EU Energy and Environment Ministers meet in Dublin for key talks

Ireland is hosting informal meetings with EU Energy and Environment ministers at Dublin Castle this week to thrash out ideas on topics such as ICT and energy innovation and energy efficiency.

Energy and environment ministers from the EU have been based at Dublin Castle on Tuesday and Wednesday for the talks that will focus on areas such as energy system integration and the application of new and developing technologies to boost energy efficiency and sustainability.

The environment ministers are discussing the EU Commission's Green Paper on a 2030 framework for climate and energy policies. The document is under public consultation until 2 July as EU leaders have not formally agreed upon the type of climate and energy targets that should be set for 2030.

According to the paper, by 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will need to be reduced by 40 per cent in the EU in order to reach a GHG reduction of between 80-95 per cent by 2050. This would ensure the EU would meet the internationally agreed target to limit atmospheric warming to below 2°C.

The EU has already set a target of achieving 20 per cent GHG emission reductions by 2020 compared to 1990 levels.

The Green Paper is also proposing that 30pc of energy would need to come from renewable sources by 2030.

Turning to the meeting of the EU energy ministers in Dublin, topics that will be up for discussion will include how smart technologies can better control energy consumption and the integration of renewable energy sources in Europe.

Energy ministers will also be opening up an initial discussion on the effects of unconventional gas and oil on energy supply, competitiveness and prices.

On Monday, ministers were addressed by the UN Environment Programme Executive Director, Achim Steiner. The ministers also discussed air quality and the urban environment, in advance of the review of the EU’s thematic strategy on air pollution later this year.