107 Amendments of Mick WALLACE related to 2020/0300(COD)
Amendment 25 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) According to the EEA report ‘The European environment – state and outlook 2020, Knowledge for transition to a sustainable Europe’ (‘SOER 2020’), 2020 represents a unique window of opportunity for the Union to show leadership on sustainability and to face the urgent sustainability challenges requiring systemic solutions. As stated in SOER 2020, the changes in the global climate and ecosystems observed since the 1950s are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The global population has tripled since 1950, while the population living in cities has quadrupled. With the current growth model, environmental pressures are expected to increase further, causing direct and indirect harmful effects on human health and well-being. This is especially true for the sectors with the highest environmental impact – food, mobility, energy as well as infrastructure and buildings. In that regard, it is important to change our approach to mobility and to stop the dogma of individualisation in favour of a common practice of mobility at all scales; to allow the setting up of multimodal platforms for the sustainable transport of passengers and freight; to align European trade policies with European environmental objectives by favouring the reduction of long-distance freight transport with a significant carbon footprint.
Amendment 28 #
(5) The European Commission partially responded to the challenges identified in the SOER 2020 by adopting the European Green Deal25 : a new growth strategy for the twin green and digital transition that aims to transform the Union into a fair and prosperous society, with a competitive, climate-neutral and resource-efficient economy. Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council26 enshrines into law the Union target to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. _________________ 25 COM(2019) 640 final. 26 COM(2020) 80 final.
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The European Green Deal underpins the Next Generation EU Recovery Plan which promotes the investments in key green sectors needed to build resilience, and create growth and jobs in a fair and inclusive society. The Recovery and Resilience Facility which will power the Union’s economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis together with the Union budget for 2021-2027, is also based on the priority objectives set out in the European Green Deal. The gearing of the economic recovery offers a unique opportunity to accelerate the pace of the transition to climate neutrality by prioritising investments in decarbonisation and real sustainable technologies. Achieving this goal will require action from each mode of transport. This will require opening up the debate on public investment in transport modes that offer no prospect of sustainability for the next decade, questioning energy taxation policy and fuel subsidies. Strict environmental criteria for new fuels, including hydrogen, will also have to be put in place to avoid the perpetuation of the fossil fuel industry. Furthermore, all initiatives under Next Generation EU Recovery Plan should respect the European Green Deal’s “do no harm” oath.
Amendment 37 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Environment action programmes have guided the development of EU environment policy since the early 1970s. The 7th EAP will expired on 31 December 2020 and its Article 4 (3) requires the Commission, if appropriate, to present a proposal for an Eighth Environment Action Programme (8th EAP) in a timely manner with a view to avoiding a gap between the 7th and the 8th EAP. The European Green Deal announced the adoption of a new environment action programme. Regretfully, the adoption of the proposal did not avoid a gap between the 7th and the 8th EAP, despite this being easily avoidable. A new proposal for an EAP is always considered appropriate when the EAP is due to expire.
Amendment 50 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The 8th EAP should set out thematic priority objectives in areas of climate neutralitychange mitigation, adaption to climate change, protecting and restoring biodiversity, circular economy, the zero pollution ambition and reducing environmental pressures from production and consumption, circular economy, including reducing production and consumption and related environmental pressures. It should furthermore identify the enabling condinecessary actions to achieve the long-term and the thematic priority objectives for all actors involved.
Amendment 52 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10 a) The 8th EAP long-term and thematic priority objectives should regularly assessing all Union policies to identify inconsistencies between Union policies and policy objectives of this EAP to ensure coherence, consistency and the achievement of these objectives
Amendment 57 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Enhanced cooperation with partner countries, good global environmental governance as well as synergies between internal and external Union policies are key to reach the Union’s environmental and climate objectives. In the transport sector, the Union faces increasing competition from growing actors from other regions of the world and is closely linked to the dynamics of international trade, mainly due to its policy of further liberalisation. This is particularly true in the aviation sector, where the signing of air service agreements with third countries does not help to alleviate the capacity problem, the reduction of emissions from the sector and the deterioration of working conditions.
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Enhanced cCooperation in good faith with partner countries, goodrobust global environmental governance as well as synergiesconsistency between internal and external Union policies are key to reach the Union’s environmental and climate objectives. It is crucial that the Union engage with the Global South countries in a way that fully respects their sovereignty and rights, including the right to a healthy environment.
