EU reduced 40% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030

On January 22, the European Commission (EC) proposed a plan to increase greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 emissions, and to increase utilization rates. renewable energy by 27% by 2030.

This is a mandatory target for the whole EU but is not binding on the governments of each member state.

Previously, the EU committed only 20% reduction in emissions compared to 1990 and raised the rate of renewable energy utilization to 20% by 2020.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) welcomed the EU plan, confirming it was a "positive signal" for achieving a new global climate agreement at the Conference. party to UNFCCC, expected to take place in Paris (France) in December 2015.

European Commission officials at the press conference announced plans to respond to climate change by 2030. (Photo: AFP / VNA)

Under the plan, if signed, this agreement will officially take effect from 2020 with the goal of maintaining the temperature of the Earth does not exceed 2 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial period.

The Washington-based World Resources Research Institute (WRI) also said the EU's plan is " moving in the right direction" even though the goal of cutting emissions by 40% by 2030 is only the lowest level according to Recommended by scientists.

However, developing countries and the countries most affected by climate change still want the EU to show even greater ambitions to cut.

Declaration of the Union of Small Island States (AOSIS) - a group of nations most affected by sea level rise due to global warming - states: "If this is the starting point for improvisation In response to climate change, we certainly have a lot of work to do to ensure that by 2015 the world will reach a common agreement to face current (climate) challenges. "

Green Peace (Green Peace) also said that the EU proposal is not commensurate because renewable energy can account for nearly half of energy consumption in Europe by 2030.

Other non-governmental organizations also called on the EU to raise its commitment target at the conference in March, while the US-based Association of Environmental Scientists warned the EU's low-level commitment target. threatening to negatively impact the results of the 21st UNFCCC Conference in December 2015.

According to official statistics, by the end of 2012, the EU has cut 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. The rate of renewable energy utilization has also reached 12.4% since 2010.