Last week a European Parliament committee approved an EU Roadmap to a low-carbon economy, which seeks to go beyond current carbon dioxide reduction targets.

The “ Roadmap for Moving to a Competitive Low Carbon Economy in 2050”aims to boost renewable energy sources from providing 20 percent ofEurope's electricity, as called for in current targets for 2020,to between 55-75% by 2050, thus cutting greenhouse gas emissions by upto 95 percent less than 1990 levels.

The Roadmap sets CO₂ reduction "milestones" of at least40 percent by 2030 and at least 80 percent by 2050 – the minimum thatscientists say is necessary to avoid global warming of more than2°C.

The Committeeon the Environment vote was relatively close, with 32 votes infavour, 24 against and five abstentions. A plenary vote on the measureis set for the Parliament's session on 12-15 March.

The vote came as the Danish EU presidency is preparing to ask all 27environmental ministers to endorse the long-term CO₂reduction goals of the 2050 Roadmap.

For further information:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/