The new targets, which are binding, were calculated on the basis of gross domestic product, and range from 40% for Luxembourg and Sweden and zero for Bulgaria.

The targets set for Portugal are part of an EU effort to lower emissions by some 30%.

According to official figures, since 2005 the average reduction in all greenhouse gas emissions in Portugal, including those involving change of land use and forests, has been a negative 5.1%, with a reduction of 3.6% achieved between 2013 and 2014.

According the National Programme for Climate Change 2020/2030, Portugal has the aim of reducing overall emissions in the sectors covered by existing agreements by between 18% and 23% by 2020. It has already reduced its emissions in these sectors by 27%, in part thanks to the economic recession of the past few years.