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EU Ministers decide 2020 climate targets |
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Environment ministers have agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% from the 1990 level by 2020. They also back a 30% cut worldwide if other developed nations join.
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2007-02-22
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Alarmed by the recent findings of the UN Panel on Climate Change, the EU Member States called for an international commitment among all industrialised nations to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% from the 1990 level by 2020, and by 60-80% by mid-century.
With the intent of not exceeding a 2°C global temperature increase over the next century - an increase that has been identified as "dangerous climate change" - the ministers also recommended to reduce the EU's GHG emissions unilaterally by 20% by 2020.
Regarding the implementation of concrete measures, the EU now has to work on a compromise with member states opposing mandatory targets, such as Hungary and Poland. While Slovenian, British, and Spanish ministers warned that a EU failure would threaten efforts to persuade the U.S. and China to cap GHG emissions, Germany announced that it was ready to set the pace - with a cut of up to 40%.
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Reactions
"The EU has demonstrated its seriousness by committing to an emissions cut of at least 20% even before negotiations start. We now look to other developed countries to show responsibility and follow our example," welcomed EU Environment Minister Stavros Dimas the Council conclusions.
The decision is "quite dramatic," said John Hay, spokesman for the U.N. Climate Change Secretariat. "But if other nations don't follow suit, it won't have the desired effect," he added.
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"To suggest a meagre 20% unilateral EU emissions cut, while admitting this is inadequate and that a 30% cut will be necessary, is a bizarre discrepancy," criticized Mahi Sideridou, Greenpeace European Unit climate and energy policy director, the gap between the EU-wide and the international commitment.
Next steps
The ministers' conclusions are based on a January Communication by the European Commission. They will now be presented to EU leaders for final adoption at the next energy summit on 8-9 March. A formal legislative proposal will follow later this year.
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More information:
 Environment Council Conclusions, 20 February, 2007 (277 KB)
Commission Communication, 10 January, 2007 (200 KB)
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