Summary of the purpose and content of the Green Paper

Energy saving is the quickest and most cost-effective manner for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Green paper seeks to identify the bottlenecks at present preventing economic efficiencies from being captured – lack of appropriate incentives, lack of information and lack of available financing mechanisms. The Green Paper then seeks to identify options that can overcome these bottlenecks, suggesting a number of key actions that might be taken. Examples include:

• establishing Annual Energy Efficiency Action Plans at national level;
• giving the citizens better information, for example through better targeted publicity campaigns and improved product labelling;
• improving taxation, to ensure that the polluter pays, without however increasing overall tax levels;
• better targeting state aid where public support is justified, proportionate and necessary to provide an incentive to the efficient use of energy;
• ·using public procurement to “kick-start” new energy efficient technologies, such as more energy efficient cars and IT equipment;
• using new or improved financing instruments, both at Community and national level to give incentives, but not aid, to both companies and householders to introduce cost effective improvements;
• going further regarding buildings (than the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2002/91/EC) and possibly extending it to smaller premises in a manner than ensures cost effectiveness and minimum additional bureaucracy;
• using the Cars 21 Commission initiative to speed up the development of a new generation of more fuel-efficient vehicles.

In addition the Green Paper seeks to make a significant contribution, by way of example and leadership, to initiate an international effort to contribute to addressing climate change through energy efficiency.

To stimulate public debate the EU Commission has put forward 25 non-exhaustive questions (see Green Paper, p.8). It intends to publish proposals for appropriate legislation arising from this process in 2006.

Implications for Ireland

These include a challenge and a focus for increased promotion of the Energy Efficiency Agenda at all levels of society. It is an opportunity for Ireland to develop a substantial response and to set a national energy efficiency agenda that promotes business and employment opportunities based on increased energy efficiency. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (DCMNR) has also consulted with all Government Departments with a view to formulating both the response to the Commission and the national agenda.

Deadline set by DCMNR for public consultation

February 7th 2006