The European Union set a goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions at least 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, setting the tone for other nations heading into United Nations climate talks next year in Paris.
The goal set by the EU’s 28 nations comes as China and the United States — the world’s top two emitters — are still figuring out what targets they want to set. Nations are encouraged to offer cuts by the first quarter of next year.
EU climate chief Connie Hedegaard said the targets send a “strong signal” as nations look to set a framework to avoid a 2 degrees Celsius global temperature rise by 2100.
But others were less impressed.
Some noted the EU actually weakened its target for increasing renewable energy and energy efficiency. The EU proposed increasing those levels by 27 percent, whereas previous commitments would have increased those sources by 30 percent.
The pledge also comes with a provision that could trigger a review of the targets if other nations fail to make similar commitments in Paris. French President Francois Hollande, however, said reviews weren’t contingent on those talks, according to media reports.
