The European Commission says the EU-15 (the countries that were members of European Union at the time of the signing of the Kyoto Treaty) are on track to achieve the eight percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions agreed in the treaty.

Under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol, the EU-15 pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels. The target date for curbing CO2 emissions was set as between 2008 and 2012. The EC predicted that the new EU countries will meet their six percent reduction targets as well. Ten of the 12 new EU member states had made individual commitments to reducing emissions but neither Malta nor Cyprus have set targets.
 

The European Environment Agency (EEA) says the predictions are based on projections by member states and do factor in the recent economic downturn. The environmental agency added that the reductions will be partially achieved through the purchase of emissions credits through the carbon trading scheme and claiming forests as carbon sinks.
 

The European Union wants to reduce CO2 emissions by 20 percent by 2020. The EU will push hard for an agreement at the Copenhagen summit in December and will call for a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across the globe.