EU Nations Agree to Reduce Emissions by One-Fifth

On Wednesday, January 23, the European Commission announced the details of its long-term plan to combat climate-change. The proposal outlines the steps that each of the 27 European Union members will have to take to achieve the ambitious goals determined by EU leaders last year.

EU nations have committed to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by at least one-fifth and more than doubling the amount of energy produced from renewable sources by the year 2020.

Meeting these targets will come with a hefty price tag: officials estimate that the total cost may reach $87.7 billion by 2020 – about 0.5% of Europe’s annual GDP. European leaders will meet to discuss strategies for achieving these goals at the EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) to be held January 28-February 1, 2008 in Brussels and other cities throughout Europe. To read more about how the EU is working to combat climate-change and the challenges it faces, click here.