Brussels, 15/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - Ever increasingly top European companies are calling on the EU to increase its level of ambition on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. In response to an invitation from a group of NGOs (The Climate Group, The University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership and WWF), 72 leading companies signed a joint statement on Wednesday 15 June urging the EU to adopt a 30% reduction target to stimulate the economy and employment in Europe. These companies employ more than 3.8 million people in total and have a turnover of more than €1 trillion, a sum which exceeds the combined GDPs of Poland, Sweden and Austria. They are convinced that the benefits of a swift transition to a low-carbon economy outweigh the costs of emissions reductions. They are calling for a more robust European framework to spur innovation and investment, for example, in renewable and efficient energies. The companies estimate that this could reduce imports of oil and gas by €45.5 billion per year by 2020, and by €600 billion per annum by 2050 and result in a net increase of 6 million direct or indirect European jobs by 2020. Their joint statement has been published a few days before the Environment Council on 21 June and the European Parliament vote, scheduled for 23 June, on the options for an EU target beyond 20%. For further information, go to: wwf.panda.org (A.N./transl.rt)