Future of the 2020 EU climate targets Tougher carbon targets, weaker renewables target?

Date | 15^th June 2011

Time | 12.45pm registration for a 1.00pm start

Venue | The Ideas Space | Policy Exchange | 10 Storey’s Gate | Westminster | SW1P 3AY

RSVP | events@policyexchange.org.uk

Follow the debate on Twitter | #PX2020targets

The EU’s flagship 20-20-20 energy and climate targets are increasingly likely to be reconfigured before the 2020 deadline, with discussion having already begun around 2030 targets.

Following the recent publication of the Policy Exchange report, 2020 Hindsight, this event comes at a time when energy ministers from several Member States including the UK, as well as the European Commissioner for Climate Change, are pushing for a more ambitious 2020 carbon emissions reduction target. The European Commissioner has also suggested a new 2030 EU renewable energy target. The Committee on Climate Change’s renewable energy report, released in May, backs the government’s Renewable Energy Strategy and recommends a portfolio approach to electricity decarbonisation in the subsequent period.

At the same time, the huge costs of the existing 2020 renewable energy target are becoming increasingly visible, as highlighted in our report - 2020 Hindsight. There are also real questions about whether the focus on renewable energy is actually at odds with successfully achieving carbon emissions reductions.

The following issues will be considered:

-          Should the UK government continue to lobby for an increased 2020 carbon emissions target?

-          Can the EU continue to reconcile its twin objectives of decarbonisation and promotion of renewable energy, while keeping costs at levels energy bill payers are willing to tolerate?

-          Does the EU 2020 Renewable Energy Target help or hinder the UK to decarbonise? Should there be a new 2030 renewable energy target? Or should the 2020 renewable energy target go as part of changes to the 20-20-20 package?

-          Going into the June European Council summit, what should the EU’s energy and climate policy objectives be?

Speakers:

CHAIR | Simon Less | Research Director, Environment and Energy | Policy Exchange

Tim Yeo MP | Chair | Energy and Climate Change Select Committee

David Kennedy | Chief Executive | Committee on Climate Change

Boaz Moselle | Director | FTI Consulting

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This event will finish at approximately 2.30pm.