Activities of Anja HAZEKAMP related to 2021/2006(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on an EU strategy to reduce methane emissions
Amendments (148)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Stresses the need for the agricultural sector, with particular emphasis on the industrial livestock industry, to take responsibility for their contribution to the climate crisis by committing to concrete, sustained and binding measures to reduce their emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
— having regard to the 2018 International Energy Agency report, entitled ‘The Future of Petrochemicals: Towards a more sustainable chemicals industry',
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)
Citation 2 b (new)
— having regard to the UN Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report 2019 of 26 November 2019, and to its first synthesis report on fossil fuel production of December2019 (Production Gap Report 2019),
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Regrets the lack of a comprehensive EU regulatory and monitoring framework for methane emissions; calls on the Commission, therefore, to put forward binding measures and emissions reduction targets covering all methane emissions, including those of the agricultural sector, and to improve the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in the agricultural sector to track the progress towards these targets;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 28 November 2019 on the climate and environment emergency,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 b (new)
Citation 6 b (new)
— having regard to the 2021 International Energy Agency report, entitled ‘Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector’,
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls the significant impact of the agricultural sector on methane emissions, accounting for 53% of all anthropogenic methane emissions in the EU; underlines that this makes agriculture the largest single contributing sector to methane emissions in the EU;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 c (new)
Citation 6 c (new)
— having regard to the European Environment Agency 'Quality in Europe 2020' report,
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 d (new)
Citation 6 d (new)
— having regard to the 2017 WHO report, entitled 'Assessing the economic costs of unhealthy diets and low physical activity: an evidence review and proposed framework',
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 e (new)
Citation 6 e (new)
— having regard to the 2021 United Nations Environment Program and Climate and Clean Air Coalition report, entitled ‘Global Methane Assessment: Benefits and Costs of Mitigating Methane Emissions',
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 f (new)
Citation 6 f (new)
— having regard to the 2019 EAT Lancet Commission report, entitled ‘Food in The Anthropocene: the EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets From Sustainable Food Systems',
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 g (new)
Citation 6 g (new)
— having regard to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services1a, and its 2020 Workshop Report on Biodiversity and pandemics1b _________________ 1a https://ipbes.net/global-assessment 1b https://www.ipbes.net/pandemics
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 h (new)
Citation 6 h (new)
— having regard to the scientific opinion of March 2020 by the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to the European Commission entitled ‘Towards a Sustainable Food System’1a _________________ 1aDirectorate-General for Research and Innovation, Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (2020). ‘Towards a sustainable food system. Moving from food as a commodity to food as more of a common good: independent expert report’.
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 i (new)
Citation 6 i (new)
— having regard to the EEA report of 11 January 2021 entitled ‘Growth without economic growth’;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication entitled ‘A EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030’ (COM(2020)0380),
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Regrets that unlike the waste and energy sectors whose methane emissions decreased slightly in the period of 2010 to 2018, emissions from the agricultural sector increased; emphasizes that this demonstrates the failure of existing regulation to effectively address methane emissions from agriculture;
Amendment 34 #
Aa. whereas it has been three years since the IPCC published its Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, which stated that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid, far- reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Stresses that the livestock farming is the world’s largest user of agricultural land, through grazing and the use of feed crops and has huge impact on climate change, soil and water pollution and loss of biodiversity in the EU and globally;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas economic growth requires additional resources and embodied energy, and therefore, we need to rethink the extent to which we pursue GDP growth by exploring alternative indicators, such as the Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare and the Genuine Progress Indicator;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas many of the measures that can be taken at farm level to slash methane are also effective in reducing ammonia, and thus constitute a double win for air quality;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1 d. Stresses that livestock sector accounts for around 16% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions, with methane holding the biggest share in the agricultural sector;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas fossil gas consists almost entirely of methane and therefore is incompatible with the EU’s climate objectives and the goals of the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
Ae. whereas according to the 2018 IEA report, 'The Future of Petrochemicals', petrochemical feedstock accounts for 12% of global oil demand, and this share is expected to increase driven by increasing demand for plastics, fertilisers and other products;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1 e. Stresses that methane emissions in agriculture are primarily driven by livestock numbers, particularly ruminants such as cattle (for dairy and meat), sheep and goats, which are mainly associated with microbial activity in the digestive tracts of animals and manure management; notes that large livestock farms with more than 50 livestock units account for about 70% of agricultural methane emissions and 40% of total anthropogenic methane emissions in the EU; stresses that this demonstrates a need for concrete and binding measures targeting the industrial livestock industry;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 f (new)
Paragraph 1 f (new)
1 f. Calls for a shift away from intensive livestock farming practices associated with harmful environmental and animal welfare effects towards sustainable agriculture with reduced GHG emissions' footprints, including methane and nitrous oxide emissions, through promotion of shorter supply chains, plant-based diets and non- intensive farming practices;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the European Climate Law commits the EU to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest with increased emission reductions by 2030; whereas addressimmediately and significantly reducing energy-related methane emissions is a key component of the European Green Deal, as are measures in the agriculture and waste sectors; whereas the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions notes that the EU should also play a role in ensuring methane emission reductions at global level, as the largest global importer of fossil fuels and a significant player in the agriculture sector-food sector globally;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the European Climate Law commits the EU to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, with increased emission reductions by 2030; whereas addressing energy-related methane emissions is a key component of the European Green Deal, as are measures in the agriculture and waste sectors; whereas the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions notes that the EU should also play a role in ensuring methane