The measures were voted in as part of a larger package on European Climate Law which aims to ensure that the continent achieves carbon neutrality by 2050.

Estimates suggest the vote was close, 352 votes to 326, with 18 abstentions. While centrists and left wingers on the continent praised the ruling, the right was less impressed and concerned that the target would cost too much for European industries to meet.

“We did it! 60% did win!” Swedish MEP Jytte Guteland from the Socialists and Democrats group said on Twitter.

As the lead lawmaker on the issue, she said Parliament had taken “a big step closer” to fulfilling the goals of the Paris climate accord.

On the other hand, Peter Liese, a German lawmaker from the centre-right European People’s Party, said: “I regret that the majority in the European Parliament did not support the European Commission’s Climate Law proposal but voted for the overambitious 60 per cent.

“We will abstain because we sincerely dislike the 60 per cent and think it really endangers jobs.”

Experts say a 55 per cent cut by 2030 is the minimum effort needed to steer the EU towards becoming climate neutral by 2050, putting EU emissions firmly on a pathway that, if adopted globally, would cap global warming at safe levels.

A study in August also found that such a policy was definitely realistic given the technological and economic factors that need to be taken into account.

Some of the recommendations in the study on how to achieve the target include a tightening of emission standards for motor vehicles; a new market for national emission allowances in the transport, building and agriculture sectors, and the establishment of a separate Europe-wide emissions trading scheme for these sectors.

Roughly half of the EU’s 27 member countries have said they support an emissions cut of “at least 55 per cent” by 2030.

Even this target will have huge implications for all sectors, with higher carbon costs for many businesses and a sharp drop in coal use. The Czech Republic has said it opposes the 55 per cent goal, while coal-heavy Poland wants to see more detailed economic analysis before approving any new target.

The measures were voted in as part of a larger package on European Climate Law which aims to ensure that the continent achieves carbon neutrality by 2050.

Estimates suggest the vote was close, 352 votes to 326, with 18 abstentions. While centrists and left wingers on the continent praised the ruling, the right was less impressed and concerned that the target would cost too much for European industries to meet.

“We did it! 60% did win!” Swedish MEP Jytte Guteland from the Socialists and Democrats group said on Twitter.

As the lead lawmaker on the issue, she said Parliament had taken “a big step closer” to fulfilling the goals of the Paris climate accord.

On the other hand, Peter Liese, a German lawmaker from the centre-right European People’s Party, said: “I regret that the majority in the European Parliament did not support the European Commission’s Climate Law proposal but voted for the overambitious 60 per cent.

“We will abstain because we sincerely dislike the 60 per cent and think it really endangers jobs.”

Experts say a 55 per cent cut by 2030 is the minimum effort needed to steer the EU towards becoming climate neutral by 2050, putting EU emissions firmly on a pathway that, if adopted globally, would cap global warming at safe levels.

A study in August also found that such a policy was definitely realistic given the technological and economic factors that need to be taken into account.

Some of the recommendations in the study on how to achieve the target include a tightening of emission standards for motor vehicles; a new market for national emission allowances in the transport, building and agriculture sectors, and the establishment of a separate Europe-wide emissions trading scheme for these sectors.

Roughly half of the EU’s 27 member countries have said they support an emissions cut of “at least 55 per cent” by 2030.

Even this target will have huge implications for all sectors, with higher carbon costs for many businesses and a sharp drop in coal use. The Czech Republic has said it opposes the 55 per cent goal, while coal-heavy Poland wants to see more detailed economic analysis before approving any new target.