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 19 a (new)
Recital 19 a (new)
(19 a) World GDP is currently poorly distributed and poorly utilised, with total global GDP already well in excess of what is associated with very high levels of human development for all. Despite this, 10 % of the world's population live in extreme poverty, with no access to basic rights, while the richest 5 % in the world capture 46 % of total global GDP. The world currently experiences intolerable levels of deprivation, and intolerable levels of excess, with a huge environmental impact for the latter dependent on the underdevelopment of the global poor. "Degrowth" is not about reducing GDP, but reducing this excess resource and energy throughput while at the same time improving human well- being and social outcomes, scaling down only the unnecessary and destructive sectors. Development for all and ecological restoration can go hand in hand, but this depends completely on redistributive policies.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. The 8th EAP aims at accelerating the transition to a climate-neutral, renewable energy-based and resource- efficient, clean and circular economy in a just and inclusive way, and endorses the environmental and climate objectives of the European Green Deal and its initiatives.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The Commission’s evaluation of the 7th EAP241 concluded that its 2050 vision and priority objectives are still valid; that it has helped to provide more predictable, faster and better-coordinated action in environment policy; and that its structure and enabling framework have helped create synergies, thus making environment policy more effective and efficient. Moreover, the evaluation concluded that the 7th EAP anticipated the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda by insisting that economic growth and social wellbeing depend on a healthy natural resource base, and facilitated delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals. It also enabled the Union to speak with one voice on the global stage on climate and environmental matters. In its evaluation of the 7th EAP, the Commission also concluded that progress related to nature protection, health and policy integration was not sufficient. It added that social issues should have been factored in, arguing that the environmental crisis is one affecting society rather than nature. It also noted in its evaluation the low levels of environmental protection expenditure in Europe, falling short of requirements, notwithstanding the increasingly ambitious targets being set in this area. __________________ 24 COM(2019) 233 final.
Amendment 82 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The Commission’s evaluation of the 7th EAP24 concluded that its 2050 vision and priority objectives are still valid; that it has helped to provide more predictable, faster and better-coordinated action in environment policy; and that its structure and enabling framework have helped create synergies, thus making environment policy more effective and efficient. Moreover, the evaluation concluded that the 7th EAP anticipated the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda by insisting that economic growth and social wellbeing depend on a healthy natural resource base, and facilitated delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals. A healthy environment is therefore the keystone of sustainable development. It also enabled the Union to speak with one voice on the global stage on climate and environmental matters. In its evaluation of the 7th EAP, the Commission also concluded that progress related to nature protection, health and policy integration was not sufficient. __________________ 24 COM(2019) 233 final.
Amendment 84 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) Drastic reductions in biodiversity, compounded by extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, etc., will particularly affect the most vulnerable countries lacking the material resources to respond.
Amendment 86 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 3 b (new)
Recital 3 b (new)
(3b) It is obvious that the policies and mechanisms currently embodied in EU legislation, cutting expenditure on public services, reducing public investment and requiring the deregulation and privatisation of strategic sectors, are effectively undermining MS capacity to deal with current environmental challenges.
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 3 c (new)
Recital 3 c (new)
(3c) Increasingly intensive agricultural and livestock production methods involving excessive use of certain chemicals (fertilisers, pesticides and antibiotics), together with excessive food processing, is endangering human health and has made food in general less nutritious and more unwholesome, causing pressure on natural ecosystems and a significant increase in zoonotic diseases.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point f
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point f
(f) promotensuring environmental sustainability and reducing key environmental and climate pressures related to production and consumptionconsumption and production and the related environmental and climate pressures, in particular in the areas of energy, industrial development, buildings and infrastructure, international trade, mobility and the food system.
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The European Commission partially responded to the challenges identified in the SOER 2020 by adopting the European Green Deal25 : a new growth strategy for the twin green and digital transition that aims to transform the Union into a fair and prosperous society, with a competitive, climate-neutral and resource-efficient economy. Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council26 enshrines into law the Union target to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. __________________ 25 COM(2019) 640 final. 26 COM(2020) 80 final.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(a a) significantly decreasing the Union's material footprint and consumption footprint, to bring them into planetary boundaries as soon as possible.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) The unilateral focus on economic growth (but not necessarily development) has led to many of the environmental problems we are currently facing, as evidenced in particular by the fact that the ‘European Green Deal’ is being presented as a new ‘growth strategy’.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) In its report on Growth Without Economic Growth of 11 January 2021, the EEA finds that the ongoing 'Great Acceleration' in loss of biodiversity, climate change and pollution is tightly coupled to economic activities and economic growth, and full decoupling of economic growth and resource consumption may not be possible.
