34 Amendments of Lynn BOYLAN related to 2018/2974(RSP)
Amendment 10 #
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that European citizens already face direct impacts of climate change; underlines that according to the European Environment Agency, average annual losses caused by weather and climate-related extremes in the Union amounted to around €12.8 billion between 2010 and 2016, and that, if no further action is taken, weather-related disasters will affect an estimated two-thirds of the population in Europe by 2100, compared with 5% today; stresses that climate damages in the EU could amount to at least €190 billion by 2080, equivalent to a net welfare loss of 1.8% of its current GDP;
Amendment 15 #
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Welcomes that people across Europe are becoming increasingly active in demonstrating for climate justice, in particular through school strikes; welcomes the calls from these activists for stronger ambition and believes that national, regional and local governments as well as the EU should heed these calls.
Amendment 16 #
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Recalls the November 2018 Eurobarometer findings of 93% of Europeans considering climate change to be caused by human activity, and 85% agreeing that fighting climate change and using energy more efficiently can create economic growth and jobs in Europe; notes that climate change is a high priority issue for people in Europe.
Amendment 20 #
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines thatExpresses concern in light of the findings of the IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C represent, which constitutes the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of mitigation pathways in line with the Paris Agreement.
Amendment 21 #
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Expresses concern at the UN Environment Emissions Gap Report, which finds that current Nationally Determined Contributions far surpass the Paris Agreement warming limit of 2°C, leading instead to an estimated 3.5°C warming by 2100;
Amendment 36 #
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls its demand expressed in its COP23 resolution for the Commission to prepare by COP24 a mid-century zero emissions strategy for the Union; welcomes in this regard the publication of the Commission Communication "A Clean Planet for all – A European strategic long- term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy"; asks the Member States to agree on an ambitious net- zero 2050 strategy and to keep climate action high on the EU's agenda, as part of the future Europe debate, at the special EU summit in Sibiu in May 2019;
Amendment 51 #
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that the strategy presents eight pathways for the economic, technological and social transformation needed for the Union to comply with the long-term temperature goal of the Paris Agreement; stresses that there are many ways to reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 at the latest, but that this requires swift action from the local and regional levels to the national level; calls on the Member States to put in place clear targets and policies and provide investment support for net-zero pathways and adopt long-term national strategies as foreseen in the Governance Regulation;
Amendment 55 #
Paragraph 6
6. Highlights that the first category of pathways aims at reducing GHG emissions by only around 80% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels; notes with concern that such ambition represents the lower range of holding global warming below 2°C and is therefore not in line with the Paris objective of holding global temperature rise to well below 2°C, nor with the further aim of keeping it below 1.5°C;
Amendment 75 #
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the inclusion of two pathways aiming at reaching net zero GHG emissions by 2050, and considers this mid- century objective as the only one compatible with the Union's commitments under the Paris Agreement; regrets that no net-zero GHG pathways before 2050 were considered in the strategy.
Amendment 90 #
Paragraph 9
9. Notes however that those pathways rely to a large extent on carbon removal technologies, including through carbon capture and storage and direct air capture, that yet have to prove their feasibility; considers that the EU net-zero strategy should not overly rely on such technologies, which should complement direct emissions reduction; calls on the Commission and the Member States to focus on the 1.5LIFE scenario which relies on natural carbon removals; believes that further action by 2030 is needed if the Union is to avoid relying on carbon removal technologies that would entail significant risks for ecosystems, biodiversity and food security as confirmed by the IPCC 1.5 report;
Amendment 108 #
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes that the Commission clearly expresses that net-zero emissions are possible without net job losses and that they put a lot of emphasishas put a lot of emphasis the feasibility onf the transition in the energy intensive industry; highlights that a just transition towards net- zero GHG emissions has the potential towill create a net gain of more than 2.1 million additional jobs in the Union;, an increase of 0.09% employment; notes that the Commission should develop a renewed skills audit under the EU Skills Panorama with regional data on the skills needs for a climate neutral Europe to support regions, sectors and people in re-skilling for future-proof jobs.
Amendment 114 #
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Highlights that the transition must be just for all parts of society, particularly vulnerable and marginalised groups; notes that this requires an understanding of just transition that incorporates negative and positive impacts associated with accelerated climate action, such as job losses and opportunities, as well as the impacts from delaying climate action. Stresses the need for democratic participation in climate policy and community consultations, particularly with trade unions.
Amendment 123 #
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Highlights that the energy transition can disproportionately affect people with low incomes and increase energy poverty, which already affects millions of people across Europe; recognises that energy policy must incorporate the social dimension and ensure no one is left behind; underlines the need to ensure access to energy for all; underlines the potential of energy efficiency measures to reduce energy bills, improve the quality of homes, and decrease carbon emissions and also the necessity of providing opportunities for all for local energy ownership.
Amendment 146 #
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Calls on the Commission to present a new and integrated EU industrial climate strategy for energy intensive industries in support of a competitive net-zero emission heavy industry transition.
