Minister Tiilikainen to attend IEA Ministerial Meeting in Paris
Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing Kimmo Tiilikainen will attend the Ministerial Meeting of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris on 7–8 November 2017. The meeting will focus on the following theme: bolstering energy security for sustainable global growth. The IEA Ministerial Meeting is held every other year, and more than 30 ministers from the IEA’s 29 member countries and from its accession, association and partner countries are expected in Paris. CEOs from about 30 global energy companies have also been invited to attend.
On Wednesday 8 November, at the day’s second plenary session, Minister Tiilikainen will give a presentation about the role of heating and cooling as part of a flexible and carbon-free energy system. The presentation will be followed by a discussion about how the IEA can do more to support member countries in the energy transition process, in regard to sustainable heating and cooling, for example.
The plenary sessions on 8 November will examine how energy security can be advanced more effectively in the future. Challenges that have risen alongside traditional concerns over the reliability of oil supplies include access to natural gas and liquefied natural gas, and changes in the operating environment, such as variable production of renewable energy, smart grids, digitalisation and energy investment issues.
Dialogue between authorities and business at the meeting will cover the timing and adequacy of energy sector investments in the global transformation of energy systems, and the importance of digitalisation and its effects on energy systems.
During his trip, Minister Tiilikainen will also visit UNESCO. The Minister will be supporting Finland’s efforts to gain membership of UNESCO’s Executive Board for the 2017–2021 term. The election for this will be held at the UNESCO General Conference on 8 November.
IEA online: www.iea.org
Inquiries:
Vilhartti Hanhilahti, Special Adviser to the Minister Kimmo Tiilikainen, tel. +358 40 836 4823
Riku Huttunen, Director General, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment tel. +358 50 431 6518
Katja Tuokko, Senior Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 50 465 5533