Brussels, 05/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas is to take part in the EU-United States dialogue on climate change, clean energy and sustainable development in Washington on Friday 7 March. Slovenian Environment Minister Janez Podobnik will also attend, representing the EU Council Presidency.
The meeting will be the second EU-United States high level dialogue on climate change, clean energy and sustainable development, a forum launched at the EU-US summit in 2006. The first was held in Helsinki in October 2006.
The debate on climate change and clean energy is expected to focus on domestic measures in the US and the EU to address climate change, and on strengthening international cooperation in view of the formal negotiations on a new United Nations climate change agreement that will start at the end of March. Commissioner Dimas will present the Commission's January 23 package of Climate Care and Renewable Energy (CARE) proposals (EUROPE 9586) that the Commission describes in a press release as an “essential contribution to the achievement of EU climate change objectives” and as an “example for international negotiations”.
The dialogue is also expected to cover ways to combat the loss of biodiversity and illegal forest exploitation, especially last year's G8+5 initiative aimed at establishing an essential report on the economic aspects of biodiversity loss, the Commission's action plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) and the initiative of the US president against illegal exploitation of forests. During his stay in the North American capital, Commissioner Dimas will deliver a speech to the World Environment Center and take part in other high level meetings. (O.L.)