OREANDA-NEWS. At the European Council meeting in Brussels in the early hours of today, the EU Heads of Government have agreed a landmark deal on climate and energy targets for 2030.

The framework includes targets for greenhouse gas reduction, more renewable energy and increased energy efficiency, as well as a commitment for greater interconnection of energy infrastructure. The agreement comes on the back of two years of negotiations in which the UK Government has had a prominent role in securing the overall ambition of the agreement.

SSE continues to support an ambitious approach to tackling Europe's climate and energy challenges. It welcomes the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as the continued support for the development of renewable energy and efforts to encourage a more efficient use of energy, which will be increasingly important to reduce costs to consumers and ensure energy security.

SSE will work closely with policy-makers in the UK, Ireland and the EU to ensure that the framework is implemented in a way which helps to ensure that homes and businesses have access to secure, low-carbon and crucially, affordable supplies of energy.

Martin Pibworth, Managing Director, Wholesale said:

"The agreement on the 2030 climate and energy targets by European leaders today is a positive step towards achieving our long term objective to mitigate climate change, and will assist the EU in its efforts to secure a much needed global deal on climate change ahead of UNFCCC negotiations in Paris in December 2015.

"As a responsible company, SSE has supported an ambitious package throughout its development, and will continue with this approach as the package is translated into the relevant legislation."