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The European Green Deal underpins the Next Generation EU Recovery Plan which promotes the investments in key green sectors needed to build resilience, and create growth and jobs in a fair and inclusive society. The Recovery and Resilience Facility which will power the Union’s economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis together with the Union budget for 2021-2027, is also based on the priority objectives set out in the European Green Deal and is a key opportunity for accelerating the ecological transition. Furthermore, all initiatives under Next Generation EU Recovery Plan should respect the European Green Deal’s “do no harm” oath“do no harm” principle, as also committed to in the European Green Deal.
Amendment 118 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) EU environmental funding should provide for a geographical spread of investment (from agricultural and industrial production to energy generation hubs), ensuring territorial cohesion and balanced land use, avoiding divergence between Member States and encouraging convergence.
Amendment 119 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 6 b (new)
Recital 6 b (new)
(6b) Budgetary constraints imposed on Member States, in particular the Stability and Growth Pact and the zero structural deficit embedded in the Fiscal Compact, are seriously inhibiting the full achievement of environmental goals.
Amendment 121 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Environment action programmes have guided the development of EU environment policy since the early 1970s. The 7th EAP will expired on 31 December 2020 and its Article 4 (3) requires the Commission, if appropriate, to present a proposal for an Eighth Environment Action Programme (8th EAP) in a timely manner with a view to avoiding a gap between the 7th and the 8th EAP. The European Green Deal announced the adoption of a new environment action programme. Regretfully, the adoption of the proposal did not avoid a gap between the 7th and the 8th EAP, despite this being easily avoidable. A new proposal for an EAP is always considered appropriate when the EAP is due to expire.
Amendment 122 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 4 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 4 a (new)
- regularly assessing all Union policies to identify inconsistencies between Union policies and policy objectives of this EAP to ensure coherence, consistency and the achievement of these objectives;
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) effectively integrating environmental and, climate and social sustainability in the European Semester of economic governance, including in the National Reform Programmes and National Recovery and Resilience plancovery and Resilience plans, and abolishing the European Semester, which has had detrimental social and environmental impacts;
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) The relevant environmental and climate goals can only be met by underpinning the Life + programme, channelling specific funding into biodiversity and Natura 2000 management measures, ensuring that it is fairly distributed between Member States, and promoting ecological and plant health assessment of forests, their rehabilitation and, where appropriate, reforestation with native species, especially in countries that have sustained the worst fire damage.
Amendment 130 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The 8th EAP should support the environment and climate action objectives of the European Green Deal in line with the long-term objective to “live well, within the planetary boundaries” by 2050, which is already established in the 7th EAP. It should contribute to achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development GoalsThe 8thEAP should guarantee an equitable contribution on behalf of the Union to the goals of the Paris Agreement. It should be grounded in intergenerational justice and ensure that the long-term objective confers equal or enhanced rights to future generations. It should contribute to achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, while acknowledging that Goal 8 of the SDGs violates the overall sustainability objectives. The 8th EAP, therefore, forms the basis of an EU position to advocate internationally for modification of Sustainable Development Goal 8 in order to remove the requirement of aggregate global growth, to replace it with goals for reducing inequality both within and between nations, and to promote debt cancellation for the Global South.
Amendment 131 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) phasing out environmentally harmful subsidies at Union and national level, making the best use of market-based instruments and by 2025 at the latest, including phasing out all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies as soon as possible and by 2022 at the latest, making the best use of green budgeting tools, and including those required to ensure a socially fair transition, and supporting businesses and other stakeholders in developing standardised natural capital accounting practices;.
Amendment 140 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) harnessing the potential of digital and data technologies to support environment policy while minimising theirand ensuring that the environmental footprint of digitalisation is fully addressed, with particular attention to energy usage, the internet of things and data centres;
Amendment 147 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The 8th EAP should accelerate the transition to a regenerative wellbeing economy, one that gives back to the planet more than it takes. A regenerative growth model recognises and restores the planet's natural systems. A regenerative growth model does not exist and cannot be pursued as it is fundamentally based on the same logic as conventional growth. The 8th EAP should recognise that the wellbeing and prosperity of our societies depends completely on a stable climate, a healthy environment and thriving ecosystems, which provide a safe operating space for our economies. The 8th EAP should acknowledge that the economy is a subsystem of the larger biosphere, which is finite and not growing in size, meaning its material throughput cannot keep growing forever. As the global population and the demand for natural resources continues to grow, economic activity should develop in a way that does no harm but, on the contreparts with the fixation on economic growth, and moves to a model that stays within planetary boundaries, does no harym, reverses climate change and environmental degradation, minimises pollution and results in maintaining and enriching natural capitalsystems, therefore ensuring the abundance of biodiverse life, healthy ecosystems, renewable and non-renewable resources. Through continuous innovationtransformative rethinking, adaptation to new challenges and co- creation, the regenerative wellbeing economy strengthens resilience and protects present and future generations’ future, wellbeing. and right to a healthy environment.
