I have discussions with my European Union counterparts and the Commissioner for Climate Action on an on-going basis, including bilaterally and at the Council of Ministers when it meets in its environment formation, on matters concerning climate change.
In the second half of 2012, I engaged in an intensive round of bilateral discussions with my counterparts focused on key policy and legislative proposals on which I hope to make significant progress during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, including:
- planned Council Conclusions by June 2013 to lay the groundwork for a European Climate Adaptation Strategy;
- proposed changes to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (to strengthen the price of carbon with the scheme, and to pause certain provisions temporarily in order to facilitate on-going negotiations on a possible international market-based measure to address greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector);
- proposals to confirm ambitious 2020 carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions targets from new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles;
- proposals to review the application, effects and adequacy of the regulation of fluorinated greenhouse gases; and
- a proposal for a Directive to amend existing EU legislation on the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.