The EU's new climate chief has been given a mandate to review carbon capture in a bid to curb global warming, as the bloc's countries debate whether to allow the controversial technology at upcoming UN talks on ending fossil fuel use. In a letter to Wopke Hoekstra, the Dutch nominee for EU climate commissioner, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said he should "step up efforts" to present an "ambitious future-oriented strategy" for the technology when he takes office. Hoekstra, a former Dutch foreign minister, is set to take over in October from the previous EU climate czar Frans Timmermans, who left the commission ahead of the Dutch election. The 47-year-old, who was previously a partner at the McKinsey consulting group, also once worked for the oil company Shell. In his new role, he will oversee discussions on the EU's 2040 emissions reduction target. The European Scientific Advisory Committee on Climate Change has recommended reducing EU emissions by 90 to 95 percent by 2040 compared to 1990. (Alice Hancock in Brussels and Andres Schipani)