Amendment 171 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The 8th EAP should set out thematic priority objectives in areas of climate neutrality, adaption to climate change, protecting and restoring biodiversity, circular economy, the zero pollution ambition and reducing environmental pressures from production and consumption, ensuring a socially fair and inclusive transition. It should furthermore identify the enabling conditionsactions necessary to achieve the long-term and the thematic priority objectives for all actors involved.
Amendment 174 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The 8th EAP should set out thematic priority objectives in areas of climate neutralitychange mitigation, adaption to climate change, protecting and restoring biodiversity, circular economy, the zero pollution ambition and reducing environmental pressures from production and consumption, circular economy, including reducing production and consumption and related environmental pressures. It should furthermore identify the enabling condinecessary actions to achieve the long-term and the thematic priority objectives for all actors involved.
Amendment 179 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) It is urgently necessary to assess the effectiveness of all market-based instruments in achieving the overall target for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and their social and environmental fallout; the EU greenhouse gas emissions trading system has proved ineffective, having failed to achieve its emission reduction targets; it must therefore take countermeasures and adopt alternatives to carbon trading, replacing a market-based approach with a fairer and more effective regulatory approach; a realistic, integrated and cross-cutting approach to climate change should be promoted, ensuring a diversification of instruments for achievement of reduction targets and avoiding reliance on market-based instruments alone.
Amendment 190 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Environment policy being highly decentralised, action to achieve the priority objectives of the 8th EAP should be taken at different levels of governance, i.e. at the European, the national, the regional and the local level, with a collaborative approach to multi-level governance. The integrated approach to policy development and implementation should be strengthened with a view to maximising the synergies between economic, environmental and social objectives, while paying careful attention to potential trade-offs and to the needs of vulnerable and marginalised groups. Moreover, transparent engagement with non- governmental actors is important for ensuring the success of the 8th EAP and the achievement of its priority objectives. Citizen assemblies and participative democracy can be an important catalyst of the 8th EAP.
Amendment 194 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) Given the need for a profound change to the CAP to counteract and reverse growing deregulation in this sector and strengthen production and market regulatory mechanisms, short food supply chains and local food production systems should be promoted. The benefits of this include fairer prices for farmers, access to fresh and seasonal products for consumers, reduced environmental impact and greater social cohesion at local level.
Amendment 199 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Enhanced cCooperation in good faith with partner countries, goodrobust global environmental governance as well as synergiesconsistency between internal and external Union policies are key to reach the Union’s environmental and climate objectives. It is crucial that the Union engage with the Global South countries in a way that fully respects their sovereignty and rights, including the right to a healthy environment.
Amendment 204 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) Global trade deregulation is having a significant impact in terms of increased energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and the EU must therefore acknowledge the need for these effects to be properly examined and assessed.
Amendment 205 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 12 b (new)
Recital 12 b (new)
(12b) A fundamental shift from competition to complementarity in international trade must be achieved, bearing in mind the sovereign right of Member States to shape their own trade policies in line with this principle.
Amendment 207 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The European Commission should assess the progress in achieving the priority objectives of the 8th EAP by the Union and the Member States in the context of the transition towards greatera sustainability, wellbeing and resiliencele and resilient wellbeing economy. This is in line with calls of the Council27 and the European Economic and Social Committee28 for measuring economic performance and societal progress “beyond GDP”, and moving towards using well- being and environmental health indicators as a compass for policy, which is also supported by the OECD29 . There is no long term plan for economic growth other than the idea that economies can keep growing indefinitely. The short-term thinking inherent to that economic logic has made it very dangerous for future generations, who will have to deal with incredible hardship and ecological breakdown on this current pathway without a plan to deal with economic growth in a finite planet. GDP does not consider environmental and social impacts of economic growth and therefore cannot be considered a useful metric. Economic growth is closely linked to increases in production, consumption and resource use and has detrimental effects on the natural environment and human health. It is unlikely that a long-lasting, absolute decoupling of economic growth from environmental pressures and impacts can be achieved at the global scale; therefore, societies need to rethink what is meant by growth and progress and their meaning for global sustainability. __________________ 27See e.g. https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/docu ment/ST-10414-2019-INIT/en/pdf 28https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/our- work/opinions-information- reports/opinions/reflection-paper-towards- sustainable-europe-2030. 29See e.g. the OECD Well-being Framework, the OECD Framework for Policy Action on Inclusive Growth, the Better Life Initiative and the New Approaches to Economic Challenges Initiative.
