“We are very pleased with the preliminary agreement we have reached.
The European Climate Act nails the framework for EU climate legislation 30 years ahead, "said Portuguese Climate and Environment Minister Joao Pedro Matos Fernandes in a statement.
The agreement on the Climate Act also means that an independent climate policy council will be established, which will monitor developments and examine how the EU lives up to the goals that are set.
It is part of the outcome of the negotiations between the Council of Ministers, which represent the 27 Member States and the European Parliament.
Negotiator, rapporteur, for the parliament has been the Swedish S-member Jytte Guteland.
“Finally we can breathe a sigh of relief, now we have a climate team.
I feel proud and optimistic ", says Guteland in a press release.
According to her, the agreement entails net emission reductions of "around 57 percent".
Parliament's initial bid in the negotiations was 60% by 2030.
“I would have liked to have seen us go even further and all the way to 60 percent gross.
But this is a good agreement based on science that will make a big difference to the climate, "says Guteland.