Reuters: The financial crisis increases the urgency of European Union efforts to cut carbon dioxide emissions by weaning itself off imported oil and gas, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Wednesday. Europe is forging ahead with plans to curb emissions, hoping that other countries will follow suit and mindful of U.N. warnings that climate change could cause more heatwaves, floods, droughts and higher sea levels. The EU executive has set ambitious goals of curbing …