Activities of Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ related to 2022/2016(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on a new EU forest strategy for 2030 – sustainable forest management in Europe
Amendments (11)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Welcomes the new EU forest strategy for 2030 as one of the flagship initiatives of the European Green Deal to achieving the EU’s biodiversity objectives as well as greenhouse gas emission reduction target of at least 55% by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050.
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls the EU’s responsibility in the protection, restoration and resilience of the world’s forests, which should prioritise proforestation in forest management as a strategy for increasing carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits; in that sense underlines in particular the importance of increasing tree cover, restoring damaged ecosystems and regenerating soils through reforestation and afforestation programmes based on clear ecological principles while pursuing the achievement of Agenda 2030.
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recognises the multifunctional role of forests; stresses that policies that enhance biodiversity will help tackle climate change; calls on the EU to address the challenges and trade-offs resulting from the increasing demand for wood for materials, energy and the bioeconomy and the related rising risks of embodied deforestation imports, land grabbing, illegal logging and violation of indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ rights; asks the Commission and its Member States to maintain the commitment to fighting against illegal logging as well as trade in illegal timber and forest-risk commodities
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that EU bioenergy policy, notably the Renewable Energy Directive, must meet strict environmental and social criteria, reflecting the need to ensure effective recognition of and respect for customary land tenure rights of forest- dependent communities and of indigenous people; calls on the Commission to address explicitly the human rights of indigenous peoples and local communities under forest law, governance and trade voluntary partnership agreements (FLEGT VPAs);
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Union and its Member States to exclude burning forest biomass from any renewable energy targets4. Welcomes the additional strengthened sustainability criteria for bioenergy proposed by the Commission for the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive; calls on the Union and its Member States to exclude burning forest biomass from any renewable energy targets when this bioenergy does not complies with the sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria of the revisited Renewable Energy Directive ;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Recalls that indigenous people, local communities, small holder farmers and women possess and heavily rely on indispensable knowledge regarding forests; stresses the fact that preserving natural resources is not just a matter of protecting biodiversity, but also a question of social justice in the vision of an ecological restoration.
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Expresses its concern over the generalised lack of protection of human rights and environmental defenders as they suffer ill treatment and even killings in third countries including developing countries; calls on the EU to make the fight against impunity one of its key priorities by creating instruments which allow for the full, effective and sustained implementation of human rights and environmental laws and their enforcement;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Recalls its previous position on the impact of the nexus of climate change, environmental degradation and natural disasters as a driver of migration and climate-induced displacement and regrets the lack of human rights protection at international level for individuals who are suffering as a result; calls on the Commission and the Member States to strengthen the role and capacity of regional human rights bodies and other mechanisms in addressing the nexus of climate change and human rights, promoting environmental rights and protecting environmental rights defenders in third countries;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls that the sustainability chapters of trade agreements must contain binding and enforceable forest-specific, human rights and responsible business conduct provisions; insists on the strategic importance of robust, coherent and enforceable sustainability chapters in trade agreements, along with an effective implementation of multilateral environmental and climate agreements; invites the Commission to carefully assess the impacts of trade agreements on deforestation in the Sustainability Impact Assessments (SIAs) and other relevant assessments, based on solid data and evaluation methodologies.
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Welcomes the commitment by the Commission to increase supply chain sustainability and transparency; calls to this regard for the adoption of mandatory due diligence obligations to be applied to all operators involved in forest-risk commodity supply chains and invites the Commission to promote such a binding regulatory framework at international level, with the aim of promoting transparency and enforcing proportionate but dissuasive sanctioning mechanisms, also in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for the forestry sector to feature prominently in the 30 % spending target on climate of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – Global Europe, including financial or technical assistance for forest-producer partner countries; calls on EU Delegations in third countries to promote the exchange of best practices and disseminate European know- how in this regard.