A new EU target of a 55% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 has been described as a “farce” by environmental groups after it was agreed in Brussels on the eve of Joe Biden’s climate summit for world leaders.

After 14 hours of intensive negotiations, representatives of the EU’s member states and parliament emerged on Wednesday morning to announce a deal in principle on cuts and the establishment of a new independent body of scientists to monitor the policy.

The development, said by the European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, to “put the EU on a green path for a generation”, envisages a reduction of at least 55% in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared with 1990 levels, and zero net emissions by 2050. The 2030 reduction target had previously been set at 40%.

It has also been agreed that the EU will invest further in “carbon sinks” such as forests, grasslands and wetlands. MEPs involved in the talks claimed this would in effect equate to a 57% net reduction target for member states.

However, environmental groups were quick out of the blocks in criticising the deal. The agreement fails to tie up all member states to zero emissions by 2050 as a consequence of Poland opting out of a provisional leaders’ agreement on the target last December. Poland relies on coal for 80% of the country’s electricity.

MEPs, who had sought a 60% cut by 2030, also failed to significantly raise the ambitions of the EU’s capitals despite the claims on Wednesday that the bloc was showing global leadership on the climate emergency.

Guest post from The Guardian