BRUSSELS (Reuters) -EU countries’ climate ministers approved on Wednesday a 2040 climate change target to cut emissions by 90%, but with flexibilities to weaken this aim.
In a public vote, ministers approved in a public vote the 90% target, which would let countries buy foreign carbon credits to cover up to 5% of the 90% emissions-cutting goal, said Danish climate minister Lars Aagaard, who chaired the talks.
That would effectively weaken to 85% the emissions cuts required from European industries.
The EU also agreed to consider the option, in future, to use international carbon credits to meet a further 5% of the 2040 emissions reductions, Aagaard said – potentially shaving another 5% off their domestic target.
(Reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten)
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