement on a 2030 EU emissions target by the end of next year, to encourage the levels of investment that we need in low-carbon technology.

“Any target must be part of a coherent policy framework that also seeks to minimise carbon leakage, so that all businesses can play their part.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .