Memo: Limiting Global Climate Change to 2 degrees Celsius

A key element of the Commission's new energy and climate change strategy sets out proposals for action by the EU and the rest of the international community to prevent global climate change from irrevocable consequences This means limiting global warming to no more than 2°C above the temperature in pre-industrial times. The Commission's central proposal is that, under a future global agreement, the group of developed countries should cut their emissions of CO2 and other 'greenhouse gases' responsible for warming the planet to an average of 30% below 1990 levels by 2020. The EU should take the lead by committing autonomously to reduce its own emissions by at least 20% by 2020 – a cut that should be increased to 30% as part of a satisfactory global agreement. In the longer term, greater emission reductions will be necessary and developing countries will also have to be part of the global effort: worldwide emissions will need to be cut by up to half of their 1990 levels by 2050.

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/07/17 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/17&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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