The first week of November has already signaled the stir circulating around energy issues in relation to the up and coming Copenhagen conference. Cabinet ministers for the U.S and the European Union have refocused their discussions to tackle energy security, markets, policies, regulation, technology and energy research to promote an aggressive cut in carbon emissions. Steven Chu, the U.S Energy Secretary released a statement referencing the meetings' aim at switching these top notch energy consumers to a clean and sustainable economy.
"These transitions are extremely important, both for our energy security, for our mutual economic development, and of course, for the climate of the world." said Chu. With little over 30 days left to the Copenhagen conference, a great deal relies on the cooperation of key players in the world economy, like the U.S and European Union, to finalize a UN treaty before the expiration of the KYOTO protocol (2012).
Climate change is an open opportunity for countries to step through the doorway of conservation, cost reduction, a new energy market and technology development. According to Richard Morningstar, a representative for Eurasian Energy, these talks have catapulted the necessary dialogue "on strategic energy issues, on energy policy issues and on questions relating to research and technology."
Morningstar voiced his support for gathering information from the private sector of the US and EU energy council to apply it to regulatory issues like carbon capture and smart grids. He also stated in a Washington conference call that nuclear power, "will be a part of the equation and it's going to depend on the country."
The finalization of any specific regulation for both the US and the EU has not yet been determined, but the pressure of the upcoming conference has both councils opening a realm of cooperation and discussion to launch both economies into a more energy efficient operation.
