EU Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete will visit Ottawa, Canada, on March 2-3 where he will meet Canada’s Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna and co-host a roundtable discussion on energy and climate change bringing together industry, environmental organisations, think-tanks and academia, the Commission said in a press release.
The EU has expressed its concerns with earlier statements of US President Donald Trump against the 2015 Paris climate accord.
The Commissioner will also meet high-level officials responsible for natural resources and innovation, science and economic development, as well as stakeholders in the energy and environment sector. The meetings will focus on the latest developments on climate and energy issues in the EU and Canada as well as around the world to further advancing cooperation in areas of common concern such as clean energy, and action to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change.
"The EU and Canada are determined to implement the Paris Agreement and boost the global clean energy transition,” Cañete said ahead of the visit.
"Given the current geopolitical uncertainties, our cooperation is more crucial than ever. Canada and the EU agree that tackling climate change and adapting our energy systems are significant drivers of job creation, investment opportunities and growth,” the Commissioner added.
The Commission reminded that Canada is one of the EU’s longest-standing partners. Last month the European Parliament approved a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union and Canada (read IP/17/270). The EU and Canada commit in CETA to co-operate in facilitating trade and investment in environmental goods and services.
CETA also provides for tariff liberalisation for energy efficient and renewable energy products such as heat pumps, energy efficiency boilers or parts for winds turbines among others. Cutting costs of such goods at the border will help disseminate technologies needed for climate change mitigation, and thus contributes to the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/eu-canada-fight-climate-change-together/
