European leaders have begun a two-day summit meeting in Brussels with climate change, energy supply and the financial markets topping the agenda.
They will also hear a report on the security implications of climate change.
This time last year, EU leaders agreed to an ambitious target of cutting greenhouse gases. Now they have to start doing something to achieve those targets.
The European Commission brought out plans for each country in January, and today EU government leaders will call for a final deal to be made legally binding by early next year at the latest.
To underline the need for action the heads of government will hear a report from Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana on the security risks of unchecked climate change.
These include immigration from Africa, more wars in the Middle East over water resources, and loss of territory and economic damage from rising sea levels.
Energy supply tensions are also highlighted in Mr Solana's report, and leaders will discuss Europe's own energy supplies, especially from Russia and the Middle East.
