EU leaders pushed a decision on how deeply to cut emissions by 2030 to their next summit in December, according to Council conclusions released Thursday.
They “discussed” the European Commission’s proposal to boost the current target of a 40 percent emissions cut compares to 1990 levels to 55 percent, but there was no final agreement.
Momentum is building among EU members — a dozen have said they back the higher target — but there is still some resistance from coal-dependent countries such as Poland, which fear the costs of rapidly decarbonizing their economies.
In a nod to those countries, the conclusions said: “All Member States will participate in this effort, taking into account national circumstances and considerations of fairness and solidarity.”
Despite differences over how deeply to cut by 2030, there is agreement that the current target has to be changed.
“To meet the objective of a climate-neutral EU in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, the EU needs to increase its ambition for the coming decade and update its climate and energy policy framework,” the conclusions said.
EU ministers are due to meet to continue negotiating over the target. The leaders also called on the Commission “to conduct in-depth consultations with Member States to assess the specific situations and to provide more information about the impact at Member States’ level.”
Once the countries agree on a position, talks will have to start with the Parliament, which wants an even more ambitious 60 percent emissions cut.