The European Commission has increased a proposed target for renewable energy development to help achieve a goal of cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2030 by 55% over 1990 levels.

The commission’s proposal calls for renewables to make up 40% of the European Union (EU) energy mix by 2030, compared to a previous target of 32% set in 2018, to meet the organization’s Green Deal goals. Renewables currently make up about 34% of the EU’s energy mix, according to the commission.

“Reaching the Green Deal goals will not be possible without reshaping our energy system – this is where most of our emissions are generated,” Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said Wednesday. “To achieve climate neutrality by 2050, we need to turn the renewables evolution into a...