European ministers plan to cut overall carbon dioxide emissions 20 percent by 2020, adding that they were ready to go to 30 percent if other industrialized nations matched their efforts, The Globe and Mail reports. EU members still need to agree on what cuts each country must make in order for the EU to reach that goal. 

Germany, for one, said its parliament has already backed a 40 percent cut.

European countries will try to see if other nations will go further when the EU meets with the G-8 nations in June. They will also seek carbon dioxide cuts from the emerging economies of Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa.