EU wants sharper climate targets for 2030

brussels - The European Commission intends to significantly increase the official climate targets of the European Union. The EU wants a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Now it is still 40 percent compared to the 1990 figures.

The Spanish climate commissioner Miguel Arias Caete wants the EU member states to take a decision on this in October. He calculated that the new goal will be achieved if new European decisions on energy savings and the development of renewable energy are implemented. 'Based on our calculation models, we will de facto achieve a 45% reduction in greenhouse gases in the EU. In any case, the EU is in a strong position to take part in the discussions on ambitious targets at the upcoming climate conference in Katowice, 'said Caete.

There, negotiations will be held in December on the rules to renew the Paris climate agreement. In 2015 the international community agreed to limit total global warming to a maximum of 2 degrees, if possible up to 1.5 degrees.