European Union governments reached agreement yesterday on a common approach for international talks next month on the Kyoto climate change treaty. Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands had sought to water down the European stance, but they relented and agreed that at least 50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions reductions would come from domestic action. The remaining reductions could be achieved through pollution credit trading and helping developing countries reduce pollution. Under the Kyoto treaty, Europe must cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 8 percent from 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012.
