The European Council agreed on the 2030 climate and energy package, including a cut of at least 40 percent in greenhouse gas emissions, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said.

“This 2030 package is very good news for our fight against climate change. No player in the world is as ambitious as the European Union when it comes to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Indeed, the proof that it is ambitious is that we are now going from a goal of 20percent cut by 2020 compared to 1990 to 40 percent by 2030, so, doubling the effort. So, this is indeed a very ambitious, but also achievable target,” Barroso said.

The deal will also be good for Europe’s competitiveness “because it keeps us on the path towards a low carbon economy and green growth, with the necessary financial support and solidarity. The economic case for fighting climate change is clear. Failing to act is far more costly in the long run,” Barroso said.

According to him the agreement “is also vital for our energy security. By cutting our emissions, increasing renewables to at least 27 percent and saving energy, we reduce our dependency on imported fossil fuels from unstable or unreliable suppliers.”

“The agreement today keeps Europe firmly in the driving seat in the international climate talks ahead of the Paris Summit next year and the very close meeting in Lima. We have set the example and others should follow.

Europe accounts for only 11percent of global emissions, so we need all others to step up to the plate,” Barroso said.

The climate deal “is going to set the standards very high and I hope it will drive others in the right direction, because we need, namely the big economies, also to join the European Union in these ambitious commitments,” he added.

Commenting on the agreement, the commissioner Connie Hedegaard said: ”The EU climate action Commissioner is very proud that the 28 EU leaders, despite economic uncertainty and other severe international crises, were able to get their act together on this pressing climate challenge.”

“A binding 40 percent CO2 reduction effort domestically in Europe is not an easy task. It can only be achieved through a major transformation in all parts of the society. That is why the EU leaders’ decision to adopt the Commission’s proposal is an ambitious and important step forward. Important not only to Europe and the Europeans, but also to the rest of the world. We have sent a strong signal to other big economies and all other countries: we have done our homework, now we urge you to follow Europe’s example,” Hedegaard said.

Barroso’s remarks: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-719_en.htm?locale=en