UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday strongly commended the decision of European Union (EU) leaders to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 percent by 2030 against 1990 levels.

"The decision demonstrates the continued global leadership of the European Union on taking bold action to address climate change," said a statement issued by Ban's spokesman.

EU leaders have once again placed Europe in a leading position with an ambitious emissions reduction target, the statement said.

"In adopting this target, the EU has shown that addressing global climate needs is in its own long-term interests," the statement said.

"The decision will also set a new standard for climate ambition for all countries in support of the upcoming global negotiations," it said.

The secretary-general urges all countries to act swiftly and boldly on climate change and to make every effort to reach an ambitious climate agreement by the end of 2015, it added.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said Thursday that an agreement on climate change would be the best possible farewell of him and outgoing European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. Endi