Two-thirds of Europeans want EU to do more on environment

Brussels, Aug 25 (IANS) Two-thirds of Europeans want the European Union to do more on environment protection, a survey has showed.

According to the Eurobarometre survey commissioned by the European Parliament, 67 per cent expressed support for more EU action on environment, compared to 59 per cent in Britain and 62 per cent in Ireland, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We share the concerns of our citizens and are very committed to work on new policies and proposals to fight climate change and safeguard the environment," Giovanni La Via, chair of the environment committee in the European Parliament, said.

He said the EU had a crucial impact on the agreement concluded at the COP21 summit in Paris last year and was developing all the policies to effectively turn it into action.

The EU institutions are currently implementing the Paris agreement, including a reform of the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme; a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2030; and legislation promoting renewable energy.

The survey was conducted among 27,969 persons from all over the EU earlier this year.