STRASBOURG, France, Dec 17 (Reuters) - The European Parliament approved on Wednesday a deal on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the final step in a year of talks to secure the world's broadest agreement yet to battle climate change.

Parliament's approval follows a deal among European leaders last week to cut carbon dioxide emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 after watering down the costs for industry of fines and pollution permits.

Lawmakers also agreed measures to cut CO2 emissions from new cars by 18 percent by 2015. (Reporting by Huw Jones, writing by Pete Harrison)

AlertNet news is provided by