Brussels - The European Union launched Wednesday a series of laws aimed at fighting climate change without hurting economic growth in what supporters called a historic legislative proposal. "This is a historic decision, a great moment for Europe and for the fight against climate change," the head of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, told journalists.
The proposed laws are sometimes called the "20-20-20" package. They set out how the EU should cut its emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the gas most linked with global warming, to 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, and boost its use of renewable power to 20 per cent of total consumption by the same date.
Despite the symmetry of the 20-20-20 proposal, environmental groups quickly complained that it did not go far enough.
The head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rajendra Pachauri, said that the proposals were "not up to expectation," while conservation group WWF said a higher target was essential to keep global warming under control.
The proposals are designed to share the burden of fighting climate change fairly among member states, with the richest making the largest effort.
For example, Europe's biggest atmospheric polluter, Germany, was told it would have to cut its CO2 emissions from sources not covered by the EU's emissions-trading scheme, such as transport, by 14 per cent, and lift its use of renewable energy from 5.8 to 18 per cent.
The EU's poorest and newest members, Bulgaria and Romania, were allowed to increase their non-traded emissions by 20 and 19 per cent respectively, and to boost their use of renewables by 6.6 points and 6.2 points respectively.
"We have paid particular attention to fairness. We have therefore designed the proposals to ensure that the call on the poorer member states is realistic - all will contribute, but in line with their capacity to invest," Barroso said.
That approach was welcomed in many member states, with Britain, Germany and the Czech Republic among those who expressed their support.
In Austria, however, campaigners complained that the new targets would mean Austria would be polluting more than in 1990.
And Ireland - which in 30 years has changed from being one of the EU's poorest and most heavily-subsidized states to one of its richest - also gave the package a cool response, with Prime Minister Bertie Ahern saying that it "raises very serious economic and social issues for Ireland, and requires very careful consideration."
Officials say that the package will boost the EU's economic performance and innovation, and cost as little as 0.5 per cent of European GDP per year.
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