Peers will take the temperature of EU energy efficiency and low carbon economy proposals
London
Greg Barker, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, will give evidence to two Lords Committees in a one-off evidence session on Wednesday 15 June, to assess what impact new EU proposals on energy efficiency and the low carbon economy will have on people and businesses.
Members of the Lords EU Internal Market, Energy and Transport and EU Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment Sub-Committees, will question Mr Barker about proposals from the European Commission for the Energy Efficiency Plan 2011 and a low carbon economy roadmap.
Topics likely to be addressed include:
- whether households’ energy bills will increase due to the EU’s requirement that energy companies help consumers make their homes more energy efficient
- whether the EU will achieve its target of 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020
- why the European Commission has not proposed a firm target for emissions to be reduced by 30% by 2020, which the UK Government advocate
- whether the agricultural industry is able to increase food production and bio-energy whilst lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
EU Environment Ministers will discuss the low carbon economy roadmap next Tuesday (21 June).
The evidence session will take place at 10:30am, Wednesday 15 June in Committee Room 4a of the House of Lords.