The European Commission will propose cutting emissions in Europe by 55 percent by 2030 in response to the climate emergency, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.

"I recognise that this increase from 40 to 55 (percent) is too much for some, and not enough for others," Commission president Von der Leyen said, in her annual State of Union speech.

"For us, the 2030 target is ambitious, achievable, and beneficial for Europe" she added.

The more ambitious target is backed by EU powers France and Germany as well as big business, but will still face reluctance by eastern member states that depend on coal for their energy needs.

EU leaders will attempt to agree on the target at summit in October, which would then need the approval of European Parliament, where a majority of MEPs want a more ambitious target.

The target was a landmark proposal of von der Leyen's address to MEPs which came months after EU leaders agreed to her historic recovery plan to reboot Europe after the pandemic.

Von der Leyen said that 30 percent of spending from the 750-billion-euro ($890-billion) plan would be devoted to climate-friendly projects and financed through so-called green bonds.

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CEOs call for deep EU emission cuts by 2030
Paris (AFP) Sept 14, 2020
The heads of more than 150 global companies, including Apple and Google, have urged European leaders to set a higher target for reducing climate-heating emissions, says the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). A long list of CEOs from some of the world's largest brands and investors including Microsoft, Ikea, Deutsche Bank, Unilever and H&M signed the letter, said the CISL. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is due to unveil the 2030 greenhouse g ... read more