Activities of Martin HOJSÍK related to 2021/2006(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
An EU strategy to reduce methane emissions (debate)
European Semester for economic policy coordination: annual sustainable growth survey 2022 – European Semester for economic policy coordination: employment and social aspects in the annual sustainable growth strategy survey 2022 (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on an EU strategy to reduce methane emissions
Amendments (50)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
— having regard to Articles 192 and 194 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the EU strategy to reduce methane (CH4) emissions as it is the second biggest contributor to the climate change after CO2; underlines that according to the UNEP´s Global Methane Assessment (2021) “reducing human- caused methane emissions is one of the most cost-effective strategies to rapidly reduce the rate of warming and contribute significantly to global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C”; supports a clear pathway and legislative framework to addresscut methane emissions in a more comprehensive fashion and across Europe, by fostering synergies between sectors to strengthen the business call sectors, including energy, waste and agriculture as more than half of global methane emissions stem from human activities in these sectors with fossil fuels accounting for 35% of human-caused emissions, waste for 20% and agriculture for 40%; whereas in the EU the biggest sources of anthropogenic methane emissions are gas & oil sector (16 %), waste for captursector (28 %) and agriculture (54%); Believes that the legal framework should include binding methane emissions; reduction targets;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
— having regard to the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) report of 6 May 2021 entitled “Global Methane Assessment: Benefits and Costs of Mitigating Methane Emissions”,
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)
Citation 3 b (new)
— having regard to the International Energy Agency report of 18 May 2021 entitled “Net Zero by 2050 - A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector”,
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 c (new)
Citation 3 c (new)
— having regard to Regulation (EU) No. [XX/XXX] establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 (European Climate Law),
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 28 November 2019 on the Climate and Environment Emergency,1a _________________ 1a Texts Adopted, P9_TA(2019)0078
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights the major role of natural gas in meeting today’s global energy demand and stresses that the part it plays in the energy transition will be influenced by the extent to which methane emissions are further reducedBelieves that fossil gas, consisting mostly of methane, has no long-term role in EU’s energy future and needs to be phased out as soon as possible in tandem with a swift move to a fully renewable energy system in order to reach climate neutrality by 2050; believes that the Member States should to this aim adopt fossil-gas phase-out plans with clear timeframes and intermediate targets, linked to the review and update of National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP); underlines that according to IEA´s Net Zero by 2050 report and pathway ‘there is no need for investment in new fossil fuel supply’;
Amendment 51 #
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 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Calls for the inclusion of methane emission reduction measures for abandoned mines and wells, and all future abandoned infrastructure; highlights in this respect, the importance of adequate decommissioning of unused gas and oil infrastructure;
Amendment 69 #
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 beaccording to the UNEP´s Global Methane Assessment (2021) “reducing human-caused methane emissions is one of the most cost-effective strategies to rapidly reduce the rate of warming and avoid some tipping points for global warmingcontribute significantly to global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C”;
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the preparation of legislation for the energy sector with binding rules on monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) and leak detection and repair, and the consideration of rules on routine venting and flaring (LDAR) to be applied across the full supply chain of oil, coal and fossil gas;
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Notes that some non-EU countries have already introduced a ban on venting and flaring; calls, therefore, on the Commission to introduce an immediate ban on venting and flaring in the upcoming legislative proposal on methane emissions, to be applied across the full supply chain of oil, coal and fossil gas;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas animal agriculture significantly contributes to methane emissions, particularly through enteric emissions and gaseous emissions from manure storage;
Amendment 79 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Calls on the Commission to apply the same obligations on MRV, LDAR and venting and flaring on all actors of the oil, coal and fossil gas value chain for oil and gas consumed in the EU, including actors from outside of the EU and during the production; believes that a credible system has to be put in place to ensure compliance of imports with the EU requirements;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas innovative and advanced technologies that can detect methane leaks in real time, including the type, size and direction of the plume, and that allow for immediate reaction and prevent large amounts of methane to be released in the air, already exist and can be immediately deployed;