Amendment 152 #
Paragraph 13
13. Considers that a strong and stablen ambitious medium-term target is necessary to bring sufficient stability for investments to the market and to fully harness the potential of technological innovation and strengthen the possibilities for Europe's businesses' to become global market leaders in low- emission production;
Amendment 161 #
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that reaching net-zero GHG emissions in 2050 in the most cost- efficient manner, requires raising and aligning the 2030 ambition level with net- zero 2050 scenarios; believes it is of upmost importance that the Union sends a clear message, at the latest during the UN Climate Summit in New York in September 2019, that it stands ready to review its contribution to the Paris Agreement; and boost pre-2020 and pre- 2030 ambition at both EU and national levels;
Amendment 168 #
Paragraph 15
15. Supports an update of the Union’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC); calls therefore on EU leaders to consider raisinge the level of ambition of the Union’s NDC at the special EU Summit in Sibiu in May 2019, in view of the UN Climate Summit in September 2019;
Amendment 174 #
Paragraph 16
16. CSupports an immediate update of the EU's NDCs with an economy-wide target of 65% domestic GHG emissions reductions by 2030 compared with 1990 levels; considers therefore that the Commission should, at the latest, use its 2022-2024 reviews of the 2030 climate package and other relevant legislation, to raise the ambition level accordingly; believes that insufficient 2030 ambition would limit future options, possibly limiting the availability of some options for cost-efficient decarbonisation; considers these reviews to be an important milestone for securing the EU climate commitments;
Amendment 182 #
Paragraph 17
17. Believes that, as a means to further ensure increased stability for markets and avoid missing net-zero by 2050, it would be appropriate for the EU to also establish a further interim emissions reduction target by 2040 that can provide additional stability and ensure that the long-term 2050 target is met;
Amendment 192 #
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises that emissions will have to be reduced close to zero in all sectors of the economy which should all contribute in the joint efforts to reduce emissions; stresses the importance of the polluter pays principle in this regard; stresses that progress in decarbonisation in one sector cannot compensate for lack of progress in another; calls therefore on the next Commission to initiate a process to chart pathways to climate neutrality for all sectors
Amendment 215 #
Paragraph 19
19. Considers that technology developments and solutions, energy efficiency and sustainable renewable energy in the transport and power sectors wi, buildings, industry and power sectors, and circular economy principles will all be key; underlines in this respect the importance of technology- specific strategies, such as for hydrogen or methane;
Amendment 229 #
Paragraph 20
20. Underlines the central importance of a renewable-based power sector and asks the Commission and the Member States to take all necessary action in that regard as it will have spill-over effects across all economic sectors; highlights that all pathways assume full decarbonisation of the power sector by 2050, a drastic reduction of fossil fuels and a strong increase in; stresses that a full phase out of fossil fuels by 2050 and a move towards 100% renewable energies is necessary;
Amendment 240 #
Paragraph 21
Amendment 257 #
Paragraph 22
22. Points out that the strategy confirms that GHG emissions from the transport sector are still on the rise, and that the Clean Mobility Package will not be sufficient to decarbonise the transport sector by 2050; notes, therefore, the importance of decarbonising public transport, in particular in urban centres, as a route for making inroads on emissions in the transport sector.
Amendment 282 #
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that agricultural policies, in particular EU and national funds, are in line with the objectives and goals of the Paris Agreement.
Amendment 288 #
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23 b. Supports the Long Term Strategy’s conclusion that wholesale change in all transport sectors is necessary; stresses the need for the next Commission to remove EU barriers to national phase out dates of the internal combustion engine.
Amendment 312 #
Paragraph 25
25. Recognises the positive, but ultimately limited potential for afforestation in Europe; therefore, believes that afforestation initiatives must be complemented by concrete initiatives and incentives aiming to maximise the sequestration potential, while securing and enhancing the health of existing forest lands through restoration in order to reap benefits for both climate and biodiversity and taking into account appropriate land use and tree species choice;
Amendment 318 #
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Supports the restoration of woodlands and wetlands, which should be used primarily for removing and storing carbon, and calls on Member States to draw down funds from the European Fund for Transition for this sector.
Amendment 344 #
Paragraph 28
28. Considers that the EU and Member States must immediately phase out all European and national fossil fuel subsidies including capacity mechanisms;
Amendment 365 #
Paragraph 30
30. HighlightUnderlines the significant implactk of behavioural change in achievingprogress in GHG emissions reduction, including from the transport sector and particularly the aviation sector; calls on the Commission to explore as soon as possible policy options to encourage behavioural change;
Amendment 381 #
Paragraph 33
33. Considers that the EU should start working on a reliable model for measuring the climate impact that European consumption has in third countries, as a first step to reduce it, and to take account of the emissions it is part responsible for through imports;
Amendment 385 #
Paragraph 34
34. Underlines the importance of increased initiatives and sustained dialogue in relevant international fora, with the aim to spur similar policy decisions ramping up climate ambition in other regions and third countries; considers that the EU, must, inter alia, increase its own climate financing and work actively to encourage Member States to increase their climate finance aid (development aid rather than loans) in third countries, which should be in addition to overseas development assistance, and not be double-counted as both development and climate finance aid;
Amendment 396 #
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34 a. Recognises the role of the United nationals Climate Summit in September as the moment for countries to increase climate ambition and their NDCs; stresses the importance of an increased EU 2030 NDC to trigger other countries to increase ambition thereby putting the EU on a Paris compliant trajectory.
Amendment 398 #
Paragraph 35
35. Highlights the merit of strengthening the interoperability between EU policy instruments and third countries' equivalents, notably carbon markets, and ensure that policy coherence exists between EU legislation, especially the Sustainable Development Goals, in order to ensure that these policies are mutually reinforcing and to ensure that the environmental integrity of EU policy is upheld;