The EU stressed the plan, which calls for a target on reducing emissions of 20% by 2020 compared with 1990 levels, must be affordable for governments and industry at a time of economic downturn and market turmoil.
But the package is not ambitious enough to prevent the worst effects of climate change, green groups said. Friends of the Earth Europe called for the EU to up its target to at least 30% by 2020.
"The EU must prove that it is willing to do its fair share to tackle climate change before crucial negotiations take place in Copenhagen next year," said Sonja Meister, climate and energy campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe.
See full story