EU’s bold climate moves encouraging to developing countries, says UN

THE UN’s top climate change official says the EU has sent a “very encouraging” signal to developing countries by committing itself to bold measures against global warming.

EU leaders last week agreed that the bloc’s greenhouse gas emissions would be cut by at least 20% from 1990 levels over the next 13 years — and said they could fall by 30% if other countries join. They pledged that one-fifth of the 27-nation bloc’s energy would come from renewable sources by 2020.

“I would expect that this very bold move forward [and] will be seen as very encouraging by developing countries — countries that are essential to engage in the next round of international negotiations,” said Yvo de Boer yesterday.