EU could profit from slashing emissions further: MEPs

The EU would be acting in its own economic interest if it raised its 2020 CO2 emissions reduction target from 20% to 30%, agreed the European Parliament's Environment Committee this week.

The Committee on Tuesday approved a report, with 35 votes in favour, 20 against and one abstention, which argues that the EU should not only raise its emissions target to 30%, but should also aim to restrict global warming to a 1.5°C temperature rise - and not the 2°C increase which is the limit of current ambitions.