EU meeting 2020 target for reducing greenhouse emissions: report

The European Union (EU) is on track towards meeting and overachieving its 2020 target for reducing greenhouse emissions by 20 percent, according to a report published recently by the European Environment Agency (EEA) ahead of Paris climate talks.

The "Trends and projections in Europe 2015" report revealed that greenhouse gas emissions in Europe decreased by 23 percent between 1990 and 2014, reaching the lowest levels on record.

Moreover, latest projections by member states show that the EU is heading for a 24 percent reduction by 2020 with current measures in place, and a 25 percent reduction with additional measures already being planned in member states.

The EU is already working towards its 2030 goal of an emissions reduction target of at least 40 percent - the EU's contribution towards the new global climate change agreement in Paris in December, said the press release.

"Europe's efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy have resulted in concrete gains. Our report shows that the EU is on track towards its 2020 climate targets. The report also shows that to achieve our longer-term goals for 2030 and 2050, a fundamental change is needed in the way we produce and use energy in Europe," Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director.

However, the EU is widely criticized for its emissions target, as experts and international societies believed that the EU is capable of setting more ambitious targets and doing more to tackle climate change. Endit