The European Union today reconfirmed its commitment to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent of 1990 level, with a conditional offer to increase the cut to 30 percent if other major emitters sign up to big targets.

Australia reconfirmed its own low target, of 5 percent, earlier this week. It also kept a conditional potential increase, to 15 or 26 percent, if other large emitters up the ante.

Countries that signed up to the Copenhagen Accord have until January 31 to announce their targets.