EU Commits to 20:20 Vision

Environment Ministers have committed to achieve "at least a 20% reduction" in EU greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, but failed to agree on how to share the burden between the 27-nation bloc.The Environment Council has backed calls for developed countries to "take the lead" in tackling global warming, stating on 20 February 2007 that EU member states are "willing to commit to a reduction of 30%" in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. However, the 30% cut would only take effect "provided that other developed countries commit themselves to comparable emission reductions" in the context of international negotiations for the period after 2012, when the Kyoto targets expire.