The European Commission is to propose allowing the poorest new central European member states to increase greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% by 2020 over 2005 levels, under a major energy and climate change plan to be unveiled next week.
According to commission sources the 15 old member states would bear the brunt of cuts required to meet the 27-nation EU goal of an overall reduction of 20% by 2020 from 1990 levels, with national targets set according to GDP per capita.
Under the proposals, which could still be changed before the 23 January announcement, the richest old member states will have to cut emissions of carbon dioxide, the main gas blamed for global warming, by up to 20% from 2005 levels.
