The European Commission on Wednesday proposed that the EU reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions 90% by 2040, compared with 1990 levels, but included flexibilities to soften the emissions cuts for domestic industries.

The EU is pushing ahead with an ambitious new target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, signaling a growing divide between the U.S. and the rest of the industrialized world.

The European Commission proposed a binding 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, compared to 1990 levels, as it unveiled its new EU climate target on Wednesday. The European Union aims to become climate neutral by 2050,