Energy security and climate change are centre stage in Lisbon Treaty

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan TD, today urged a yes vote to the Lisbon Treaty in order to effectively tackle our climate change and energy security challenges.

“The Lisbon Treaty includes a specific reference to ‘combating climate change’ for the first time in an EU treaty.

The Treaty also focuses on European countries working together to ensure security of our energy supplies, promote energy efficiency and the development of our own renewable source of energy.

Our economic security is bound up in our energy security. We are vulnerable to volatile energy prices as global demand for oil and gas increases. We have to prepare for a world where oil supplies start to contract. The only way Ireland can maintain our security of supply, and thereby our economic competitiveness, is through a European market for energy. The Lisbon Treaty recognises this.

On climate change in particular, the European Union has been the leading world pushing for international agreement on climate change targets. The EU is ahead of the rest of the world in its appreciation of the science and its search for a solution.

I believe all those interested in preserving our environment and in tackling climate change should vote Yes to this Treaty. Those concerned with our economic competitiveness should equally vote in favour, particularly as the two issues are so clearly bound together.

The European Union is leading the way on climate change and energy security. The Lisbon Treaty copperfastens these ideas into the European institutional framework. Equally, the Treaty will make the workings of the Union more efficient, more transparent and more democratic.

This treaty is steering Europe in a greener direction, which will guarantee our economic and environmental futures.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Press Office
Department of Communications, Energy &
Natural Resources

T:    678 2441
E.mail:  press.office@dcenr.gov.ie