EU leaders seal landmark 2030 climate deal

team rises from a power station in Beijing in December. (Photo: AFP/File/Wang Zhao)

BRUSSELS: European Union leaders agreed on Friday (Oct 24) what they hailed as the world's most ambitious climate change targets for 2030, paving the way for a new UN-backed global treaty next year.

The 28 leaders overcame deep divisions at a summit in Brussels to reach a deal including a commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 per cent compared to 1990 levels. They also agreed on 27 per cent targets for renewable energy supply and efficiency gains, in spite of reservations from some member states about the cost of the measures. "Deal! At least 40 per cent emissions cut by 2030. World's most ambitious, cost-effective, fair EU 2030 climate energy policy agreed," EU president Herman Van Rompuy tweeted.

The EU wanted to agree on the targets ahead of a summit in Paris in November and December 2015, where it is hoped the world will agree to a new phase of the Kyoto climate accords which run until 2020. The agreement puts the EU "in the driving seat" ahead of the Paris conference, European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso said.

Environmental groups complained that the deal did not go far enough to cut global warming.

LATE-NIGHT TALKS

The European leaders haggled late into the night amid a split between richer, greener nations and poorer countries that depend heavily on fossil fuels or on gas from Russia. Poland had previously threatened to veto a deal, fearing that its near complete reliance on coal would have made it prohibitively expensive to meet the targets.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande had talks with Polish premier Eva Kovacsz on the sidelines of the summit in a bid to talk her round. Merkel, whose country is a leader in renewables, said the deal would "give Europe a voice and a negotiation position in the international climate talks."

The accord also promotes new interconnection links between member states allowing them to export up to 15 per cent of their power output when they are in surplus and import up to 15 per cent when they are in deficit. Van Rompuy said these interconnection links were a key part of developing the EU's energy market and would provide insurance against supply disruption. Van Rompuy cited both the Ukraine crisis and turmoil in the Middle East as good reason for the EU to act now to bolster its energy security.

BUILDS ON 2020 TARGETS

The climate deal builds on the EU's targets for 2020 of a 20 per cent cut in greenhouse gases, blamed for global warming, a 20 per cent boost in renewables such as solar and wind power and a 20 increase in energy efficiency. While the new 40 per cent target for greenhouse gases and 27 per cent for renewables agreed on Friday were as expected, a 30 per cent goal for an increase in energy efficiency set in July by the Commission was watered down to 27 per cent.

Environment group Greenpeace said the EU had "pulled the handbrake on clean energy". "These targets are too low, slowing down efforts to boost renewable energy and keeping Europe hooked on polluting and expensive fuel," it said. British-based humanitarian group Oxfam called for targets of 55 per cent in emissions cuts, 40 per cent for energy savings and 45 per cent for renewables.

The EU meanwhile named Christos Stylianides of Cyprus as the bloc's coordinator to fight the Ebola disease which has claimed nearly 4,900 lives in west Africa. Stylianides is the incoming EU commissioner for humanitarian aid. British Prime Minister David Cameron said that other EU nations "need to do more" than the nearly €600 million (US$750 million) they have currently pledged to fight the virus.

The leaders were set to discuss the Ukraine crisis although any progress is unlikely as an EU review on the ceasefire between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels is not due until next Tuesday. They will search for ways on Friday to foster economic growth and jobs amid fears of a triple-dip recession.