The European Union announced on Wednesday a provisional agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the 27-member bloc by 55% by 2030, according to Reuters.
The 2030 target is part of a larger goal of getting the EU to be carbon-neutral by 2050 and put the EU on a pathway which, if adopted globally would limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels and avoid the worst impacts of warming.
„The agreement puts the EU on a green path for a generation. (…) It is our binding pledge to our children and grandchildren,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
„This is a landmark moment for the EU. We have reached an ambitious agreement to write our climate neutrality target into binding legislation, as a guide to our policies for the next 30 years,” said Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans.
Wednesday’s agreement comes ahead of the start of a two-day virtual summit hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden for world leaders to discuss ways to combat climate change.