After an outcry over attempt to rule it out, European commission appears to soften stance on whether it will strengthen its 40 per cent carbon cut. Europe's chief climate negotiator has said he is open to increasing the EU's carbon target for 2030, in a back down by the European commission. Recently, the commission ruled out any increase in the bloc's target of cutting emissions by 40 per cent by 2030 on 1990 levels, sparking an outcry from several countries and green groups.

Meanwhile, ministers and environmentalists said that Europe should be increasing its ambition in light of the Paris climate deal agreed in December, where nearly 200 countries pledged to pursue efforts to keep temperature rises to 1.5C. That was a much tougher goal than the existing 2C goal which Europe's 40 per cent cut is based on.

The EU director of climate strategy, Artur Runge-Metzger, responded to the criticism that the question of the level of ambition for 2030 is open, as long as it is a binding EU target of at least 40 per cent domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990.