The European Union has taken a step to help curb greenhouse gases from planes and ships as part of a global climate pact that will be hammered out in Copenhagen later this year.

European environment ministers meeting in Luxembourg today agreed on a proposal to cut global emissions from planes by ten percent and from ships by 20 percent over the next decade.

They will present the negotiating mandate at the United Nations talks in Copenhagen from 7-18 December. The Copenhagen summit is aimed at agreeing a successor pact for the UN's existing Kyoto Protocol, which does not cover emissions from international shipping and aviation.

The ministers agreed a long-term goal of cutting EU emissions by 80-90 percent. Aviation and shipping make up about five percent of global emissions. Sweden, which currently hold's the EU's rotating presidency, is responsible for compiling the pact on climate change.