emission reductions at global level, as the largest global importer of fossil fuels and a significant player in the agriculture sector;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Urges the Commission to ensure positive synergies between climate regulation and the Industrial Emissions Directive in order to avoid double regulationxpand the scope of the Industrial Emissions Directive by including effective measure and targets to drastically curb greenhouse gas emissions from all industrial agriculture sources, including cattle- rearing;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Stresses that the coherence and consistency between the Farm to Fork Strategy and National Strategic Plans in the new CAP are crucial in the overall strategy to reduce the methane emissions, thus aiming to incentivise farmers for applying farming practices that contribute to the EU 2030 climate targets and the climate neutrality objective which should be achieved well before 2050, in full respect of animal welfare and biodiversity conservation and restoration;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas reducing methane emissions is indispensable in the fight against climate change, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement; whereas methane emissions contribute to air pollution and it is therefore necessary to tackle these emissions in order to protect the health of EU citizens and ecosystems;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas reducing methane is important for improving air quality; whereas, despite this, methane emissions are not regulated under EU air pollution legislation and are not specifically regulated under EU climate policy;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Notes that as methane is a comparatively short-lived greenhouse gas, and considering the very short window mankind still has to limit global warming to maximum 1,5 degrees, a drastic reduction of methane is a very effective way to mitigate the climate crisis; stresses that every opportunity and possibility of reducing methane should fully be used in order to try and prevent the most dramatic consequences of anthropogenic climate warming;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas increases in methane emissions have an impact on biodiversity and even food security; whereas reducing methane emissions can bring multiple benefits apart from its cooling effect, including higher crop yields and food security;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Underlines that a drastic reduction in the production and consumption of animals is the most cost-effective, quick and easy climate measure available and a change we cannot afford to waste;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas methane emissions from agriculture are an important precursor of the harmful air pollutant ground-level ozone, which has adverse effects on human health; whereas ozone is responsible for around 1 million premature respiratory deaths globally per year, with methane being responsible for about half of these deaths;1a _________________ 1a Stockholm Environment Institute, 2017
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas cuttreducing methane emissions can have a quickehas a major impact on slowing the rate of global warming than reducing CO2 emissions, since methane does not stay in the atmosphere for as long, and it could, and is therefore be one of the most cost-effective strategies to rapidly reduce the rate of warming and avoid some tipping points for global warming; whereas increases in methane emissions, compared to other GHGs can drastically accelerate global warming; whereas although reductions in methane can produce the quickest cooling effect, it is imperative that action is taken across all sectors to reduce all greenhouse gases;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas cutting methane emissions can have a quicker impact on slowing the rate of global warming than reducing CO2 emissions, since methane does not stay in the atmosphere for as long, and it could therefore beis one of the most cost-effective strategies to rapidly reduce the rate of warming, achieve the objectives of the Paris agreement by limiting warming to 1.5°C, and avoid some tipping points for global warming;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the family farm model is vital to the future of agriculture and rural communities in the EU; whereas the number of farms in the EU decreased by about one quarter in the relatively short period between 2005 and 2016 of which the vast majority were small family farms; whereas over the same period, the number of farms with livestock fell by well over one third; whereas the intensification and concentration of agricultural systems has been a major contributor to this decrease in the number of farms in the EU;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas 53% of anthropogenic methane emissions come from the agricultural sector, making it the largest single contributing sector to methane emissions in the EU; whereas unlike the waste and energy sectors whose methane emissions decreased slightly in the period of 2010 to 2018, emissions from the agricultural sector increased, demonstrating the failure of existing regulation to effectively address agricultural methane emissions;
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and technoloransition strategies is of paramount importance; considers that there is great potential in adapting our diet ofs and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which couldalternative protein sources, substituting meat, dairy and other animal products, which will drastically reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sectorhuman health, biodiversity and animal welfare;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas methane emissions in agriculture are primarily driven by the livestock industry, particularly ruminants such as cattle (for dairy and meat),sheep and goats, which are mainly associated with microbial activity in the digestive tracts of animals and manure management; whereas large livestock farms with more than 50 livestock units account for about 70% of agricultural methane emissions and 40% of total anthropogenic methane emissions in the EU;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
Dc. whereas moving away from intensive livestock farming practices towards sustainable agriculture will deliver an immense reduction in methane emissions from the agricultural sector while also providing benefits for the environment, biodiversity, animal welfare and public health; whereas drastically reducing the number of animals kept in the EU for agriculture is an essential step in this process;
Amendment 87 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Underlines that reducing the consumption of meat and dairy products will make a significant positive contribution to the climate, environment and public and animal health and welfare and should be incentivised as a key factor in the fight against climate change;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)
Recital D d (new)
Dd. whereas adapting our diets and drastically reducing the production and consumption of animals while developing alternative protein sources to substitute meat, dairy and other animal products is a cost-effective, quick, healthy and easy measure to fight methane-induced climate change and will realise countless co- benefits for human, animal and ecosystem health and welfare;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D e (new)
Recital D e (new)
De. whereas an agricultural system which imports millions of tons of soy and maize each year, feeds that to animals, and uses the huge amounts of excess manure this system creates to produce so- called biogas is inherently unsustainable; whereas the promotion of biogas as a “solution” " risks locking in unsustainable forms of intensive animal production that further contribute to the root causes of harmful methane emissions in agriculture;
Amendment 91 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Stresses the importance of promoting sustainable plant-based diets in line with objectives of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy by raising consumer awareness of the impacts of consumption patterns related to GHG emissions, including methane emissions, and providing information on diets that are better for human health, animal welfare and have a lower environmental footprint;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D f (new)
