Tough judgment on Copenhagen: Europe stands pat on emissions pledge

Reuters is reporting that the European Union will stick with plans to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 relative to 1990 levels, rather than pledging a steeper cut that was contingent on strong action by other nations.

The 27-nation EU, well before the December Copenhagen climate summit, had pledged to boost its target to 30 percent if other developed nations took comparable actions. But the Reuters account says a draft EU letter to the United Nations sticks with the 20 percent target, although it keeps the 30 percent offer on the table.

The story notes that European industries were wary of the steeper target, citing a statement by a steel industry group that says adding another 10 percent would be “fatal” after the “Copenhagen failure.”

Nations are facing a Jan. 31 deadline to submit emissions pledges to the UN under the nonbinding “Copenhagen Accord” reached at the summit.

The agreement fell far short of expectations, but President Obama negotiated at length with leaders from China, India and several other nations to prevent a complete collapse of the talks.