Debate on climate and energy in Europe

On Thursday November 27 at 5 pm, the House of Representatives will talk about the European climate and energy package with the Dutch ministers for Spatial Planning, Housing and the Environment and for Economic Affairs, in a committee meeting. This package is a European Committee proposal which aims for an ambitious European climate policy.

Targets
The EU wants to reach the following targets in 2020:

·       Twenty percent less greenhouse gas emissions than in 1990;

·       Twenty percent of the total energy consumption comes from durable energy;

·       A twenty percent decrease in energy compared to the the current prognosis for 2020.

The climate and energy package contains concrete proposals to achieve these targets.The intention is for all EU countries to contribute.

International climate
France, the current president of the EU, and the Netherlands think that Europe should reach an agreement on the climate and energy regulations quickly. The EU wants to take a strong and credible stance in the international negotiations about a new climate regime. The international climate Top will be held in Copenhagen at the end of 2009. At the Top, a new international climate course will be determined.  

From 5 to 7 pm, the standing committees for Spatial Planning, Housing and the Environment and for Economic Affairs will hold a committee meeting on these subjects with the responsible ministers.