The EU agreed on a broad emissions-cutting target on Thursday to bring to a UN conference in Brazil, sparing the bloc potential diplomatic embarrassment but risking its reputation as a climate champion.

Environment ministers for the 27-nation bloc met in Brussels with the clock ticking down on a UN deadline to produce an official pledge to fight global warming for 2035.

The countries have not been able to agree on their level of ambition, so they settled for a compromise “statement of intent” to cut emissions between 66.25 percent and 72.5 percent compared to 1990 levels.

“It’s very positive that member states have been able to reach a consensus,” Lars Aagaard, climate minister of Denmark, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, told a press conference.

The EU “is and will remain a g

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