Recital D f (new)
Df. whereas methane leakage during production and transport of fossil gas is a significant contributor to methane emissions in the energy sector; whereas improving leakage detection and repair and eliminating the practice of routine venting and flaring are essential measures to reduce methane emissions from the energy sector; whereas EU imports over half of globally traded fossil gas, thereby contributing to significant methane emissions outside of EU-borders, necessitating mandatory methane performance standards for imported fossil gas; whereas a phase-out of fossil gas production and consumption in the EU must be achieved as soon as possible in order to minimise methane-induced climate change; whereas abandoned fossil gas wells should be properly capped to prevent further methane leaks after their closure;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D g (new)
Recital D g (new)
Dg. whereas peatlands are the world’s largest terrestrial carbon store; whereas the draining of peatlands for agriculture converts them from a carbon sink to a significant carbon source and makes them more susceptible to damaging wildfires; whereas the reduced methane emissions from drained peatlands are significantly outweighed by their increased emissions of carbon dioxide; whereas halting the conversion, draining and burning of peatlands and stimulating their restoration and rewetting is an extremely effective measure to fight climate change;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1 Points to the lack of global leadership on mitigation of methane emissions, with very little action being taken on methane internationally; calls on the Commission to make methane emissions a top priority in its climate diplomacy;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. WelcomNotes the cross-sectoral approach outlined in the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions and fully supports a faircomprehensive policy framework covering the agriculture, waste and energy sectors; regrets however, the lack of binding measures and emissions reduction targets for the agricultural sector; stresses the need for the agricultural sector, with particular emphasis on the industrial livestock industry, to take responsibility for their contribution to the climate crisis, calls on the Commission and the Member States to swiftly commit to concrete, sustained and binding measures to reduce agricultural emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases;
Amendment 96 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3 c. Underlines the changing trends in eating habits among EU citizens, with growing number of people who have adopted vegetarian or vegan lifestyles in the EU; points out to the growing availability of environmentally friendly alternatives to meat and dairy products that are already on the market;
Amendment 99 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3 d. Calls on the Commission and Member States to stop funding promotion and marketing campaigns that support meat and dairy products in order to reduce methane emissions;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the cross-sectoral approach outlined in the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions and fully supports a fair and effective framework covering the agriculture, waste and energy sectors; regrets that the strategy failed to lay down measures and targets for real methane reductions in these and other sectors;
Amendment 100 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3 e. Stresses the need for a transition towards sustainable feed policy based on the locally sourced feed in order to reduce the environmental and climate impact of animal production and to avoid carbon leakage through imports from third countries;
Amendment 101 #
3 f. Warns against reliance on technological innovations such as the development of feed additives which do not address the root causes of methane emissions in the agricultural sector, nor the systemic environmental issues associated with industrial farming and can harm animal health and welfare; stresses instead the need to stimulate a transition towards plant-based diets in line with the objectives of the EU farm to fork strategy;
Amendment 102 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 g (new)
Paragraph 3 g (new)
3 g. Stresses the need to swiftly move away from industrial animal farming, aiming at a 70% reduction in livestock numbers in the EU, with particular focus on Member States with high livestock density such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark;
Amendment 103 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 h (new)
Paragraph 3 h (new)
Amendment 104 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 i (new)
Paragraph 3 i (new)
3 i. Demands that measures aimed at reducing the methane emissions in agriculture are in line with the animal welfare and environmental objectives and the ‘Do no harm’ principle of the Green Deal;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Believes that quality of life and environmental indicators, not GDP, should be our measure of progress and success, by sharing income, resources and opportunities more fairly and investing in universal public goods; calls on the Commission to develop and use alternative indicators to GDP;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Considers there to be a need at EU level for a framework dedicated specifically to regulating methane emissions across all sectors;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Considers it of utmost importance that all methane emitting sectors reduce their emissions; acknowledges the need to ensure a just transition for sectors wherein methane emission reductions may have socio-economic impacts;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Stresses that it is insufficient to rely on methane-abating technologies that lock-in or support business-as-usual scenarios in the energy, waste and agricultural sectors; reiterates its call for far-reaching reform of its agricultural, energy and other policies;
Amendment 114 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that value-added utilisation of agricultural residues and other by-products is an important driver of the circular economy and bio-economy; calls for the acceleration of European biogas production from agriculture waste, as an important tool for reducing methane emissionsStresses that agricultural residues play a key role in maintaining and restoring soil health and circularity and should not be regarded as parts of the so- called bio-economy; underlines that biogas production from agriculture waste frustrate efforts to recirculate nutrients in the natural cycles and should not be promoted nor subsidised;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines the importance of improving measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) as well as leak detection and repair (LDAR) standards; stresses, however, that lack of data should not prevent swift and effective action on anthropogenic methane emissions, especially measures targeting the agricultural sector;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underscores the need to revise EU climate and environmental legislation in a coherent manner to reflect enhanced ambition in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement; takes the view that, in light of the urgency to mitigate methane emissions, there is a need for adopting an overarching legislative framework setting binding European and national methane reduction targets in all the relevant emitting sectors; takes the view that the binding emissions reduction targets for Member States in the Effort Sharing Regulation5 should remain one of the main legislative tools to reduce methane emissions, whileas well as the Common Agricultural Policy, the Industrial Emissions Directive6 and other legislation could serve as a complementary tool; National Emission reduction Commitments (NEC) Directive; welcomes the proposal in the Strategy to review the NEC Directive and to explore the possible inclusion of methane among the regulated pollutants, urges the Commission to complete this review as soon as possible and much earlier than 2025. _________________ 5Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013. OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26. 6 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control). OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17.