Amendment 82 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3 c. Underlines that methane can warm the planet more than 80 times as much as carbon dioxide over a 20 year period, and the importance of tackling its emissions in addition to other GHGs; Believes therefore, that the CBAM would be more effective in contributing to the EU´s climate goals, stopping GHG border leakage and ensuring level playing field between the EU and third countries if it captures also leakage of other GHG such as methane;
Amendment 86 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3 d. Supports establishment of an independently audited and globally applicable certification system that would provide a credible assessment of the methane emissions performance of all fossil gas production around the world. Believes that the certification should be audited and verified by an independent third party and based on uniform approach for measurement based on detailed information at facility, asset and country level; Believes that the performance assessment could be used for an establishment of a grading system to serve to inform buyers and regulators;
Amendment 94 #
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 frameworkand clear framework with binding measures and targets covering the agriculture, waste and energy sectors;
Amendment 99 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that research, development and innovation and the implementation of fit-for-purpose technologies and practices to improve MRV and mitigate methane emissions are at the backbone of effective actioncrucial complimentary measures which will facilitate achieving 2030 and 2050 climate neutrality goals; supports the mobilisation of funding from Horizon Europe, including for establishing an international methane emissions observatory; underlines that the costs of pollution should not be passed on the citizens in line with the polluter pays principle;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the UNEP´s Global Methane Assessment (2021) monetized global benefits for all market and non- market impacts to be approximately $ 4 300 per tonne of methane reduced and that approximately 1 430 annual premature deaths could be prevented per tonne reduced; believes, therefore, that an impact assessment accompanying the legislative proposal should consider costs of the actions proposed as well as costs of inaction or delayed action;
Amendment 107 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. AgreStresses thate improved top-down data from satellites in the framework of the Copernicus programme, as well asortance of the Copernicus programme and its Atmosphere Monitoring Service in detecting and monitoring global super emitters as well as smaller scale sources; underlines that aerial monitoring, wi equally assists in targeting leak detection; strongly supports the sharing of information and technologies among stakeholders on EU and global level in order to catalyse abatement efforts; believes that independent, comparable, verifiable and transparent emissions data are key to gain knowledge about the size of the emission problem and to combat under-estimation of the size and amount of leaks;
Amendment 108 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Agrees that improved top-down data from satellites in the framework of the Copernicus programme, as well as aerial monitoring, will assist in targeting leak detection; strongly supports the sharing of information and technologies among stakeholders in order to catalyse abatement efforts; believes that independent, comparable, verifiable and transparent emissions data are key to gain knowledge about the size of the emission problem and to combat under-estimation of the size and amount of leaks;
Amendment 113 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for a thorough assessment of the cost efficiency of the actions proposed in the energy sector, which should consider local conditions and the specific aspects of the various parts of the value chain and provide flexibility to the industry for their implementaNotes that the UNECE (2021) monetized global benefits for all market and non-market impacts to be approximately $ 4 300 per tonne of methane reduced and that approximately 1 430 annual premature deaths could be prevented per tonne reduced; believes, therefore, that an impact assessment accompanying the legislative proposal should consider costs of the actions proposed as well as costs of inaction or delayed action;
Amendment 116 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for a thorough assessment ofto put environmental benefits as a priority while assessing the cost efficiency of the actions proposed in the energy sector, which should consider local conditions and the specific aspects of the various parts of the value chain and provide necessary flexibility to the industry for their implementationwithout undermining GHG reduction targets;
Amendment 117 #
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 in all sectors;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underscores the need to revise EU climate and environmental legislation in a coherent manner; takes the view that the binding emissions reduction targets for Member States in the Effort Sharing Regulation5 should remain the main legislative tool to reduce methane emissions as part of overall greenhouse gas reductions, while the Industrial Emissions Directive6 and other legislation cshould serve as a complementary tool; taking into account the need to avoid unnecessary overlaps between the legislations; calls on the Commission to assess the consistency of the National Emission Reduction Commitments Directive with meeting the EU´s air quality objectives as well as the Union's 2030 climate goals and its objective of climate neutrality in 2050 at the latest, as enshrined in the European Climate Law, and to revise it accordingly as soon as possible; _________________ 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 123 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to consider a target on renewable and decarbonised gases for 2030, as this would facilitate the development of biomethane and ensure the deployment of the most cost-efficient solutions across the Member States.Reiterates its support for the development of a decarbonised and circular energy system; highlights that the source separation and separate collection of bio-waste must go together with a feasible recovery solution; acknowledges the potential of anaerobic digestion from bio-waste which allows the production of biomethane; calls, however, on the Commission and Member States to take cautious approach in order to prevent potential harmful side effects linked to large scale production of biomethane;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that methane is a potent local air pollutant, which in itself causes serious health problems as it contributes to tropospheric ozone formation; welcomes therefore the planned revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and calls on the Commission to include methane in its list of polluting substances set out in Annex II;
Amendment 134 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Recalls that methane emissions from the waste sector comes partly from leaks out of biogas plants; calls on the Commission to publish guidelines on the best methods to build and operate biogas plants to address leaks due to poor maintenance, operation and design;
Amendment 135 #
4. Stresses the importance of developing an inventory of best practices and available technologies to promote the wider uptake of innovative mitigating actions across the EU and all relevant sectors;
Amendment 141 #
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 lowest possible costincentives and support to companies while fully respecting the polluter pays principle; underlines that according to the UNEP´s Global Methane Assessment (2021) approximately 60% of available targeted measures are low cost and 50% have negative costs, meaning that they pay for themselves quickly by saving companies money;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recognises the importance of voluntary industry initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions and consider, but underlines that there are limits to what can be achieved through voluntary action alone and that regulatory measures are urgently needed to step up the reductions of methane emissions; believes that any regulatory initiatives should build uptake into consideration best practices from existing voluntary actions and must be duly preceded by thorough impact assessmentsthat impact assessments accompanying the legislative proposals must also take into consideration costs of inaction or delayed action;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the upcoming legislative proposal on compulsory MRV and LDAR for all energy-related methane emissions; believes in this context that specific attention should be paid to principles of accuracy, regularity and independence; believes, furthermore, that leak detection should be followed by a sound recordkeeping and a requirement to repair potential leaks within a clear time frame;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Believes that fossil gas, consisting mostly of methane, has no long-term role in EU’s energy future and needs to be phased out as soon as possible in tandem with a transition to a highly energy efficient and highly renewables-based energy system within the Union in order to reach climate neutrality by 2050; believes that the Member States should therefore adopt fossil-gas phase-out plans with clear timeframes and intermediate targets, linked to the review and update of National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP); underlines that according to IEA´s Net Zero by 2050 report and pathway there is no need for investment in new fossil fuel supply;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal to consider legislatioNotes that some non-EU countries have already introduced a ban on venting and flaring; believes that the Commission should in the upcoming legislation on methane introduce an immediate ban on venting and flaring in the energy sector covering, if feasible,across the full supply chains; considers that existing national legislation addressing routine venting and flaring, taking into account complex safety and environmental aspects, must be taken into consideration when developingcomplement EU legislation;
Amendment 207 #
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 exploreavoid any delays and to design regulatory tools for fossil energy imports, including extending forthcoming obligations on MRV, LDAR, and venting and flaring to imporwhole supply chain including to imports; believes that a credible system has to be put in place to ensure compliance of imports with the EU requirements;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Underlines that the MRV, LDAR and the ban on routine venting and flaring (BRVF) requirements are on their own unlikely to deliver the most effective and economically efficient methane reductions; calls therefore on the Commission to develop within its legislative proposal emissions reduction targets, benchmarks and performance standards linked to clear timelines;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Supports the establishment of an independently audited and globally applicable certification system that would provide a credible assessment of the methane emissions performance of all natural gas production around the world; believes that the certification should be audited and verified by an independent third party and based on uniform approach for measurement based on detailed information at facility, asset and country level; believes that the performance assessment could be used for an establishment of a grading system to serve to inform buyers and regulators in an objective way;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Commission to support the establishment of an independent international methane emissions observatory, in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Energy Agency, tasked with collecting, reconciling, verifying and publishing anthropogenic methane emissions data at a global level; believes that independent, comparable, verifiable and transparent emissions data are key to gain knowledge about the size of the emission problem and to combat under- estimation of the size and amount of leaks;
Amendment 234 #
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 measures and activities to improve available datasets should follow the planned revision of E-PRTR;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Highlights in this respect also the importance of adequate decommissioning of unused gas and oil infrastructure;
Amendment 260 #
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, but are unlikely on their own to solve the emissions problems associated with animal agricultural production; calls on the Commission to ensure that proven effective and cost-efficient innovations are quickly implemented in the EU and integrated into EU aCommon Agriculture pPoliciesy;
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Expresses its concern that agriculture represents the largest share of anthropogenic methane emission sources in the EU; calls on the Member States to introduce effective and sustainable measures to address those emissions in their National Strategic Plans and calls on the Commission to analyse those thoroughly before approving the Plans with the aim of ensuring policy coherence;
Amendment 307 #
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 help address methane emissions from livestock agriculture, while protecting animal health and welfare; points especially to the need for multigenerational studies on feed additivesapplying the precautionary principle and for multigenerational studies on feed additives; reminds that while methane emissions from ruminants may be reduced by the manipulation of factors, such as feed additives, levels of feed intake, types of carbohydrates in diet, improvements in animal welfare and - as underlined by the EU Farm to Fork Strategy – a transition towards more sustainable livestock farming, more sustainable and plant- based diet are also necessary to reduce the environmental and climate impact of agricultural production;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls for better coordination and improved infrastructure between farmers and renewable energy producers in order to enable the uptake of locally connected production of biogas; furthermore highlights the importance of returning high quality natural fertilizer, which is the by-product of biogas production, to the farms again;
Amendment 329 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Amendment 351 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Commission to revise the Sewage Sludge Directive7 and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive8 in 2022; calls on the Commission furthermore to be ambitious and to integrate a strong focus on methane emissions in the upcoming revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and in the 2024 review of the Landfill Directive9 ; highlights the need for measures to require landfill sites to use the bio-methane they produce until its energy content drops below a useful value; _________________ 7 Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture. OJ L 181, 4.7.1986, p. 6. 8 Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment. OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40. 9Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste. OJ L 182, 16.7.1999, p. 1.
Amendment 354 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Recalls that methane emissions from the waste sector comes partly from leaks out of biogas plants; calls on the Commission to publish guidelines on the best methods to build and operate biogas plants to address leaks due to poor maintenance, operation and design;
Amendment 356 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Recalls that the IED has successively contributed to reducing pollution from industrial activities; underlines that landfill disposal, at the bottom of the waste hierarchy, is the most polluting way to manage waste both in terms of GHG emissions and other pollutants to air, soil and water; highlights however that landfill disposal is not covered by any Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Documents (BREF); calls on the Commission to produce a BREF document for landfilling, which will include, among others, provisions on methane;
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. CallRegrets the lack of focus onf the Member States to fully comply with the existing requirements of the Landfill Directive, including the objective for 2035, by which date the amount of municipal waste landfilled is to be reduced to 10 % or less of the total amount ofLandfill Directive on the prevention, therefore calls for its alignment with the overarching principles of the Circular Economy Action Plan; reiterates its call in Resolution 2020/2077 on the new Circular Economy Action Plan that the 10% landfill target should be set on a baseline year as kg of waste per person per year, so that the combined effect of reduction, reuse, recycling and composting delivers the best environmental result, while muinicipal waste generated, by weight;mising landfilling of residuals, as well as the calls on the Commission to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure that Member States that are likely to miss that target take corrective measures and actionspropose targets to cap the generation of residual waste in the review of the Waste Directive and Landfill Directive foreseen for2024;