(Montel) The European Parliament voted on Thursday to increase the EU’s target to cut emissions to 55% by 2030 on 1990 levels, from 40% currently, it said on Thursday.
The resolution to step up the EU's climate change commitments ahead of the UN environment summit in December in Katowice was adopted by 239 votes to 145 and 23 abstentions.
MEPs say that while the agreement reached between the parliament and the council to raise targets for renewables and energy efficiency would result in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of more than 45% by 2030, the EU should aim for a reduction of 55% by 2030, the parliament added in a statement.
This would bring European efforts closer to what is required for keeping the global temperature rise below 1.5C, in line with the landmark report published earlier this month by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
“We are heartened that the parliament is rising to the challenge of massively increasing emission cuts in line with the conclusions of the IPCC report,” said Wendel Trio, director of lobby group Climate Action Network.