Amendment 236 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) In order to take account of evolving policy objectives and, the progress made and the changing impact on future generations, the 8th EAP should be extensively evaluated by the Commission in 2029before 2029 in order to provide a useful assessment ahead of the adoption of the next EAP.
Amendment 240 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 19 a (new)
Recital 19 a (new)
(19a) World GDP is currently poorly distributed and poorly utilised, with total global GDP already well in excess of what is associated with very high levels of human development for all. Despite this, 10 % of the world's population live in extreme poverty, with no access to basic rights, while the richest 5 % in the world capture 46 % of total global GDP. The world currently experiences intolerable levels of deprivation, and intolerable levels of excess, with a huge environmental impact for the latter dependent on the underdevelopment of the global poor. Degrowth is not about reducing GDP, but reducing this excess resource and energy throughput while at the same time improving human well- being and social outcomes, scaling down only the unnecessary and destructive sectors. Development for all and ecological restoration can go hand in hand, but this depends completely on redistributive policies.
Amendment 241 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 19 b (new)
Recital 19 b (new)
(19b) Development and GDP are not synonymous: sustainable development relies first and foremost on a foundation of a healthy environment, upon which the social and economic subsets depend. The reality of the finiteness of the environment, which dictates that we have only a certain amount of operating space in which we can live without jeopardising the rights of future generations, needs to be fully integrated into the economic model.
Amendment 242 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 19 c (new)
Recital 19 c (new)
(19c) It is crucial that future generations have the same rights which people currently enjoy today, otherwise their future will be compromised. The 8th EAP and its implementation has to be guided by intergenerational justice and fully integrate long-term vision, considering the rights of future generations to come, in all policy making. Impact assessments, in particular, should assess the impact of action and non-action on future generations and cost-effectiveness considerations should consider the costs vs the benefits over a long-term span to ensure we are not dumping ecological, social and economic costs on future generations.
Amendment 243 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 19 d (new)
Recital 19 d (new)
(19d) The 8th EAP should be a framework for ensuring coherence and consistency across all Union policies and address all inconsistencies that go against the objectives of this EAP.
Amendment 244 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 19 e (new)
Recital 19 e (new)
(19e) GDP is completely irrelevant for human wellbeing, nor was it ever intended to be a proxy for human wellbeing. There is no causal relationship between GDP and social outcomes. What matters for human wellbeing is provisioning - that people have access to the resources they need to live flourishing lives. GDP considers solely the commodity exchange- value, ignoring most of the provisioning that is relied upon to live flourishing lives. Pursuing social outcomes should, therefore, be the direct goal, not GDP growth, focusing on universal public services, meaningful employment, democracy, and a fair distribution of income.
Amendment 245 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 19 f (new)
Recital 19 f (new)
(19f) Green growth, sustainable growth, or any other slight modification of GDP growth is not different from conventional GDP growth, and contains within the exact same problems as conventional GDP growth. Resource use continues to rise with GDP in absolute terms, even if it is called sustainable or green growth.
Amendment 248 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This decisions sets out a legally binding general action programme in the field of the environment for the period up to 31 December 2030 (‘8th EAP’). It lays down its priority objectives, identifies enabling conditionsactions necessary for their achievement and sets a framework to measure whether the Union and its Member States are on track to meet those priority objectives.
Amendment 252 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This decisions sets out a general action programme in the field of the environment for the period up to 31 December 2030 (‘8th EAP’). It lays down its priority objectives, identifies enabling condiactions for their achievement and sets a framework to measure whether the Union and its Member States are on track to meet those priority objectives.
Amendment 258 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. The 8th EAP aims at accelerating the transition to a climate-neutral, resource-efficient, clean and circular economy in a just and inclusive way, and endorses the environmental and cseeking to ensure sustainable, non-toxic and efficient use of our planet’s limited resources, encouraging environmental protection, rehabilimtate objectives of the European Green Deal and its initiativeion and improvement in terms of air, water and soil quality, halting and reversing biodiversity loss and combating the deterioration of our ecosystems.
Amendment 264 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. The 8th EAP aims at accelerating the transition to a climate-neutral, renewable energy-based and resource- efficient, clean and circular economy in a just and inclusive way, and endorses the environmental and climate objectives of the European Green Deal and its initiatives.
Amendment 270 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 3
Article 1 – paragraph 3
3. The 8th EAP forms the basis for achieving the environmental and climatesocial objectives defined under the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals and its monitoring framework, constitutetributing as the environment and climate part of the EU’s efforts to measure progress towards greater sustainability, including climate neutrality and resource efficiency, wellbeing and resilience.
Amendment 275 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 3
Article 1 – paragraph 3
3. The 8th EAP forms the basis for achieving the environmental and climate objectives defined under the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals and its monitoring framework constitutes the environment and climate part of the EU’s efforts to measure progress towards greater sustainability, including climate neutrality and resource efficiency, wellbeing and resilience.
Amendment 277 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
1. The 8th EAP has the long-term priority objective for 2050 that citizenspeople live well, within the planetary boundaries in a regenerative economy where nothing is wasted, no netremovals exceed anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are produced and economic growth is decoupled from resource use and environmental degradationnd the economy is understood as a subsystem of the environment, wherein economic growth is contained within planetary boundaries and the wellbeing of all is maximised. A healthy environment underpins the well-being of citizensall people, biodiversity thrives and natural capitalrecovers, and nature is protected, restored and valued in ways that enhance resilience to climate changappreciate its intrinsic value and nother environmental risk just its use value to humans. The Union sets the pace for ensuring the prosperity of present and future generations globally and its actions are underpinned by intergenerational justice, considering the impacts of current actions on at least the seventh generation ahead.
Amendment 292 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The 8th EAP has the following sixeven thematic priority objectives :
Amendment 294 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The 8th EAP has the following six thematic priority objectives:
Amendment 298 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) irreversible and gradualpid reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and enhancement of removals by natural andsinks, always prioritising natural sinks over other sinks, in the Union to attain the 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target and, to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 as laid down in Regulation (EU) …/…32 and to contribute equitably to the goals of the Paris Agreement; __________________ 32 COM/2020/80 final.
Amendment 311 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) continuous and adequate progress in enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change and significantly increasing ecosystem-based adaptation;
Amendment 317 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) advancing towards achieving a new regenerative growtheconomic model that gives back to the planet more than it takes, decoupling economic growthincreases the wellbeing of all people within planetary boundaries and gives back to the planet more than it takes, acknowledging that economic growth cannot be decoupled in absolute terms from resource use and environmental degradation, and accelerating the transition to a circular economy;
Amendment 326 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) pursuing a zero-pollution ambition for a toxic free-environment, including for air, water and soil, and protecting the health and well-being of citizenall people and animals from environment-related risks and impacts;
Amendment 329 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) pursuing a zero-pollution ambition for a toxic free-environment, including for air, water and soil, and protecting the health and well-being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts, applying a uniform 'One World, One Health’ approach to health and wellbeing;
Amendment 335 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) protecting, preserving and restoring biodiversity and enhancing natural capital, notablynature, including biodiversity, air, water, soil, and forest, freshwater, wetland and marine ecosystems and prioritising rewilding;
Amendment 344 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point f
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point f
(f) promotensuring environmental sustainability and reducing key environmental and climate pressures related to production and consumptionconsumption and production and the related environmental and climate pressures, in particular in the areas of energy, industrial development, buildings and infrastructure, international trade, mobility and the food system.
Amendment 355 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point f a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point f a (new)
(fa) advancing towards systemically changed food systems in the Union, which prioritise local production and consumption, move away from a productivity mindset to one of sustainability of food systems, consider soil health security the underpinning of food security, value rural life and livelihoods, decommodify food and promote it as a common good, are based on organic farming and move to completely toxic-free food.
Amendment 362 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – title
Article 3 – title
Amendment 363 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – title
Article 3 – title
Amendment 365 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point -a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point -a (new)
(-a) pursuing degrowth and redistributive policies, and abandoning GDP as a metric for progress;
Amendment 366 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point -a a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point -a a (new)
(-aa) significantly decreasing the Union's material footprint and consumption footprint, to bring them into planetary boundaries as soon as possible.
Amendment 389 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 1 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 1 a (new)
- ensuring that findings are disclosed at the same time as the measurement project is published;
Amendment 399 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 3
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 3
– paying careful attention to synergies and potential trade-offssystematically evaluating the interplay between economic, environmental and social objectives so as to ensure that citizens’ needs for nutritionpeople’s human rights to food, housing and mobility are metensured in a sustainable way that leaves no- one behind;
Amendment 408 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 4
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 4
– regularly evaluating existing policies and preparing impact assessments for new initiatives, which are based on wide consultations following procedures that are accountable, inclusive, democratic, informed and simple to implementable, and which pay due regard toassess projected impacts on environment and climate, social impact, and the rights of future generations as well as the costs of non-action;
Amendment 412 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 4 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 4 a (new)
– regularly assessing all Union policies to identify inconsistencies between Union policies and policy objectives of this EAP to ensure coherence, consistency and the achievement of these objectives;
Amendment 413 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 4 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – indent 4 a (new)
- using economic models that take into account the boundaries of our planet, social needs and human rights, rather than focusing exclusively on economic growth;
Amendment 417 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) integrating intergenerational and long-term perspectives into all initiatives, policy and implementation, taking into account the rights of future generations to a healthy environment, among their other human rights, and integrating long-term considerations into impact assessments and cost-benefit analysis;
Amendment 420 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) effectively integrating environmental and, climate and social sustainability in the European Semester of economic governance, including in the National Reform Programmes and National Recovery and Resilience plancovery and Resilience plans, and abolishing the European Semester, which has had detrimental social and environmental impacts;
Amendment 436 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) mobilising and providing sustainable investments from public and private sources, including of funds and instruments available under the Union budget, via the European Investment Bank and at national level, and doing so in a sufficient way to adequately finance the achievement of the priority objectives;
Amendment 441 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) phasing out environmentally harmful subsidies at Union and national level, making the best use of market-based instruments and by 2025 at the latest, including phasing out all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies as soon as possible and by 2022 at the latest, making the best use of green budgeting tools, and including those required to ensure a socially fair transition, and supporting businesses and other stakeholders in developing standardised natural capital accounting practices;.
Amendment 444 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) phasing out environmentally harmful subsidies at Union and national level, making the best use of market-based instruments and green budgeting tools, including those required to ensure a socially fair transition, and supporting businesses and other stakeholders in developing standardised natural capital accounting practices;
Amendment 461 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) ensuring that environmental policies and action are based on the best available scientific knowledge and strengthening the environmental knowledge base and its uptake, including by research, innovation, fostering green skills, and further building up environmental and ecosystem accountingas well as making more use of indigenous and local knowledge (ILK), and increasing funding for the EEA;
Amendment 462 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
(fa) overhauling state aid rules to enable unprecedented investment in transitional arrangements, public services and social protection, by repealing the Fiscal Compact and replacing the Stability and Growth Pact with an Employment and Sustainability Pact;
Amendment 472 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f b (new)
(fb) underpinning the Life + programme, including specific funding for biodiversity and Natura 2000 management, ensuring a fair distribution of funding among Member States; it is also essential to facilitate assessment of the ecological and plant health of forests and their rehabilitation, including reforestation with native species, especially in the countries that have sustained the worst fire damage;
Amendment 473 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f c (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f c (new)
(fc) assumption of greater responsibility by the Union for upholding Natura 2000 values, especially with regard to funding;
Amendment 474 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f d (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f d (new)
(fd) ensuring CAP support for ecological local production on small farms concerned with food quality and co- existing with the natural environment, eschewing harmful pesticides and chemical fertilisers; assisting in the development of policies to minimise the impact of the herbicides, especially on pollinators and to consolidate and promote conservation and integrated agricultural production methods;
Amendment 475 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f e (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f e (new)
(fe) factoring in the potential benefits of scientific and technological progress in the field of biotechnology, with Member States and the EU seeking to ensure the judicious application of the precautionary principle, especially in agriculture, where the pressure for the introduction of genetically modified organisms is growing;
Amendment 476 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f f (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f f (new)
(ff) overturning decisions to embrace the cultivation of genetically modified varieties and rejecting all attempts to commodify and patent seeds or essentially biological processes, to the clear detriment of biodiversity and the plant genetic heritage;
Amendment 477 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f g (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f g (new)
(fg) promoting the cultivation of traditional and indigenous species and encouraging biodiversity to cope with climate and soil change, maintaining soil nutrient levels, feeding the people and providing them with a balanced diet, while helping to alleviate climate change;
Amendment 478 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f h (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f h (new)
(fh) preventing soil sealing, pollution and erosion to ensure its fertility, helping to promote biodiversity and mitigate climate change;
