ENVE commission to address COP 21 priorities, Energy Union and ocean energy

On Tuesday 30 June the European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) will discuss global climate change beyond 2020, the Energy Union Package and the potential of ocean energy. During the meeting members will also share their views on the future of the Covenant of Mayors and EU birds and habitats directives.

Regions' and cities' priorities in the fight against climate change will be discussed by ENVE members a few days before the World Summit on Climate and Territories, which will be held in Lyon (France) on 1-2 July, and in the framework of the preparatory work for the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) that will be organised in Paris next December. CoR Rapporteur Ms Annabelle Jaeger (FR/PES) will lead the discussion on key challenges such as how to accelerate the implementation of the new climate change agreement and step up EU efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

ENVE will also adopt a draft opinion on the Energy Union Package, which aims to ensure a secure, affordable and climate-friendly energy for citizens and businesses. The opinion, drafted by Mr Pascal Mangin (FR/EPP), stresses the role of local and regional authorities in key areas such as renewable energy, electricity market and innovation and technology. The opinion can rely also on the outcome of the conference that ENVE organised last week, on 19 June, together with the Covenant of Mayors, a unique movement in Europe that has so far adopted nearly 5 000 action plans for sustainable energy. The CoR will contribute to the definition of the Covenant's strategy for the time after 2020 also with its own initiative opinion, drafted by Ms Kata Tüttő (HU/PES), that will also be on the ENVE meeting agenda.

The potential of ocean energy is the focus of the draft opinion elaborated by Mr Rhodri Glyn Thomas (UK/EA). Potential advantages of this energy source will be addressed, including the opportunity of creating new jobs (up to 26 000 direct jobs by 2020 and half a million by 2050), satisfying 10% to 15% of the EU power demand in 2050 while significantly reducing CO2 emissions.

In addition, the meeting will give platform to members' views on the implementation of EU birds and habitats directives. CoR rapporteur Mr Roby Biwer (PES/LU) will present his draft opinion on the review of EU Nature Legislation (Birds and Habitats Directives).

The meeting will be held at the CoR's premises from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.