The European Union has agreed to cut its carbon emissions by 90 percent by the year 2040 — a move that supporters call ambitious but critics say weakens earlier climate goals. After an overnight debate, EU climate ministers reached a compromise ahead of next year’s U.N. climate conference in Brazil. The deal allows countries to buy carbon credits from abroad and delay a new carbon trading system for transport and heating — concessions pushed by Poland and other Eastern European nations. Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland voted against the plan. Environmental groups have condemned the agreement, accusing the EU of “offshore carbon laundering” that shifts responsibility to poorer countries. Still, European leaders, including Sweden and Spain, say the deal sends a strong message of climate leadership. The EU climate chief has defended the compromise, saying Europe must balance green goals with economic independence and competitiveness. The agreement must now be approved by the European Parliament before it becomes law.
