A sweeping Europe-wide energy strategy was criticised by environmentalists today as not enough to counter climate change or improve long-term energy supply security.
A European Commission report warned that present levels of energy consumption were "unsustainable" and said increasing reliance on imports of gas and electricity "carries political and economic risks".
The answer, says the commission in a blueprint for Europe's first common energy policy, is a 20 per cent cut in EU greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared with 1990 levels.
EU governments are also being asked to agree a separate goal of meeting 20 per cent of energy demands from renewable sources by 2020, using nuclear power to help reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Another Brussels goal is to limit the rising global temperature to 2 degrees centigrade above 1990 levels.
Greenpeace EU climate and energy policy director Mahi Sideridou, commented: "If the commission recommends a meagre 20 per cent greenhouse gas emissions target for Europe for 2020, it will stand accused of a scientific and political blunder.
"Such a target would indicate that the European Union should not take the steps needed to prevent the most devastating impacts of climate change.
"The commission would truly be guilty of fiddling while the planet burns."
The commission hopes EU leaders will approve its plans at a summit in March.
PA