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underscores the need to revise EU climate and environmental legislation in a coherent manner; taknotes the view thatat alongside the binding emissions reduction targets for Member States in the Effort Sharing Regulation5 should remain the main legislative tool to reduce methane emissions, while the Industrial Emissions Directive6 and other legislation could serve as a complementary tool; _________________ 5Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament , the Industrial Emissions Directive should be revised to better address methane emissions; urges the Commission to expand of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreementscope of the Industrial Emissions Directive by including effective measures and amebinding Regulation (EU) No 525/2013. OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26. 6 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control). OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17.targets to drastically curb greenhouse gas emissions from all industrial and agriculture sources, including cattle- rearing;
Amendment 125 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Recalls that Article 13 TFEU states that when formulating and implementing the Union's policies, full regard should be paid to the welfare requirements of animals, since animals are sentient beings;
Amendment 128 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Rejects any attempts to genetically alter animals in order to artificially try to lower emissions;
Amendment 130 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Emphasises the need to ensure that animal welfare does not suffer under new measures for the agricultural sector, including regarding methane; stresses that no measures, targets, or incentives should lead to a restriction of livestock animals to indoor confinements; emphasises that animals must be able to graze outdoors and should not be prevented from exhibiting their natural behaviour;
Amendment 132 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Stresses that an agricultural system which imports millions of tons of soy and maize each year, feeds that to animals, and uses the huge amounts of excess manure this system creates to produce so-called biogas is inherently unsustainable;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the importance of developing an inventory of best practices and available technologies to promote the wider uptake of innovative mitigating actions; underlines that all measures and technologies need to be in line with the animal welfare and environmental objectives and the ‘do no harm’ principle of the Green Deal;
Amendment 133 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4 e. Points out that incentivising biogas production from animal waste streams is further increasing the dependency of the imports of protein from third countries, which exacerbates deforestation and ecosystem degradations in countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Indonesia;
Amendment 134 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)
Paragraph 4 f (new)
4 f. Expresses the opinion that biogas produced from animal manure or crops is not sustainable and should not be incentivised nor facilitated;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the importance of developing an inventory at EU-level of best practices and available technologies to promote the widerfor methane mitigation to promote the wider and more accelerated uptake of innovative mitigating actions;
Amendment 135 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 g (new)
Paragraph 4 g (new)
4 g. Emphasises that biogas production from agricultural waste is an end-of-pipe solution that allows intensive livestock farming to continue business as usual; highlights that the promotion of biogas incentivises industrial livestock farming and thereby harms the environment, biodiversity, public health, animal welfare and small farmers;
Amendment 136 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 h (new)
Paragraph 4 h (new)
4 h. Stresses that promoting biogas as a "solution" risks locking in unsustainable forms of animal production that further contribute to the root causes of harmful methane emissions in agriculture;
Amendment 137 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 i (new)
Paragraph 4 i (new)
4 i. Stresses that energy and climate policies' incentives aiming at achieving climate neutrality should not support the use of food crops for energy generation purposes or any unsustainable use of biomass, such as use of virgin biomass for energy generation purposes;
Amendment 138 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 j (new)
Paragraph 4 j (new)
4 j. Calls for regulatory measure to ban the practice of co-digestion of manure and food crops which is inherently unsustainable;
Amendment 139 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 k (new)
Paragraph 4 k (new)
4 k. Urges against bioeconomy that is not based on the principle of sustainability; stresses that further research is needed on the environmental impact of energy produced from biomass and biofuels in order to draw the line between sustainable and unsustainable amounts of residues being taken away from the field for the energy generation purpose;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that the upcoming methane regulatory measures should strive to achieve emissions reductions as cost- effectively as possible and provide flexibility for companies to achieve performance standards in an optimal, technologically neutral manner, and at the lowestswiftly and effectively as possible cost;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that the upcoming methane regulatory measures should strive to achieve significant emissions reductions as cost- effectively as possible and; considers it inappropriate and ineffective to provide flexibility for companies to achieve performance standards in an optimal, technologically neutral manner, and at the lowest possible cost, as this could risk undermining the regulatory measures;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that the upcoming methane regulatory measures, including the legislative proposal, should achieve significant direct methane emissions reductions across all sectors;
Amendment 147 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that farm level certification schemes for climate effective farming, including common measurement and verification data for methane reductions, will be an important tool for monitoring and incentivising methane reductions at farm level, stresses that effective climate measures have to be taken, and that voluntary and market based measures will be utterly insufficient to tackle the climate crisis;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recognises the importance ofConsiders voluntary industry initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions andto be highly problematic based on the urgent need for such reductions; considers that any regulatory initiatives should build upon best practices from existing voluntary actions and must be duly precedmeasures must be assessed, introduced and implemented byin thorough impact assessmentseir own right based on the latest available science;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recognises the importance of regulatory measures, underlines that voluntary industry initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions and considers that any regulatory initiatives should build upon best practices from existing voluntary actionor other greenhouse gases have not yielded significant results and musthat bwe duly preceded by thorough impact assessmentshave no more time to waste;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Considers that all impact assessments for upcoming EU measures on methane must take into account the impacts of action and inaction in terms of immediate and long-term impacts, including on future generations;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Reiterates that reducing methane emissions is one of the most effective ways to reduce the rate of global warming during the next 20 years if action is taken quickly; emphasises that impact assessments should never be a cause of delay of the implementation of much needed measures to reduce GHG emissions; stresses that additional impact assessments should be avoided where possible and that impact assessments should include the cost of non-action in terms of immediate and long-term impact on the climate, environment, biodiversity, human and animal health and wellbeing, and general sustainability;
Amendment 164 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that within the wider circular economy, the uptake of carbon removals and increased circularity of carbsequestration should be incentivised; calls on the Commission, in accordance with the EU Climate Law, to explore the development of a regulatory framework for the certification of carbon removals on the basis of robust and transparent carbon accounting that takes into account the differences between the greenhouse gases, and to verify the authenticity of carbon removals and reward farmers for their mitigation efforts.
