DW-World.de
Deutsche Welle

The European Parliament has approved a deal on cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the 27-member bloc. The endorsement marks the final step in a year of debate which saw intense lobbying from the industry and environmental groups. The climate package, which Europe hopes will serve as a model to other nations, will oblige EU nations to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels. The package also envisages 20 percent energy savings and increasing the use of renewable energy sources up to 20 percent of the total. Lawmakers in Strasbourg also agreed measures to cut CO2 emissions from new cars by 18 percent by 2015. Environmental groups have complained that the climate package was so watered-down that it would no longer deliver on the promised climate change targets.