Activities of Jytte GUTELAND related to 2018/2974(RSP)
Legal basis opinions (0)
Amendments (32)
Amendment 8 #
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
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, 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; further notes that by the end of the century weather-related disasters could affect about two-thirds of the European population annually compared with 5% of the population between 1981-2010 whilst flooding alone could cost EU countries up to EUR 1 trillion per year in damages;
Amendment 65 #
Paragraph 7
7. Points that the EU GDP is expected to increase more under zero emissions scenarios than in scenarios with lower emission reductions, however this may be spread unevenly across the EU; considers that the price of non-action would be by far the costliest scenario and would not only result in massive GDP loss in Europe, but also further increase economic inequalities between Member States and regions as some are expected to be harder hit than others by the consequences of inaction;
Amendment 68 #
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Acknowledges that non-action will be by far the costliest pathway for the Union and its Member States in economic and social terms and urges the Commission to therefore quantify the costs of non-action vis-a-vis the gains of achieving the most ambitious scenarios;
Amendment 77 #
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the inclusion of two pathways aiming at reaching net zero GHG emissions by 2050, and the Commission’s support for these; considers this mid- century objective as the only one compatible with the Union's commitments under the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 92 #
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 reductions; believes that further aemissions reductions by 2030 isare 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 100 #
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Recalls that by being the first major economy to go for climate neutrality, Europe’s businesses will be able to gain first-mover advantage on international markets to become the global leader in sustainable and resource- efficient production; emphasises that delayed or insufficient action to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 at the latest will result in ecologically, economically and socially unjustifiable costs and effectively hamper the future competitiveness of Europe’s industrial sector; insists that carbon leakage must be and can be avoided by intelligent policy frameworks;
Amendment 101 #
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Stresses the importance of the various climate measures and legislation taken in different policy domains but is concerned that a scattered approach is not the most effective way to ensure that the EU achieves a net-zero greenhouse gas economy by 2050 or the climate goals set out in the Paris agreement; believes that an overarching approach in the form of a European climate law will be necessary and asks the Commission to look into that without delay;
Amendment 119 #
Paragraph 11
11. Believes that Europe's climate transition must be ecologically, economically and socially sustainable; emphasises that tailor-made and sufficiently funded strategies will need to be designed in close collaboration with local and regional public authorities, trade unions, educational institutions, civil society organisations and the private sector, to ensure that social fairness and equal opportunities are offered to all European citizens in this transition while avoiding disproportionate effects on people with low income;
Amendment 124 #
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Believes that young people have increasingly strong social and environmental awareness, which has the power to transform our societies towards a climate resilient future, and that youth education represents one of the most effective tools to combat climate change; stresses the need to actively involve younger generations in building international, intercultural and intergenerational relationships, which underpin cultural change that will support the global efforts for a more sustainable future;
Amendment 128 #
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Considers that social aspects should be fully streamlined throughout all EU climate policy and climate funding;
Amendment 129 #
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Recalls that approximately 50 to 125 million European citizens are currently suffering from energy poverty1a; reiterates its strong conviction that Europe must act swiftly and vigorously to eliminate energy poverty in European households; __________________ 1a http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/e tudes/STUD/2015/563472/IPOL_STU(201 5)563472_EN.pdf
Amendment 130 #
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11 c. Emphasises that inclusion and participation of Europe’s citizens is vital for Europe to reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 at the latest; encourages all levels of national, regional and local government to put in place concrete measures stimulating and facilitating the participation of citizens in the transition to the decarbonised society;
Amendment 135 #
Paragraph 12
Amendment 156 #
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that reaching net-zero GHG emissions in 2050 at the latest in the most cost- efficient manner, requires raising and aligning the 2030 ambition level to at least 55% so as to better align it 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;
Amendment 195 #
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises that emissions will have to be reduced close to zero in all Member States and sectors of the economy which should all contribute in the joint efforts to reduce emissions; therefore calls on the Commission to develop pathways to climate neutrality for all sectors; stresses the importance of the polluter pays principle in this regard;
Amendment 199 #
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Emphasises that the successful transition towards a net-zero emission economy requires an integrated approach and the right enabling environment to better stimulate and support zero- and low emission mobility; calls for additional measures to be put in place to enable access to zero- and low-emission vehicles to consumers in all Member States; stresses the need for more public and private investments in the roll-out of recharging and refuelling infrastructure, its integration into the energy systems, as well as the sustainable sourcing, production, supply, re-use and recycling of batteries in Europe, and reiterates the need for coherent action at EU, national, regional and local levels to achieve this;
Amendment 206 #
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Highlights the central role of renewable energy sources in the transition towards a net-zero GHG economy, as energy is currently responsible for 75% of Europe’s GHG emissions;
Amendment 220 #
Paragraph 19
19. Considers that technology developments and new, innovative solutions, energy efficiency and sustainable renewable energy in the transport and power sectors will be key; underlines in this respect the importance of technology- specific strategies, such as forelectric mobility, hydrogen or methane;
Amendment 225 #
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Emphasises that the ‘energy efficiency first’ principle entails large GHG emissions reductions possibilities and must be fully taken into account throughout the full energy chain, including energy generation, transmission, distribution and end-use;
Amendment 244 #
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses the need to implement the Energy Union and ensure further integration of the European Energy market in order to most effectively decarbonise the power sector and to facilitate investments where most renewable energy production can be effectuated, whilst reducing energy poverty and empowering consumers;
Amendment 263 #
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Recalls that GHG emissions from international shipping are projected to increase by as much as 250% by 2050; reiterates that emissions from international shipping and aviation activities must be significantly reduced in order to be consistent with the Union’s economy-wide greenhouse gas emission reduction commitment and to reach net- zero GHG emissions by 2050 at the latest;
Amendment 267 #
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22 b. Notes that approximately 60% of the current global methane is emitted by sources such as agriculture, landfills and wastewater, and the production and pipeline transport of fossil fuels; recalls that methane is a potent GHG with a 100- year warming potential 28 times larger than CO21a and that methane emission reductions can play an important role in reducing ground-level ozone concentrations and their negative impacts on air quality and human health; welcomes the Commission’s intention to reduce methane emissions in concerned sectors, which could deliver further reductions of ozone concentrations in the EU, and to promote methane reductions internationally; __________________ 1a Van Dingenen, R., Crippa, M., Maenhout, G., Guizzardi, D., Dentener, F., Global trends of methane emissions and their impacts on ozone concentrations, EUR 29394 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2018, ISBN 978-92- 79-96550-0, doi:10.2760/820175, JRC113210
Amendment 276 #
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Amendment 289 #
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23 b. Notes that increased energy efficiency in the heating and cooling sector can have positive impacts in terms of reducing GHG emissions as well as reducing prices and thereby energy poverty in European households;
Amendment 302 #
Paragraph 24
24. Supports active and sustainable forest management at national level, together with concrete means to incentivise the potential of the EU bioeconomy, given the large potential of forests to contribute to strengthening Europe's climate efforts (through sequestration, storage and substitution effects) and achieving the target of zero emissions by 2050 at the latest; recognising the need to halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystems services in the EU by 2020;
Amendment 325 #
Draft motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Subheading 6
Financing and research
Amendment 329 #
Paragraph 26
26. Calls for rapid implementation of the EU ETS Innovation Fund and for the start of the first call for proposals in 2019 in order to boost investments in the demonstration of low-carbon industrial breakthrough technologies; calls for the inclusion in the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework of adequate financial means for supporting investments in the demonstration of low- carbon industrial breakthrough technologialigned with the objectives under the Paris Agreement and to reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 at the latest;
Amendment 335 #
Paragraph 27
27. Considers that in order for the Union to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest, substantial private investments need to be mobilised; believes that this requires long- term planning and regulatory stability and predictability for investors and that future EU-regulations need to take this into consideration, especially for the period up to, and post 2030; stresses therefore that the implementation of the Sustainable Finance Action Plan adopted in March 2018 should be prioritised;.
Amendment 353 #
Paragraph 29
29. Stresses the importance of creating a just transition fund, especially for the regions most affected regions,by decarbonisation, combined with a general horizontal streamlining of social aspects into existing climate funding;
Amendment 356 #
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29 a. Underlines that climate mainstreaming must be fully integrated in research and innovation content and applied at all stages of the research cycle as one of the principles of EU funding;
Amendment 375 #
Paragraph 32
32. Stresses the importance of green public procurement, of ecodesign, and reducing the carbon footprint of products while at the same time aligning them with the circular economy strategy; considers that options to levy products’ carbon content in Europe might be further explored;
Amendment 395 #
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34 a. Recognises the need for further international efforts to deliver on the objectives in the Paris Agreement; stresses the importance of the EU delivering climate ambition and leadership at the UN Secretary General's Summit in September; urges the Commission to make climate politics a key part of its approach to international diplomacy;