Amendment 165 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Highlights that peatlands are the worlds largest terrestrial carbon store; underscores that the draining of peatlands for agriculture converts them from a carbon sink to a significant carbon source and makes them more susceptible to damaging wildfires; calls on the Commission to swiftly present an ambitious and concrete action plan to halt the conversion, draining and burning of peatlands and urgently stimulate their restoration and rewetting;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Energy and Petrochemicals
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the upcomingat the Commission is working on a legislative proposal on compulsory MRV for all energy-related methane emissions; insists that the legislative proposal introduces measures for methane emissions for all energy categories, including coal; calls on the Commission to also include the petrochemicals sector in its proposal; calls on the Commission to prohibit fossil gas, oil and coal suppliers from placing fossil gas, oil and coal, as well as fossil gas, oil and coal products, including energy and fuels derived therefrom, on the EU market without mandatory methane MRV or any comparably effective measure put in place, including abandoned coal mines where ownership is known; emphasises verification should be fully independent; stresses that this MRV should be based on a comprehensive equipment survey and application of the most up-to-date emission factors, with a directive to move to actual measurement data within two years;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Reiterates its call in its Resolution 2020/2273 on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, urging the Member States – on the basis of the precautionary principle and the principle that preventive action should be taken, and taking into account the risks and the negative climate, environmental and biodiversity impacts involved in hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of unconventional hydrocarbons – not to authorise any new hydraulic fracturing operations in the EU and to halt all existing operations;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Calls on Member States to commit to phasing out fossil gas by 2035 and to develop fossil gas phase-out plans as soon as possible, linked to National Energy and Climate Plans, including intermediate targets setting out an immediate and predictable pathway toward reducing fossil-gas consumption, outlining clear and concrete policies for eliminating reliance on fossil gas by 2035; urges the Commission to support Member States to this end;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Insists that all existing and new fossil gas and fuel infrastructure projects should be ineligible for state aid, EU funding and loans, including pipelines, all parts of transmission and distribution grids, LNG terminals, fossil-gas power plants and petrochemical facilities;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 d (new)
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7d. Calls on Member States to immediately halt the construction of all fossil-fuel infrastructure, within and outside the EU, including the financing of projects in other countries;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 e (new)
Paragraph 7 e (new)
7e. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to introduce a robust legislative proposal to make leak detection and repair (LDAR) mandatory on all fossil gas infrastructure as well as any other infrastructure that produces, transports or uses fossil gas, including as a feedstock; calls on the Commission to also include natural gas liquids (NGL), oil and coal supply chains in this legislative proposal and to target the entire life cycle of each in the proposal; calls on the Commission to prohibit fossil gas, NGL, and oil suppliers from placing fossil gas, NGL or oil, or energy or fuel derived therefrom, as well as pellets and plastics derived from NGL, on the EU market without undertaking mandatory and periodic (at least quarterly) LDAR supported by verified evidence of reductions or any comparably effective measures; calls on the Commission to establish minimum LDAR requirements, drawing upon industry-wide source-by- source best practices;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 f (new)
Paragraph 7 f (new)
7f. Notes that a significant number of gas wells that have ceased production continue to emit methane into the atmosphere; calls on competent authorities to adopt policies to ensure that those wells, where ownership can be documented, are capped or filled to stop methane leakage and to ensure that those responsible for the leaks are paying the costs; calls for the establishment of funding programmes paid for by direct taxes on revenue from fossil-fuel companies to ensure that these abandoned wells are properly capped and leaks are stopped;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 g (new)
Paragraph 7 g (new)
7g. Highlights that for coal a differential LDAR approach should be applied, encompassing quarterly assessment, quantification, and reporting of methane leaks from cracks in strata surrounding the extraction site and accounting for methane emissions from coal storage sites;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 h (new)
Paragraph 7 h (new)
7h. Calls on the Commission to make publicly available all of the MRV information reported on methane emissions, in an accessible, mandated format to ensure straightforward comparison;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 i (new)
Paragraph 7 i (new)
7i. Recalls the IEA report 2021 which finds that investments in new fossil fuel production and unabated coal power need to end in 2021, if the global energy sector is to reach net zero emissions by 2050;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 j (new)
Paragraph 7 j (new)
7j. Deplores the greenwashing of fossil gas; recalls that fossil gas consists almost entirely of methane and is a fossil fuel;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. WelcomesCalls on the Commission’s proposal to consider legislation on to immediately introduce a legislative proposal to ban all routine venting and flaring in the energy and petrochemical sectors covering, if feasible, the full supply chain; considers that existing national legis, and to prohibit fossil gas, natural gas liquids (NGL) and oil suppliers from placing on the EU market fossil gas, NGL and oil as well as fossil gas, NGL and oil products, including energy and fuels derived therefrom, as well as pellets and plastion addressing routine venting and flaring, taking into account complex safety and environmental aspects, must be taken into consideration when developing EU legislationcs derived from NGL, where no venting and flaring ban or any comparably effective measure is in place unless evidence is provided that the limited use of flaring is for a legitimate purpose, e.g. safety testing or safe disposal of harmful gases, and no technique exists that could capture the methane;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal to consider legislation on venting and flaring in the energy sector covering, if feasible, the full supply chain; considers that existing national legislation addressing routine venting and flaring, taking into accouis insufficient; complex safety and environmental aspects, must be taken into considealls on the Commission to propose the swift elimination of the praction when developing EU legislationce of routine venting and flaring;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Emphasises that methane leakage during production and transport of fossil gas is a significant contributor to methane emissions in the energy sector; stresses that improving leakage detection and repair and eliminating routine venting and flaring are essential measures to reduce methane emissions;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Stresses that a phase-out of fossil gas production and consumption in the EU must be achieved as soon as possible to minimize methane-induced climate change; emphasizes that abandoned fossil gas wells should be properly capped in to prevent further methane leaks after their closure;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Acknowledges that imports comprise over four fifths of the oil and gas consumed in the EU and that most methane emissions associated with oil and gas occur outside EU borders; calls on the Commission to explorpropose regulatory tools for fossil energy imports, including extending forthcoming obligations on MRV, LDAR, venting and flaring to imports and developing mandatory performance standards; stresses that the only long-term solution for this problem is reducing the EU’s dependency on imports of oil and gas by phasing-out the consumption of these energy sources in the EU;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Acknowledges that imports comprise over four fifths of the oil and gas consumed in the EU and that most methane emissions associated with oil and gas occur outside EU borders; acknowledges also, therefore, that the EU must play a role in the mitigation of methane emissions beyond its borders; calls on the Commission to explorintroduce regulatory tools for all fossil energy imports, including extending forthcoming mandatory obligations on MRV, LDAR, venting and flaring to imports for placing on the EU market;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Underlines that the EU imports over half of globally traded fossil gas, thereby contributing to significant methane emissions outside of EU- borders; calls on the Commission to develop mandatory methane performance standards for imported fossil gas to address these emissions; stresses that a rapid phase-out of fossil gas consumption in the EU is the only long-term solution to eliminate these methane emissions;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Believes it to be nonsensical to consider fossil gas a "transition fuel", particularly when there is no clear phase out date and plan for its diminishing use; considers the use of the descriptive term "transition" should only apply when the transition is clearly planned, including phase out dates;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the Commission’s initiatives on the utilisation and mitigation of methane from coal mines; expresses its strong support for mandatory MRV for coal mine methane emissions, including the requirement for companies that own closed sites or Member States (for abandoned mines where no existing owner is liable) to adopt the same MRV and LDAR measures as for operating sites; stresses that the only real solution is a very rapid complete phase-out of coal mining and coal-fired electricity production and consumption in the EU and insists that swift regulatory action to achieve this is necessary;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Emphasises that the EU’s continued reliance on coal mining and coal-fired power stations is unacceptable, also given the significant methane leaks that occur at coal mines; underlines that the continued reliance on coal is completely at odds with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the much- needed energy transition towards energy savings and renewable energy sources; calls on the Commission to lay out a plan for an EU-wide phase-out of coal-fired electricity by 2025;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to provide economic incentives for companies to mitigate methane from abandoned coal mines where no existing owner is liable;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Calls on the Commission to adopt mandatory methane performance standards that cap methane emissions along the entire energy supply chain for both domestic and imported gas, oil, and coal sold and consumed in the EU by 2025, by which time company-level leakage data should be available either through improved MRV and/or comprehensive satellite imaging, subsequently allowing for an ambitious cap to be set;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Calls on the Commission to propose legislation to mitigate coal mine methane emissions at all active coal mines, including a ban on venting and flaring of methane from degasification operations; calls for Ventilation Air Methane capture projects to become mandatory, but also to provide financial support, for example through loans, to speed up the abatement process; highlights that thermal coal mines should be exempted from the support in order not to prolong their operation; calls instead for thermal coal mines to be encouraged to close and Abandoned Mine Methane (AMM) degasification systems to be installed as this could prevent further leaks; stresses that the use of coal in the EU's energy mix should be phased out by 2030 at the latest;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11d. Calls on the Commission to request all Member States to phase out coal-fired electricity as part of their National Energy and Climate Plans and to chart a pathway for coal-free steel production by 2030;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that technologies and practices to limit methane emissions from agriculture are developing at a fast pace, notes that many of the so-called solutions which are put forward by the industry are in fact only end-of-pipe measures, which do not address the roots of the problem and that implementation of these measures will delay effective action; calls on the Commission to ensure that only proven effective and cost-efficient innovationinnovations which are in line with the intrinsic value of animals and their enshrined right to be treated as sentient beings with full regard to their welfare requirements are quickly implemented in the EU and integrated into EU agriculture policies;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that many technologies and practices to limit and reduce methane emissions from agriculture already exist and that more are developing at a fast pace; calls on the Commission to ensure that proven effective and cost-efficient innovationmethane mitigation practices and technologies are quickly implemented in the EU and integrated into EU agriculture policies; stresses that while methane emission efficiency improvements in agriculture are welcome, efficiency improvements will not necessarily lead to absolute methane emissions reductions;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Recalls that agriculture is the largest single contributing sector to anthropogenic methane emissions in the EU; stresses that methane emissions in agriculture are primarily driven by livestock numbers, particularly ruminants such as cattle (for dairy and meat), sheep and goats, which are mainly associated with microbial activity in the digestive tracts of animals and manure management; deplores the lack of action of the methane strategy in targeting this source of methane emissions; calls on the Commission to put forward binding measures and emissions reduction targets covering the agricultural sector, which should take animal welfare fully into account;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Notes that large livestock farms with more than 50 livestock units account for about 70% of agricultural methane emissions, and 40% of total anthropogenic methane emissions in the EU; underlines that this makes mega livestock farms one of the biggest sources of methane emissions in the EU; emphasises that in addition to their methane emissions, mega livestock farms are extremely harmful for animal welfare, public health and the environment; stresses that this demonstrates an urgent need to swiftly phase out intensive animal agriculture in the EU, including a ban on the development of new mega livestock farms; calls on the Commission to put forward concrete and binding measures targeting the industrial livestock sector;
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12c. Stresses the need to swiftly move away from industrial animal farming, aiming at a 70% reduction in livestock numbers in the EU, with particular focus on Member States with high livestock density such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Notes the vast methane emissions from nitrogen-based fertiliser production; welcomes the targets to cut fertiliser use by 20% in the Farm to Fork Strategy and to halve nutrient losses; emphasises the importance of pursuing these targets through holistic and circular approaches to nutrients management, such as agroecological practices, which can deliver co-benefits for soil health and biodiversity;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Notes that according to Eurostat, in 2019, the ruminant livestock population of the EU consisted of 77 million bovine animals and 74 million sheep and goats, resulting in an enormous environmental impact, the emission of many greenhouse gases and harmful substances including methane, as well as biodiversity loss; notes that farmers rarely get fair prices for their animal products; emphasises that a reduction in the number of animals kept for agricultural purposes should be encouraged and calls in that regard for a European ban on the establishment, development and extension of factory farms, with appropriate support for small and medium-sized farms to prevent their further withdrawing from livestock production, and to prevent its further concentration and intensification;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12c. Deeply regrets that the opportunity to fundamentally reform the Common Agricultural Policy has been wasted, and that the positions taken by both Parliament and Council will further entrench unsustainable and environmentally damaging agricultural methods; points out that even the Commission's analysis shows that the ambitions and goals of the European Green Deal will not be met with the current positions of the legislators;
Amendment 291 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)
Paragraph 12 d (new)
12d. Demands that CAP support shall only be granted to farms that stay within a defined maximum livestock stocking density for a given river basin as defined in the Water Directive;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 e (new)
Paragraph 12 e (new)
12e. Calls for the mainstreaming of agroecological practice in EU agriculture and calls on the Commission to set a target of 50% of EU agricultural area to be managed through agroecological systems, including organic farming, by 2050;
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 f (new)
Paragraph 12 f (new)
12f. Recognises that the current European diet is not in line with recommendations for healthy eating; highlights that Europeans ate 69.3kg of meat per capita in 2018 1a; recalls that a sustainable, healthy diet requires a maximum consumption of 16kg of meat per capita per annum 1b; emphasises that EU-wide guidelines for sustainable and healthy diets would bring clarity to consumers on what constitutes a healthy and sustainable diet and inform Member States’ own efforts to integrate sustainability elements in national dietary advice; calls on the Commission to develop such guidelines and specific actions to effectively promote healthy plant-based diets; calls on the Commission to set measurable targets to reduce the consumption of meat in the EU; _________________ 1aEuropean Agricultural Outlook 2018- 2030 Report, 2018 1bEAT Lancet Commission 2019 report Food in The Anthropocene: the EAT- Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets From Sustainable Food Systems
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 g (new)
Paragraph 12 g (new)
12g. Welcomes the Strategy's acknowledgement that methane emissions from agriculture in the EU are, in particular, linked to intensive production;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 h (new)
Paragraph 12 h (new)
12h. Calls on the Commission to target super-emitters of agricultural methane using EU satellite capability in the same way the Commission proposes to target super-emitters in the energy sector;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 i (new)
Paragraph 12 i (new)
12i. Regrets the lack of any mandatory measures to deal with agricultural methane emissions;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 j (new)
Paragraph 12 j (new)
12j. Welcomes the Strategy's acknowledgement that biogas derived from food or feed crops increases methane emissions, and thus can undermine the mitigation benefits of biogas, and that biogas developments should be based primarily on waste or residues; calls on the Commission to develop a robust, independent certification of origin scheme for biogas production methods and feedstocks; stresses that biogas production should be based on a local, circular economy model to avoid transport-related emissions and costs; emphasises that no supports should incentivise the intensification of livestock agriculture;
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 k (new)
Paragraph 12 k (new)
12k. Welcomes the Commission's review of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED); calls on the Commission to propose the extension of the IED to include methane, and also to include cattle farming and aquaculture;
Amendment 299 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 l (new)
Paragraph 12 l (new)
12l. Emphasises that both UNFCCC Tier 1 and Tier 2 emission inventory methodologies already form the basis for reporting and measuring compliance in relation to existing environmental legislation, including the National Emission reduction Commitments Directive; insists that while the development and implementation of Tier 3 methodologies should be promoted and supported, this must not be treated as an essential pre-condition for action in relation to methane emissions reduction;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 m (new)
Paragraph 12 m (new)
12m. Stresses that action must be urgently taken in the EU to reduce methane emissions in the agricultural sector; regrets that the EU Methane Strategy did not present measures to do so; calls on the Commission to introduce legislative proposals under a framework on methane to specifically reduce methane emissions in the agricultural sector;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 n (new)
Paragraph 12 n (new)
12n. Considers it essential to take a holistic approach in the ecological transition for agriculture, considering and addressing all the challenges simultaneously, including animal welfare, antibiotic dependence, ammonia, nitrogen and methane emissions among the many other challenges; points to the co-benefits of organic agriculture and deintensification;
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 o (new)
Paragraph 12 o (new)
12o. Stresses the importance of ensuring ambitious measures for reductions in methane emissions in the agricultural sector; believes that these ambitious measures should be bolstered by supports at national level, including through the CAP, for farmers to ensure the transition is just, swift, and effective;
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 p (new)
Paragraph 12 p (new)
12p. Considers it essential that the EU's trade policy does not undermine any potential advances made by consumption within the EU; notes that EU's exports of meat and dairy are increasing, while domestic consumption of these products is decreasing; regrets that the EU promotional funds for farm products 2016-2020 was disproportionally spent on promoting meat and dairy;
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines the key role that the EU should play in supporting research, innovation and development, as well as in scaling up new technologies to hthe development of agro-ecological and plant-based agricultural practices, as welpl addresss in reducing the methane emissions from livestock agriculture, while protecting animal health and welfare; points especially to the need for multigenerational studies on feed additiv by reducing animal density and animal livestock numbers, while protecting animal health and welfare; points out that feed additives are no effective solution and could lead to serious animal health problems as well as to food safety issues;
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines the key role that the EU should play in supporting research, innovation and development, as well as in scaling up new sustainable technologies to help address methane emissions from livestock agriculture, while improtectving animal health and welfare; points especially to the need for multigenerational studies on feed additives;
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Warns against reliance on technological innovations such as the development of feed additives which do not address the root causes of methane emissions in the agricultural sector, nor the systemic environmental issues associated with industrial farming and can harm animal health and welfare; stresses instead the need to phase out industrial livestock farming and stimulate a transition towards plant-based diets in line with the objectives of the EU farm to fork strategy;
Amendment 333 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Emphasises that biogas production from agricultural waste and manure is an end-of-pipe solution that allows intensive livestock farming to continue business as usual; highlights that the promotion of biogas incentivises industrial livestock farming and thereby harms the environment, biodiversity, public health, animal welfare and small farmers;
Amendment 341 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Stresses that promoting biogas as a "solution" risks locking in unsustainable forms of animal production that further contribute to the root causes of harmful methane emissions in agriculture;
Amendment 343 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)
Paragraph 13 d (new)
13d. Emphasises the need to ensure that animal welfare does not suffer under new measures for the agricultural sector, including regarding methane; stresses that no measures, targets, or incentives should lead to a restriction of livestock animals to indoor confinements; emphasises that animals must be able to graze and roam outdoors and should not be prevented from exhibiting their natural behaviour;
Amendment 346 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 e (new)
Paragraph 13 e (new)
13e. Highlights that peatlands are the world’s largest terrestrial carbon store; underscores that the draining of peatlands for agriculture converts them from a carbon sink to a significant carbon source and makes them more susceptible to damaging wildfires; calls on the Commission to swiftly present an ambitious and concrete action plan to halt the conversion, draining and burning of peatlands and urgently stimulate their restoration and rewetting;
Amendment 362 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Member States to fully comply with the existing requirements of the Landfill Directive, including the objective for 2035, by which date the amount ofthe amount of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled is to be reduced to 10 35% or less of the total amount of biodegradable municipal waste generated, by weight; calls on the Commission to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure that Member States that are likely tohave missed that target take corrective measures and actions;
Amendment 366 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Reiterates its call in its Resolution 2020/2077 on the new Circular Economy Action Plan calling on the Commission to make legislative proposals to implement the goal of halving food waste by 2030;
Amendment 367 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Regrets that the Landfill Directive does not focus on waste prevention, therefore calls for its alignment with the overarching principles of the Circular Economy Action Plan; calls on the Commission to set the landfill target with reference to a baseline year, instead of "any given year" to reward waste reduction efforts, and to define a landfill cap in terms of kilograms of waste per capita per year rather than as a percentage so that the combined effect of reduction, reuse, recycling and composting delivers the best environmental result, while minimising landfilling of residuals and avoiding overcapacity of incineration that could cause lock-in and undermine the development of the circular economy;
Amendment 376 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Believes that incineration of municipal waste has no role in a fully circular economy; calls on Member States that are reliant on incineration of municipal waste to phase out support schemes for waste incineration, introduce moratoriums on new facilities and decommission older and less efficient ones;