More than 350 cities across the European Union (EU) on Tuesday signed up to commitments to go beyond the EU's objective of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent by 2020 over the 1990 levels.

The cities signed the Covenant of Mayors, an initiative spearheaded by the European Commission, the executive body of the EU.

"Most of the energy produced in Europe is consumed in urban areas. The battle against climate change will have to be fought and won in the cities," EU Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, said.

The commitment covers urban areas across 23 EU countries and includes cities like Paris, London and Madrid.

More than 100 mayors across the EU attended the launching ceremony, which was chaired by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2009)