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EU leaders reach new climate deal EU leaders reach new climate deal
(about 2 hours later)
European Union leaders have reached a deal on a package of measures to fight global warming.European Union leaders have reached a deal on a package of measures to fight global warming.
The plan, agreed at a Brussels summit, sets out how 27 member-countries will cut carbon emissions by 20% by 2020, compared with 1990 levels.The plan, agreed at a Brussels summit, sets out how 27 member-countries will cut carbon emissions by 20% by 2020, compared with 1990 levels.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the summit chairman, said something "quite historic" had happened in Brussels.French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the summit chairman, said something "quite historic" had happened in Brussels.
But critics said concessions made to some nations and sectors would lessen the package's long-term impact.But critics said concessions made to some nations and sectors would lessen the package's long-term impact.
Scientists say carbon dioxide emissions need to be cut by 25-40% by 2020 for there to be a reasonable chance of avoiding dangerous climate change.Scientists say carbon dioxide emissions need to be cut by 25-40% by 2020 for there to be a reasonable chance of avoiding dangerous climate change.
In other developments:In other developments:
• EU leaders agreed an economic recovery package worth 200bn euros (£180bn) to ease the economic downturn• EU leaders agreed an economic recovery package worth 200bn euros (£180bn) to ease the economic downturn
• A deal was reached on concessions enabling the Irish Republic to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, which aims to streamline EU decision-making• A deal was reached on concessions enabling the Irish Republic to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, which aims to streamline EU decision-making
'Credibility test''Credibility test'
EU leaders have been discussing the so-called "20/20/20" package to tackle climate change and concessions to limit its impact on struggling industries.EU leaders have been discussing the so-called "20/20/20" package to tackle climate change and concessions to limit its impact on struggling industries.
EU 20/20/20 TARGETS 20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, compared with 1990 levels20% increase in use of renewable energy by 202020% cut in energy consumption through improved energy efficiency by 2020 EU climate package explainedClimate deal struck at a priceBrown hails EU recovery packageIreland confirms EU vote planEU 20/20/20 TARGETS 20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, compared with 1990 levels20% increase in use of renewable energy by 202020% cut in energy consumption through improved energy efficiency by 2020 EU climate package explainedClimate deal struck at a priceBrown hails EU recovery packageIreland confirms EU vote plan
The measures, which also require approval by the European Parliament to become law, commit the EU to cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20% by 2020.The measures, which also require approval by the European Parliament to become law, commit the EU to cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20% by 2020.
It must also raise renewable sources to 20% of total energy use and achieve a 20% cut in energy use.It must also raise renewable sources to 20% of total energy use and achieve a 20% cut in energy use.
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called the plans "the most ambitious proposals anywhere in the world".EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called the plans "the most ambitious proposals anywhere in the world".
"Europe has today passed its credibility test. We mean business when we talk about climate," he said, appealing to US President-elect Barack Obama to follow Europe's lead."Europe has today passed its credibility test. We mean business when we talk about climate," he said, appealing to US President-elect Barack Obama to follow Europe's lead.
But critics said the package - which includes concessions to heavy industry and Eastern European countries worried that pollution cuts will harm their economic growth - did not go far enough.But critics said the package - which includes concessions to heavy industry and Eastern European countries worried that pollution cuts will harm their economic growth - did not go far enough.
"This is a flagship EU policy with no captain, a mutinous crew and several gaping holes in it," said Sanjeev Kumar of WWF."This is a flagship EU policy with no captain, a mutinous crew and several gaping holes in it," said Sanjeev Kumar of WWF.
'Act of leadership''Act of leadership'
At the same time, a UN climate conference has been taking place in Poznan, Poland, where former US presidential candidate John Kerry said the United States was set to lead the world towards a new climate deal. It represents an enormous act of leadership which will have an impact on Poznan John Kerry class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/7778452.stm">US 'willing to lead climate push' Delegates at a UN conference in the Polish city of Poznan have meanwhile been trying to find a way forward in their attempts to reach a global climate change deal by the end of next year in Copenhagen.
Mr Kerry, who is representing Mr Obama, described the EU deal as "an enormous act of leadership" that would have an impact on talks about a future global pact. Political systems in the developed world have become sclerotic - we have to overcome the paralysis that has taken over politics in these countries, rather than spending so much time on OJ Simpson and Paris Hilton and Anna Nicole Smith Al Gore class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/7780502.stm">Gore's tough message to leaders
If the rest of the world agrees to a new UN climate deal next year, the EU says it is prepared to go further, cutting emissions by 30%. Al Gore won the biggest applause of the gathering with a speech predicting a far more active US climate change policy under President-elect Barack Obama.
That EU leaders have agreed they can meet the promised 20% target is good, says the BBC's environment analyst, Roger Harrabin, because without it there would be no global deal. The former US vice-president also said he was optimistic that a climate change accord could be agreed despite the financial crisis.
But the concessions that the EU has made to industries because of the recession will make it very, very difficult to achieve the 30% figure that scientists say is really needed, our correspondent says. "To those who say it's too difficult to conclude a deal by Copenhagen, I say it can be done, it will be done, let's finish this process," he said.
One of the reasons Mr Gore gave for his optimism was that a number of developing countries have come forward with firm pledges on restraining the rise in greenhouse gas emissions, including China, Brazil and Mexico.
But he said the science mandated moving from a target of keeping atmospheric greenhouse gas levels below 450 parts per million (ppm) - a level that is regarded by many countries as a threshold above which climate impacts are likely to become severe - to 350ppm, which would be much harder to achieve.
Capacity for reducing emissions and for adapting to climate impacts needed to be improved in developing countries - but the "sclerotic" politics of today also had to change, he added.
UN officials at the conference said the EU's climate deal was a success and would contribute towards an agreement in Copenhagen, although environmental groups said they were dismayed about a number of concessions it offered to industry.