And more of this, please

EU sets binding targets on environment

Ms. Merkel (the German Chancellor) was leading negotiations on details of the package which includes a commitment to slash greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020. By the same date the EU wants to ensure 20 per cent of its power comes from renewable energy and 10 per cent of its cars and trucks run on biofuels made from plants.

European leaders hope their commitment to tackling climate change will encourage other leading polluters like the United States and China to agree on deep emissions cuts. Ms. Merkel plans to present those plans to a summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations that she will host in June.

"Europe only produces 15 per cent of global CO2," Ms. Merkel said late Thursday. "The real climate problem will not be solved by Europe alone."