Activities of Jutta PAULUS related to 2021/2188(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on toward a sustainable blue economy in the EU: the role of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors
Amendments (44)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
— having regard to the Agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015 (the Paris Agreement);
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Citation 1 b (new)
Citation 1 b (new)
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Citation 1 c (new)
Citation 1 c (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 28 November 2019 on the climate and environment emergency;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Citation 1 d (new)
Citation 1 d (new)
— having regard to Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Citation 1 e (new)
Citation 1 e (new)
— having regard to Directive(EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Citation 1 f (new)
Citation 1 f (new)
— having regard to the EU Action Plan: 'Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil';
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Citation 1 g (new)
Citation 1 g (new)
— having regard to Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marineenvironmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive);
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Citation 1 h (new)
Citation 1 h (new)
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU’s blue economy is a broad and fast-moving industry that has taken significant steps over the past decade to modernise and diversify itself, while providing 4.5 million direct jobs in sectors based in the marine environment and on landconcept of a sustainable blue economy has been established to maintain healthy and productive oceans and to facilitate the preservation and restoration of their ecosystems as essential for the humankind while developing within ecological limits, the Atlantic ocean accounts for 36 % of the EU’s blue economy gross added value;
Amendment 19 #
A a. whereas healthy oceans and the preservation and restoration of their ecosystems are essential for humankind as climate regulators, as producers of at least half the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere, as hosts of biodiversity, as a source for global food security and human health, and as a source of economic activities including fisheries, transport, trade, tourism, renewable energy and health products, which should be based on the principle of sustainability;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas the blue economy sector must contribute to a renewable energy transition, in particular by exploring renewable energies, expanding their potential offshore and by more sustainable management facilitating the preservation and the restoration of maritime ecosystems;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
A c. Whereas if the global blue economy were compared to a national economy, it would be the seventh largest in the world, and the ocean as an economic entity would be a member of the G7; whereas it operates in the planet’s vastest ecosystem: oceans hold 80% of all life forms; whereas the ocean surrounds and sustains us and provides critical resources for human health, not to mention a web of economic interactions 1c; _________________ 1cCommission communication on a new approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU Transforming the EU's Blue Economy for a Sustainable Future
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
A d. Whereas economic activities have a cumulative impact on the marine environment, from visible pollution such as plastic litter and oil spills to invisible pollution such as microplastics, underwater noise, exhaust emissions, chemicals and run-off nutrients; whereas the effects of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions are devastating on our ocean, coasts and people living in those areas, ranging from changes in water temperature, to acidification, rising sea levels and more frequent and intense flooding and erosion; whereas coupled with the major threat posed by biodiversity loss, which is driven by climate change, pollution, over- exploitation of resources and the destruction of natural habitats, these impacts will challenge the resilience of the blue economy and society as a whole.
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
A e. whereas a sustainable blue economy that develops within ecological limits can contribute to the EU's carbon neutrality goal by greening maritime transport and ports;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Recital A f (new)
Recital A f (new)
A f. whereas global CO2 emissions from maritime transport are projected to increase by 90 % to 130 % of 2008 emissions by 2050 if we continue business as usual1aa; whereas CO2 emissions from maritime transport at European level are expected to increase by 86 % compared with 1990 levels by 2050, unless further action is taken; whereas greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from maritime transport are estimated to account for 2 % to 3 % of total global GHG emissions; whereas GHG emissions from maritime transport had already increased by 9.6 % between 2012 and 2018, including a sharp increase in methane emissions of 150 % due to the increase in ships using fossil liquefied naturalgas (LNG)1a; whereas according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, there is a 66 % chance of staying below 1.5°C if CO2 emissions from the beginning of 2018 onwards are limited to between 420 GtCO2and 570 GtCO2, and a 50 % chance of staying below 1.5°C if emissions from 2018 are limited to between 580 GtCO2 and 770 GtCO2, depending on the temperature reference used (global mean surface temperature or global mean surface air temperature) and without taking into account Earth system feedbacks and various uncertainties1b; whereas given that the average lifespan of a ship can be 25 to 30 years, maritime transport decisions taken today will be critical for 2050 emission levels; whereas the sector has so far not been included in the Union’s commitment to reducing GHG emissions; whereas overall carbon intensity, as an average across international shipping, is 21 % and 29 % better than in 2008, measured as an annual efficiency ratio (AER) and energy efficiency operational indicator (EEOI) respectively; _________________ 1a Fourth IMO GHG Study, 2020 1aa Fourth IMO GHG Study, 2020 1b IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, 2018
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Recital A g (new)
Recital A g (new)
A g. whereas marine fuels are not taxed; whereas electricity on board is generated by burning fuel, even when vessels are docked; whereas, unlike shoreside electricity, this fuel is exempt from tax;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Recital A h (new)
Recital A h (new)
A h. whereas every year around 27,000 tonnes of macro-plastics (mostly single- use plastics, lost or discarded fishing gear and waste discharged from ships) enter European seas;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Recital A i (new)
Recital A i (new)
A i. whereas biodiversity conservation and protection should be considered as foundational principles of maritime economic activity;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Recital A j (new)
Recital A j (new)
A j. whereas the aim of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is to protect and preserve the marine environment, prevent its deterioration and restore marine ecosystems, and to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) for EU marine waters by2020;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas maritime and coastal tourism constitute a pillar of the sustainable blue economy, with over half of the EU’s thile the Communication on Touristm accommodation located in coastal areand Transport in 2020 and Beyond also underscores the importance of protecting and restoring Europe’s land 30 % of overnight stays occurring at beach resortsand marine natural capital, in line with the strategic approach for a sustainable blue and green economy;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas increased coordination and cooperation between Atlantic regions constitutes the only way forward towards fighting climate change and biodiversity loss, which affect ocean habitats and coastal communities and towards alleviating the side effects of Brexit;
Amendment 40 #
1. Supports the principle of sustainable development within the blue ility as the main driver for long- term economic development and particularly in the Atlantic area, through maritime transport, shipbuilding, biotecohnomy as a driver of economic growth in the EU, in particular in the Atlantic and Mediterranean areas, as a way to foster a number of sectors such as maritime transport, shipbuilding, biotechnology, sustainable tourism, offshore wind, fishing and aquaculture, and wave and tidallogy, fishing and aquaculture, sustainable tourism, offshore wind, wave and tidal energy; calls on the Commission to promote research, development and science-based innovation as tools that contribute towards: - the renewable energy transition through the use of sustainable renewables, e-fuels and the diversification of the EU’s energy sources, - the further development of the green- ship concept as well as - the identification of shipping routes that merit the introduction of slow steaming - sustainable tourism building on resource efficiency, circular materials and renewable energy;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Highlights the importance of effective Maritime Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Management that needs to include community engagement in the development of the sustainable blue economy that develops within ecological limits and the protection of the marine environment; highlights that the considerable implementation gap must be bridged to scale up marine protection from the current 11% to a 30% area coverage by 2030, meet ambitious depollution targets in our seas and make the most of Europe’s natural and maritime assets to attain Europe’s 2030 targets and climate neutrality ambition;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Recalls the EU’s commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gases emissions target by2050 at the latest; stresses that these emissions should be reduced by at least 65% by 2030 compared to 1990 emissions in order for the Union to contribute to limiting global warming to less than 1.5°C by the end of the century, in line with the latest scientific evidence; strongly emphasises that all sectors have to contribute to achieve these targets, including transport and tourism, which necessitates rapid phase out of fossil fuels and fossil fuel subsidies and a massive increase in renewable energy production including offshore wind; calls therefore for a ban of oil and gas exploration in European waters; reminds that islands and coastal areas are often prime tourism destination, but are particularly affected by sea level rise;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Recalls the existence of tools to tackle degassing at sea such as the European CleanSeaNet programme, which aims to identify and monitor oil pollution and contribute to the identification of polluters; underlines, however, that infractions are still common and that further measures and sanctions are necessary to reduce this source of pollution; emphasises that regional cooperation, including with third countries, is essential in this area, especially in the Mediterranean Sea; calls on the Commission, therefore, to reinforce the exchange of information and cooperation on sanctions among countries, and to encourage the deployment of legal degassing infrastructure in ports;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to promote the establishment of maritime transport partnerships with the private sector in order to improve innovation and strengthen competitivenessensure that all blue economy operators endorse and comply with the principles of the European Green Deal; highlights that the shift to creating a sustainable blue economy that develops within ecological limits will rely on even closer engagement with stakeholders, from businesses large, small and micro-level to regional and local governance, local groups, to young people passionate about the health of our ocean and the general public;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Calls on the Commission to base targets for emission reduction on a life- cycle assessment; calls on the Commission to support investment and research in new technologies, alternative zero-emission propulsion technologies, and sustainable alternative fuels and energy storage, in order to find long-term solutions for the decarbonisation of maritime transport while ensuring the sector’s competitiveness; highlights, in particular, the potential of electrification and green hydrogen- and renewable- based e-fuels such as ammonia and methanol; emphasises that alternative fuels must not increase GHG emissions; recalls that methane emissions have a significant impact on climate change and expresses concerns in this regard about the use of fossil LNG due to its combustion emission (CO2, unburned methane) and upstream methane emissions from leakages, since methane is 82 times as strong as CO2 on a 20 year time frame 2a; calls on the Commission to make slow steaming with its considerable GHG saving potential a legal requirement; condemns in this regard that the AFIR still requires the deployment of fossil LNG refueling infrastructure; _________________ 2aIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) sixth assessment report (AR6)
Amendment 65 #
2 b. Emphasises that management, preservation and restoration of marine ecosystems are key investments for achieving climate neutrality, as they will enhance natural carbon sinks such as mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds and salt marshes, thus lowering net emissions and enhancing biodiversity as well as resilience to climate change impacts; points out that healthy coastal ecosystems play an important role in climate change adaptation, especially concerning rising sea levels and increasing severe weather events; notes that only healthy marine ecosystems can be a basis for a sound and sustainable blue economy that develops within ecological limits and calls on the Commission to continue to research the cumulative impacts of human uses of the marine environment and maritime activities of all sectors;
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Stresses that in order to limit the devastating effects of global warming on marine aquatic ecosystems, rising water temperatures and ocean acidification, changes in water flow, and fish habitat loss, productivity of marine and fresh water species, combating climate change with higher capacities of offshore wind energy is vital; emphasises that if designed and built sensibly, offshore windfarms can benefit marine biodiversity; recalls, however, that a strong expansion of offshore wind energy production requires an intelligent approach to ensure its coexistence with the activities that already take place in the affected areas as well as to do least possible harm to environment; highlights in that regard that noise pollution from windfarm construction and operation, but especially from maritime transport has a negative impact on the marine ecosystem and needs to urgently be addressed in environmental legislation;
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2 d. Calls on the Commission to ensure that all ship-owners and commercial operators implement all available operational and technical measures to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2, methane and black carbon emissions from maritime transport in the short term; urges, in particular, the rapid deployment of measures such as slow steaming and speed optimisation, windpropulsion, anti-fouling coatings, electrification from renewable sources and energy storage, but also digitalisation and logistics optimisation, while constantly applying the ‘energy efficiency first’ and energy sobriety principles;
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2 e. Calls on the Commission to tackle the marine noise pollution that is induced by maritime transport, oil and gas exploration and production and building of infrastructure underwater;
Amendment 71 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 f (new)
Paragraph 2 f (new)
2 f. calls on the Commission to support the signatories of the Clydebank declaration by developing technology, expertise and port infrastructure and indeed study other potential international shipping routes to go zero-carbon, as part of a strategy to decarbonise the entire industry;
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to complete TEN-T priority projects within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), in particular projects involving the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and cross-border areas, while promoting the full development of the motorways of the sea and to better integrate short sea shipping to distribute goods more widely via ports and thereby to avoid harmful road freight transport; stresses the need where geographically feasible, to chose the most sustainable modes of transportsuch as rail and inland waterways transport for hinterland distribution in order to rely increasingly on alternatives to road freight transport; welcomes, in this context the changed post-Brexit maritime freight routes between Ireland and the mainland EU that have opened up and that transport goods by sea much closer to their end-market destinations, thereby reducing the necessary last mile road freight leg; calls ofn the TEN-T motorways of the sea and the connection of islands to the mainlandCommission to make every effort to include the UK and relevant agencies of the UK building on a history of good cooperation in this area;
Amendment 84 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights that fostering the blue economy is key to reviving the economy as a whole and restoring the social aspects of several sectors severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemicthe EU’s recovery efforts must be centred on sustainability in line with the Green Deal objectives; calls on the Commission to promote research, development and innovation as tools that contribute towards a clean transition; urges the Commission to only spend EU taxpayers’ money for sustainable projects that contribute to the EU's goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest and to prevent stranded assets; considers that EU public funding should only be used for projects and measures that do not risk lock-in effects in fossil fuels; demands the Commission to conduct life-cycle assessments of projects that are to receive support in order for them to be in line with the principles of a zero-pollution circular economy, taking into account all GHG emissions and effects on pollution and land use; recommends to take an ecosystem-based approach to management of human activities at sea and the application of Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive in the European Union’s blue economy to help achieve this dual challenge: if put on a more sustainable path, it will become a font of action and ideas creating innovation, spurring fast and lasting recovery and protecting our planet;
Amendment 87 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Highlights the fact that investment in coordination and cooperation between seaports, which act as gateways and hubs, is a priority for the blue economy, not least because a more efficient and environmentally sustainable guidance of transport flows to end-markets could avoid substantially more harmful distribution of goods via road transport; stresses that ports must play a key role in the shift towards sustainability and achieving balanced distribution across the territory; calls on the Commission to develop different scenarios for maritime trade and take adequate measures to prepare for sea level rise and intensification of severe weather events; welcomes the positive environmental elements of the Atlantic Strategy, including the creation of a network of green ports, focus on renewable energy development and coastal protection measures; calls on the Commission to set up a regulation for port call optimization to improve the energy efficiency of ships and reduce air pollutants in ports; calls on the Commission to ensure that ships at berth to switch-off their engines and connect to the land electricity grid (SSE) or use other energy sources with equivalent effect;
Amendment 88 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Highlights the importance of climate risk assessment and management and adaptation measures that are necessary to protect coastal communities, habitats and biodiversity and that would represent costs well spent vis-a-vis the enormous climate change impacts and resulting costs; calls on the Commission to set up an alert and observation system for increased storms and floods due to climate change and to provide adequate long-term environmental and health monitoring and conduct research into early warnings; highlights in that regard that adequate resources should be given to EMSA toset up and manage such a system;
Amendment 89 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Calls on the Commission to work towards the enlargement of SECA and NECA zones to all EU coastlines and all heavily polluted seas;
Amendment 90 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Stresses that space allocation should be the result of a joint maritime spatial planning (MSP) and integrated coastal management (ICM) that goes beyond national borders; highlights in this regard the importance of the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) and the need to include the UK again;
Amendment 92 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to include sustainabledevelop new forms of maritime and coastal tourism to preserve marine all related action plans and programmes and to encond coastal habitats; highlights the importance of the circular economy in the tourism sector, which should be the guiding principle alongside zero pollution, energy efficiency and biodiversity preservation, urages the diversification of this kind of tourism, while helping to boost tourism activities and increase employment all year round. sector to develop more sustainable practices, in particular more sustainable mobility management of tourists; calls on the Commission to develop pilot areas to test methods of coastal protection and promote nature-based solutions; calls on the Member States to propose the inclusion in their Partnership Agreement of specific programs and actions to support litter-free coastal areas/ communities and to promote and incentivise passive fishing-for-litter schemes and actions;
Amendment 94 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Supports sustainable practices in coastal and maritime tourism, since they are essential for the competitiveness of the Atlantic area and in the creation of high- value jobs focusing on blue education and vocational training while maintaining EU minimum standards that are mutually recognized; stresses that specific education and training on blue economy, including through ESF+ would contribute to raising awareness of marine ecosystems and of the need to protecting by tackling the problem of marine litter;
Amendment 96 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 5 – point 1 (new)
(1) Stresses the necessity to preserve our natural capital and heritage to encourage sustainable tourism (e.g. eco- tourism), and calls upon Member States to protect biodiversity by urgently delivering marine conservation (including trans- border) actions to protect, restore and value marine and coastal ecosystems, including through the marine Natura 2000 networks
Amendment 98 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 5 – point 2 (new)
(2) Urges the Commission to further develop the ‘Virtual Tourism Observatory’ and to link up with research institutes, enterprises and public authorities with the aim of driving forward market research, providing enterprises and public authorities with forward-looking information on the development of supply and demand and creating more favourable business conditions and which provides information on the link between biodiversity, climate protection and sustainable tourism initiatives;
Amendment 102 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Calls on the Commission to take action to prevent marine pollution resulting from deliberate and accidental spills of oils including illegal tank cleaning and other harmful substances, and increasingly utilise SafeSea net by EMSA;
Amendment 103 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Highlights the immense problem of plastic pollution in the Atlantic, the urgent need to clean-up our oceans; demands to stop exporting waste to countries outside the EU but rather invest in recycling facilities in the EU; calls on the Commission to make marking of fishing gear mandatory and to prohibit the use of plastic dolly ropes; urges the Commission to fulfil the zero pollution action plan by ambitious legislative proposals to minimise pollution of waterways and - ultimately as well as directly - oceans through chemicals and pharmaceuticals; recognises that more efficient resources use, combined with enhanced recycling policies offer a much more cost-effective and sustainable approach to meeting our mineral needs than marine mining and notes the greater and more long-term employment opportunities that lie in this alternative approach;