European Union member states yesterday pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by the year 2020.

The decision was taken within the EU’s Environment Council, which also agreed to raise that percentage to 30 if non-EU nations joined in.

During the council meeting, Environment Minister George Pullicino said: “It is important to remain ambitious and keep setting targets so we can pass the message on to the international community.”

Mr Pullicino said the threat of climate change was not only limited to developing nations, but to all countries, including Malta. He said that while Malta agreed that the EU should take the lead in cutting emissions, the Union should not ignore the fact that more needed to be done on a global level.

He said that lack of global action to cut greenhouse gases could mean that Europe would be on the back foot and could dent the competitiveness of European air carriers.

In fact, Malta proposed that legislation be introduced to affect both EU internal flights as well as international flights leaving and entering the Union. Mr Pullicino said that while seaborne transport made up part of the network to and from Malta, aviation was the lifeblood of the country as it provided for imports and exports, as well as the transport of some 95 per cent of its tourist volume. He appealed for more effort to be made to safeguard Malta’s interests as an island nation.