US, EU start 'clean energy economy' talks

The United States and the European Union opened high-level talks Wednesday aimed at boosting chances of switching "to a clean, sustainable energy economy," US Energy Secretary Steven Chu said. Cabinet ministers from both sides, in Washington for the first meeting of the US-EU Energy Council, discussed tackling energy security and markets, energy policies and regulation, energy technologies and research cooperation. Participants said their talks will promote technological efforts to cut sharply the carbon emissions blamed for climate change as a UN- backed climate summit in Copenhagen prepares to meet next month and set new emissions targets.