Cork to host major conference on sustainable energy

MORE than 200 delegates from 24 EU countries are set to attend a major conference in Cork on sustainable energy.

Energie-Cités, an association of European local authorities, is to hold its annual conference at County Hall from April 9-11.

The conference will be jointly opened by Eckart Wurzner, the mayor of the German city of Heidelberg, who is president of Energie-Cités; junior minister at the Department of the Environment, Batt O’Keeffe and Mayor of Co Cork, Cllr Tom Sheahan.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Towards Europe’s sustainable energy future. Local authorities are ready to act!”

The conference will cover three main themes: Firstly, delegates will debate current European energy policy. They will then focus on projects and programmes being introduced in towns and cities across the continent to preserve energy.

Finally there will be a presentation on the “Covenant of Mayors” initiative by EU Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalg, which was launched in January this year.

A spokeswoman for Cork County Council said these objectives stand a chance of being achieved if local authorities commit themselves to taking practical measures to redirect their local development policies.

Examples of practical actions and political commitments needed to achieve such objectives will be presented to the Cork conference participants.

On January 23 last the European Commission decided that by 2002 member states must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 20%; increase energy efficiency by 20% and achieve 20% of renewables in overall EU consumption, including 10% of total vehicle fuel consumption covered by biofuels.