Lib Dem pressure succeeds as European countries push for tougher action on global warming

Britain, France and Germany have joined forces this week to call for a major toughening of the EU’s target for greenhouse gasses. They have called for the current target of a 20% cut by 2020 to be increased to 30%.

In a statement they also played up the potential economic benefits of the move, “If we stick to a 20 per cent cut, Europe is likely to lose the race to compete in a low-carbon world to countries such as China, Japan or the US, all of which are looking to create a more attractive environment for low-carbon investment.”

As the Financial Times puts it, “the UK’s Liberal Democrat party scored a coup when the ruling coalition of which they are a part backed the change.”