The European Union welcomed China and the United States’ commitments to cut back on carbon emissions though these may be less than what has been expected of the two most important dealmakers.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said in a joint statement released on Thursday that China and the United States have the power to push for a climate deal as essential players in the negotiations.

The E.U. leaders said the United States’ target for 2020 “will be disappointing to some” but its proposal for emission reduction for 2025 and 2030 are strong.

The White House said on Wednesday the country will pledge greenhouse gas emissions cut of 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, lower than the 20 percent benchmark on 1990 levels urged by the United Nations.

The United States will also propose emissions cuts of 18 percent by 2025 and 32 percent by 2030 based on 1990 levels.

“We also need to continue to discuss with the United States financial support to developing countries' efforts, notably fast start funding from early implementation,” the E.U. leaders said.

Meanwhile, China on Thursday promised to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide generated for each yuan of gross domestic product by 40 percent to 45 percent by 2020.

E.U. also commended China’s commitment, the other big developing country to make a concrete offer after Brazil and Indonesia, but added that “the proposed targets will be disappointing to some.”

Despite lower than expected targets, the E.U. considers China and the United States’ targets as an initial step toward further reductions in the future.

“We will continue to urge the United States, China and all our other partners in this negotiation to go to the outer limits of what is possible in order to find agreement in Copenhagen,” Mr. Reinfeldt and Mr. Barroso said.

They stressed that the global target remains to prevent global warming from rising to dangerous levels of more than 2°C above pre-industrial temperature.

“The world is now waiting expectantly for an ambitious and comprehensive agreement to emerge. All sides must do everything they can towards that objective,” they urged.

-   Alula Love M. Dela Cruz