EU lays out agenda for Copenhagen

BRUSSELS, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- World leaders must make bold decisions to address climate change at a summit in Denmark before it is too late, the president of the European Commission said.

Copenhagen, Denmark, plays host to a climate-change conference set to kick off Monday with the aim of finding a comprehensive agreement to replace the expiring Kyoto Protocol.

The European Union said it would push for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, a framework for action on adaptation to climate change and a "fast start" package to help developing nations address climate-change challenges.

"In Copenhagen world leaders must take the bold decisions needed to stop climate change from reaching the dangerous and potentially catastrophic levels projected by the scientific community," said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

The EU earlier this year agreed to a plan to cut its emissions by 20 percent by 2020.

"We will be ready to scale up our emission reduction to 30 percent provided our partners in both the developed and the developing world take on their fair share of the global effort," added Barroso.

Barroso and Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said they would take part in the conference along with 90 other world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama.