12 Amendments of Asger CHRISTENSEN related to 2020/2074(INI)
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that cohesion policy must support strong climate mainstreaming in agriculture and food-related sectors, and considers that the agricultural sector is the sector most critically exposed to the consequences of climate change; highlights that namely changes in temperature and precipitation as well as weather and climate extremes are already influencing crop yields and livestock productivity in Europe; moreover notes that the agricultural sector is of strategic importance for EU and global food security;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the agricultural and forestry sectors are an important driver in the green transition; therefore highlights that future actions should focus on adaptation, mitigation and biodiversity; furthermore, notes that in order to harvest the full potential of technological innovations, substantial research is needed in order to develop both plant and livestock production, e.g. plant breeding, grass that sequester more carbon, biogas and biomass valorisation;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that, in order to reach the target of a 3255% reduction in GHG emissions in 2030, allocations from ESI funds supporting the transition towards climate neutrality in all eligible sectors would have to at least double, and 40% of ERDF resources would need to be allocated to the ‘green, low-carbon objective’1 ; underlines that research and investments in climate-effective agricultural solutions should be integrated into regional environmental strategies; __________________ 1 https://www.caneurope.org/docman/climat e-finance-development/3599-funding- climate-and-energy-transition-in-the-eu/file
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the importance of linking regional environmental strategies to ambitious climate targets that go beyond the overall target ofaim at achieving a climate- neutral EU by 2050, taking into account the potesubstantial contribution of the farming, food and forestry sectors; stresses the need to take a balanced approach to sustainability in agriculture that considers existing trade- offs between improving its climate and biodiversity footprints, as well as economic and social aspects;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the importance of linking regional urban and rural environmental strategies to ambitious climate targets that go beyond the overall target ofaim at achieving a climate- neutral EU by 2050, taking into account the potesubstantial contribution of the farming, food and forestry sectors;
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that regional environmental strategies should support renewable energy production and resource efficiency in the farming, food and forestry sectors; suggests that the relevant authorities prioritise the most sustainable options, such as wind or solar, and subject bioenergy projects to strict sustainability criteria. Urges relevant authorities to further develop the circular economy and bio-economy in their regional environmental strategies; highlights within this context that the agricultural sector has the potential to produce renewable energy such as biogas from agricultural waste and residues such as manure, or from other sources of waste and residues from the food industry, sewage, wastewater and municipal waste. Furthermore consider that regional environmental strategies should enhance efficient and sustainable farm business models for nutrient recovery and recycling. Urges greater research, prioritisation and investment in these options, and calls for a supportive policy framework;
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that the development of the circular economy and bio-economy will create more jobs in the primary production and stresses that the bio- economy requires new skills, new knowledge and new disciplines be developed and/or integrated further in training and education in this sector in order to tackle bio economy-related societal changes, promote competitiveness, growth and job creation, meet the needs of the sector and ensure that skills and jobs are better matched;
Amendment 77 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that the production of renewable energies such as biogas offers huge potential for farmers to increase their climate efficiency as well as to help making sustainable farming a profitable business model that offers growth and (skilled) job opportunities in rural areas; underlines that necessary investments are substantial and farmers hence require accessible funding;
Amendment 84 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights the importance of re- localising food promoting sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing Europeand feed production, notably the production of plant proteins, in climate change mitigation, as this and effective use crops like perennial grass which contribute significantly to mitigate climate change and restore the environmental balance; finds that investing in perennial grass as an alternative protein source will shortens transport distances and limits deforestation;contribute to the limitation of deforestation; moreover consider that such investments allows for a greening of rural communities and job markets through the establishment of local green biorefineries underlines the opportunities offered by cohesion policy and regional environmental strategies in supporting this re-localisation;
Amendment 124 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that EU macro-regional strategies should help build cooperation in order to solve regional issues linked to climate mitigation and adaptation in the farming, food and forestry sectors, in fields such as flood and fire protection, efficient collective waste management, including with the aim of energy production, and the re-localisation ofpromotion of sustainable food production.
Amendment 131 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Welcomes the intention of the European Commission to present a strategy for rural areas and stresses the need to reinforce the synergies between the different structural and investment funds with the objective to help agri-food sectors improve their economic resilience and environmental sustainability.
Amendment 138 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Highlights the need to strengthen EU investments on broadband in rural areas to enable farmers to integrate digital technologies in order to develop precision farming, as it will be essential for their ecological transition.