Germany's Environment Minister says his European Union (EU) counterparts have backed an ambitious, legally-binding target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
Sigmar Gabriel says the 27 ministers have given in-principle support to a proposed unilateral cut in EU emissions of 20 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020.
Mr Gabriel says the ministers will back a goal of cutting emissions by 30 per cent if other industrialised countries join in.
He says the goals would be based on 1990 as a reference year when calculating the cuts, but the EU will look in its internal discussions at using other base years for some new east European member states' emissions reductions.
Some states, particularly in eastern Europe, want to use a base year that would make their required emissions cuts less severe.
EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas says he is confident a formula can be found to address concerns.
Mr Gabriel says a burden-sharing agreement will be reached in which some states have to cut emissions more than others.
- Reuters
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