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| EU leaders reach new climate deal | EU leaders reach new climate deal |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| European Union leaders have reached a deal on a package of measures to fight global warming, diplomats say. | European Union leaders have reached a deal on a package of measures to fight global warming, diplomats say. |
| The plan, agreed at a Brussels summit, sets out how 27 member-countries will cut carbon emissions by 20% by 2020. | |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the summit chairman, said something "quite historic" had happened in Brussels. | |
| Earlier, environmental groups had reacted angrily to some of the EU draft proposals on emissions trading, calling them an "embarrassment." | |
| 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. |
| The impact of the financial crisis is undermining the EU's long-term goal to build a new, low carbon economy. | The impact of the financial crisis is undermining the EU's long-term goal to build a new, low carbon economy. |
| BBC environmental analyst Roger Harrabin says the repercussions will make it much harder for the EU to achieve the 30% emissions cut it has promised if the rest of the world agrees to the new UN climate deal next year. | BBC environmental analyst Roger Harrabin says the repercussions will make it much harder for the EU to achieve the 30% emissions cut it has promised if the rest of the world agrees to the new UN climate deal next year. |
| EU leaders also agreed an economic recovery package, and concessions to enable the Irish Republic to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. | EU leaders also agreed an economic recovery package, and concessions to enable the Irish Republic to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. |
| 'Embarrassment' | 'Embarrassment' |
| 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 202020% increase in use of renewable energy by 202020% cut in energy consumption through improved energy efficiency by 2020 EU climate package explainedCalifornia adopts emissions planBrown hails EU recovery package | |
| The measures, which also require approval by the European Parliament to become law, would commit the EU to cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20% by 2020, compared to 1990 levels, and to raising renewable sources to 20% of total energy use. | The measures, which also require approval by the European Parliament to become law, would commit the EU to cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20% by 2020, compared to 1990 levels, and to raising renewable sources to 20% of total energy use. |
| 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. | |
| Mr Kerry, who is representing President-elect Barack Obama, said the aim of agreeing a deal by next year had to remain on track. | Mr Kerry, who is representing President-elect Barack Obama, said the aim of agreeing a deal by next year had to remain on track. |
| Environmental groups at the Poznan conference have reacted angrily to what they see as unacceptable watering down in draft final EU texts. | Environmental groups at the Poznan conference have reacted angrily to what they see as unacceptable watering down in draft final EU texts. |
| "The deal would allow EU countries to buy so many credits outside Europe that they would only have to reduce their own emissions by about 4% by 2020 (from current levels)," said Stephan Singer from the European policy office of environmental group WWF. | "The deal would allow EU countries to buy so many credits outside Europe that they would only have to reduce their own emissions by about 4% by 2020 (from current levels)," said Stephan Singer from the European policy office of environmental group WWF. |
| "That is close to nothing, an embarrassment," he said. | "That is close to nothing, an embarrassment," he said. |