Having reduced CO2 emissions by 17% as compared to 1990 levels, the European Union is well on its way to reaching its legally binding, 20% by 2020 CO2 emissions reduction target, a new report said. Being so close nearly a decade ahead of schedule raises the possibility of the EU raising the 2020 emissions reduction bar to 30%, a topic that’s likely to once again become a high-profile topic of discussion and debate among EU parliamentary representatives. Related stories: Tough economy curbs clean energy investment EU study: Clean energy cost effective The projected cost of accomplishing the feat would be considerably less than originally thought, according to the contents of a draft European Commission (EC) analysis and document reported by Reuters. In addition, reaching the 30% CO2 reduction target could have beneficial effects on the finances of weaker and still developing EU member countries, depending on the amounts and allocation of EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) credits, the EC analysis contends. More needs to be done (Illustration) The EC had estimated the additional cost of reaching 30% emissions reduction from base year 1990 to be $42 billion. The deep 2008-2009 recession effectively guarantees that the EU will reach the 20% by 2020 emissions reduction target. Yet while the recession and persisting EU bank and government debt problems have made doing so easier, they’ve also limited the ability of EU governments, industry and business to invest in the projects necessary to achieve it. Reaching the 30% emissions reduction target would require economic sectors not currently included in the EU ETS, such as ground transport and buildings, to reduce their emissions 6.5%. Another issue of contention is economic cost, particularly for economically weaker and still developing Eastern European EU member countries. EC analysts recommend reducing the number of Emission Trading Scheme allowances can auction to their industrial sectors by 38%, which would reduce supply by 341 million allowances in 2020, while leaving the amounts weaker and Eastern European member countries could auction unchanged. Taking this course would result in the auction amounts raised by the weaker EU members increase by as much as 80% by 2020. As it is, the EU is on course to reduce CO2 emissions 25% by 2020, and some EU members, including the UK and Denmark, believe it’s in the EU’s economic and overall best interests to do so unilaterally, the Reuters report notes. The EU delegation to 2011′s UN climate treaty talks in Durban offered to raise its emissions reduction target to 30% by 2020 of other countries agreed to increase their own targets and efforts. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter