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EU ministers agree on aims for Copenhagen climate summit

News item | 28-10-2009

The EU environment ministers have reached agreement on their aims for the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009. The EU will insist on an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 compared to 1990.

The ministers reached agreement during consultations in preparation for the Copenhagen climate summit.

Dutch environment minister Jacqueline Cramer is pleased with the result. 'Luckily we've made the tough decisions,' she said.

Results of climate consultations

In Copenhagen, the EU will insist on an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 compared to 1990. It has also reaffirmed its goal of a 30% reduction by 2020.

The EU environment ministers have agreed as well on a 10% reduction in aviation emissions by 2020 compared to 2005. The target reduction for shipping is 20%.

The EU will also push in Copenhagen for regulating the use of land and forests so that they make a sustainable contribution to reducing CO2 emissions.

Financial clauses

The EU environment ministers failed to reach agreement on the financial clauses.

'We still need to make a big effort to agree on the financial clauses, but our environmental goals are rock solid,' said Ms Cramer.