Amendment 479 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f i (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f i (new)
(fi) helping to reduce the harmful effects of noise on human health and biodiversity through revision of the Environmental Noise Directive;
Amendment 481 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f k (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f k (new)
(fk) ensuring production based on the principles of reduction, reuse, recycling and repair, putting an end to built-in obsolescence as a business strategy that results in deliberately short product lifespan and the need for replacement, and adapting consumption to the limits of our planet;
Amendment 482 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f l (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f l (new)
(fl) ensuring the right to IT repair and continuous backup services to achieve sustainable consumption;
Amendment 483 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f m (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f m (new)
(fm) guaranteeing essential public services through the promotion of free public transport and access to drinking water and the public management thereof, thereby upholding the right of all Member State citizens to benefit from this;
Amendment 484 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f n (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f n (new)
(fn) action by the European institutions and Member States to ensure universal right of access to water and sanitation through pricing geared to the provision of services for all and not to profit or returns on capital;
Amendment 485 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f o (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f o (new)
(fo) stepping up and coordinating efforts to promote the development and validation of alternatives to animal testing in order to help achieve the priority objective under Article 2(d);
Amendment 488 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) harnessing the potential of digital and data technologies to support environment policy while minimising theirand ensuring that the environmental footprint of digitalisation is fully addressed, with particular attention to energy usage, the internet of things and data centres;
Amendment 502 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h
(h) making full use of nature ecosystem-based solutions and, social innovation and community-led action;
Amendment 519 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point k – indent 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point k – indent 1
– engaging with partner countries on climate and environmental action, encouraging and supporting them to adopt and implement rules in these areas that are at least as ambitious as those of the Union, and ensuring that all products placed on the Union market fully comply with relevant Union requirements in line with the Union’s international commitments;
Amendment 523 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point k – indent 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point k – indent 2
– enhancing cooperation with governments, businesses and civil society in third countries and international organisations to form partnerships and alliances for environment protection and promoting environmental cooperation in G7 and G20, fully respecting the sovereignty of these nations;
Amendment 524 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point k – indent 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point k – indent 2
— enhancing cooperation with governments, businesses and civil society in third countries and international organisations to form partnerships and alliances for environment protection and promoting environmental cooperation in G7 and G20;
Amendment 528 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point k – indent 3
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point k – indent 3
– strengthening the implementation of the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity and other multilateral environmental agreements by the Union and its partners, including by increasing transparency and accountability as regards progress on the commitments made under those agreements and ensuring an equitable contribution to all of their goals;
Amendment 535 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3.º – paragraph 1 – point k – indent 5 a (new)
Article 3.º – paragraph 1 – point k – indent 5 a (new)
- promoting a fundamental shift from competition to complementarity in international trade, bearing in mind the sovereign right of Member States to shape their own trade policies in line with this principle;
Amendment 549 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. Reaching the 8th EAP’s priority objectives will require mobilising broad support by involving citizenommunities, social partners and other stakeholders, and encouraging cooperation in the development and implementation of strategies, policies or legislation related to the 8th EAP amongst national, regional and local authorities, in urban and rural areas.
Amendment 557 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission, supported by the European Environment Agency and the European Chemicals Agency, shall monitor, assess and report on the progress of the Union and the Member States with regard to achieving the priority objectives laid down in Article 2 on a regularn annual basis, taking into consideration the enabling condipolicy actions laid down in Article 3.
Amendment 561 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission, supported by the European Environment Agency and the European Chemicals Agency, shall assess and report on the progress of the Union and the Member States with regard to achieving the priority objectives laid down in Article 2 on a regular basis, taking into consideration the enabling condinecessary actions laid down in Article 3.
Amendment 581 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point d
(d) integrating data on environmental, social and economic impacts, and including these calculated impacts on future generations, and exploiting fully other available data, such as those delivered by Copernicus;
Amendment 590 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point g
Article 4 – paragraph 3 – point g
(g) helping civil society, public authorities, citizenommunities, social partners and the private sector identify climate and environmental risks and take action to prevent, mitigate and adapt to them, and fostering their engagement in closing knowledge gaps.
Amendment 602 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 5 – paragraph -1 (new)
Article 5 – paragraph -1 (new)
-1. By 31 March 2024, the Commission shall carry out a mid-term evaluation of the progress achieved in this EAP based on the most recent assessment and shall make this evaluation publicly available. It shall contain an assessment of progress made towards monitoring and assessing systemic change, with particular focus on changes in economic systems to deprioritise GDP growth and implement redistributive policies.
Amendment 608 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
By 31 March 2029, the Commission shall carry out an evaluation of the 8th EAP. The Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council containing the main findings of that evaluation, accompanied, if the Commission deems approprso initiates, by a legislative proposal for the next environmental action programme.