The report outlines the need to limit the global average temperature increase to not more than 2 degrees Centigrade above pre-industrial levels. The aim was set out in the report presented by Portugal, which holds the current EU presidency, to the preparation meeting for the UN climate change conference, which is to be held in Bali, Indonesia in December this year.

The secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN’s competition office on climate change, warned that the average rise of global temperature might be between 1.8 and 4 Centigrade degrees by 2100 if no effective measures are taken now. In its report, the EU also reiterates the goal to reduce global emissions to at least 50% below 1990 levels.

The EU said developed countries should continue to take the lead by committing to collectively reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases to the order of 30% by 2020 compared to 1990. “They should do so also with a view to collectively reducing their emissions by 60 to 80% by 2050 compared to 1990,” the report added. (peopledaily.com.cn)