The European Parliament rejected Tuesday a motion to support more ambitious climate targets, in a move that shows how the fight against climate change is losing steam even in the European Union, after a similar setback just days ago among government representatives.

The European Parliament rejected in a vote in Strasbourg , France , a political resolution calling for an increase to 30% of the present target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions in the EU by 20% by 2020, compared with 1990. The parliament voted down the whole document, after support to one amendment--the vote was carried out amendment by amendment--watered down the initial proposal.

"Better to have no position than a bad position with no progress," said Jo Leinen, the German socialist who chairs the Parliament's environment committee, in an interview with Dow Jones Newswires.

The Parliament's vote comes just two weeks after Poland --which now holds the rotating EU presidency until the end of the year--refused to sign off to the conclusions of a meeting of environment ministers because it allegedly suggested that the EU could move to a 25% cut by 2020.

The rejection of the resolution is not going to have a direct impact on the EU climate policy because it is only a political initiative that the Parliament uses to set out its view. However, it is a sign that momentum for climate change policies is fading even in the EU, which has traditionally had the ambition to lead the world by example on the issue.

But the cost of these policies at a time of national budget constraints and worries about the financial stability of some countries, together with a slow momentum in international negotiations for a global deal are crippling political support.

"The economic and financial crisis is clearly putting pressure" on Europe 's green credentials, said Leinen. "We have to reflect on what to do" now, he said, adding that the Parliament has to have a position on climate change before the next global negotiations on the issue in South Africa in December and will likely tackle the issue again after the summer.

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