display
Brussels (dpa) - The European Union will undertake at the United Nations to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent below the 1990 level by 2030.
This was decided by the EU environment ministers in Brussels.
The ministers also called for this value to be included in the EU climate law.
The law has yet to be negotiated with the European Parliament, which wants to push through a more ambitious goal.
Schulze said she was confident that an agreement could be reached.
Overall, the SPD politician was highly satisfied with the decisions.
The EU target is now irreversible and binding.
The Europeans showed that they take the Paris climate agreement seriously, which provides for the climate targets to be tightened every five years.
"For the next decade this means doubling our pace in climate protection," explained Schulze.
"All EU states must step up their efforts" - including Germany.
display
The EU heads of state and government agreed the new 55 percent target last week.
So far the target was minus 40 percent.
With the resolutions of the environment ministers, the political agreement is now legally tightened.
Even before the meeting, Schulze was delighted with the progress made in European climate policy.
In addition to the new climate target and the climate law, she praised the fact that the EU budget that has just been adopted for the next seven years has around 600 billion euros available for climate protection.
The Greens, on the other hand, expressed their dissatisfaction with the new 55 percent target.
MEP Michael Bloss said:
“After months of back and forth, there is now an agreement, but the climate has not yet been saved.
The goal is too low and has more tricks than substance.
At least the negotiations can really begin now.
I am looking forward."
The European Parliament had spoken out in favor of a 60 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030, the Greens even for 65 percent.
Parliament and the Council of Ministers must find a common position on the climate law.
The EU states alone are responsible for reporting to the UN.
display
The Paris Agreement aims to stop global warming below two degrees, if possible as low as 1.5 degrees.
However, the earth has already warmed up by around 1.2 degrees compared to pre-industrial times.
The past six years have been the warmest on record.
The fatal consequences are - depending on the region - more devastating storms, storms, floods as well as droughts and heat waves.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201217-99-735269 / 2