Activities of Yvan VEROUGSTRAETE
Plenary speeches (7)
Statement by the candidate for President of the Commission (debate)
State of the Energy union (debate)
The devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change (debate)
The historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences (debate)
Possible extradition of Paul Watson: the danger of criminalisation of environmental defenders and whistle-blowers, and the need for their protection in the EU (debate)
The crisis facing the EU’s automotive industry, potential plant closures and the need to enhance competitiveness and maintain jobs in Europe (debate)
Ensuring sustainable, decent and affordable housing in Europe - encouraging investment, private property and public housing programmes (debate)
Institutional motions (1)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the devastating floods in central and eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change
Written questions (4)
Review of the Bathing Water Directive
Release of Paul Watson
European medals at the Olympic Games
The spread of bluetongue virus throughout the EU
Amendments (30)
Amendment 12 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Citation 40
Citation 40
– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2024/… of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Union certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon storage in products,
Amendment 92 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas Azerbaijan, after having imposed a total humanitarian blockade on the Nagorno-Karabakh territory, then conducted a pre-planned, unjustified military attack against it in September 2023, which led to the forced exodus of the entire 100 000 ethnic Armenian resident population which has not since been able to return, amounting to ethnic cleansing ; whereas several of its former leaders are still detained in Baku and are considered to be Prisoners of War; whereas there are credible reports confirming the organised destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh; whereas no peace agreement has been signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia despite mediation efforts by the EU and others; whereas Azerbaijan persists in formulating demands that are manifestly incompatible with Armenia's territorial integrity;
Amendment 111 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes note of the outcome of the first GST at COP28, which recognises that limiting global warming to 1.5 °C with no or limited overshoot requires a peaking of global greenhouse gas emissions before 2025 and deep, rapid and sustained reductions in global GHG emissions of 43 % by 2030 and 60 % by 2035 relative to the 2019 level, reaching net zero GHG emissions by 2050;
Amendment 146 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on all Parties to urgently scale up their climate targets and accompanying policies and raise the ambition of their NDCs to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °Cachieve a swift and just transition to climate neutral economies and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C in line with the Paris Agreement and the outcome of the first GST; underlines the particular responsibility of all major emitters and the G20 countries to take the lead;
Amendment 152 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Strongly urges all Parties to come forward in their next NDCs with ambitious, quantified economy–wide absolute emission reduction targets, covering all greenhouse gases, sectors and categories and aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as informed by the latest science, in the light of different national circumstances;
Amendment 154 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls on all Parties, including the EU, based on the COP26 decision regarding common time frames, to communicate, in 2025, an NDC for 2035, and to submit this in NDC by the deadline foreseen by the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 170 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that the EU and its Member States are the largest providers of public climate finance, with all EU climate finance reaching an all-time high in 2022 of EUR 28.5 billion and underlines the need for continued and increased contributions; in this respect, reiterates its call for a dedicated EU public finance mechanism that provides additional and adequate support towards delivering the EU's fair share of international climate finance goals;
Amendment 188 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on all Parties to agree on a post-2025 new collective quantified goal on climate finance at COP29 with safeguards to reach the agreed quantum and timeframeand comprehensive monitoring and transparency mechanisms to reach the agreed quantum and timeframe; underlines that the new quantified goal must clearly reflect the increased need for climate finance globally and address both mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage in a balanced way; stresses that the current contributor base is insufficient, and therefore calls on other countries, especially emerging economies, to contribute towards the new quantified goal according to their financial capabilities; recalls that many developing countries' NDCs are conditional on international climate finance; highlights, therefore, that the provision of adequate climate finance is key to achieving the goal of the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 209 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. CRecalls that one of the goals of the Paris Agreement is to make financial flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions; recalls the conclusions of COP27 that delivering the necessary funding for the climate transition will require a transformation of the financial system and its structures and processes, engaging governments, central banks, commercial banks, institutional investors and other financial actors; considers it essential to advance the Bridgetown Agenda without delay; calls on all the major international financial institutions and multilateral development banks to align their portfolios and lending policies with the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 215 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Notes that the high risk profile of many countries impedes their capacity to attract and mobilize private investments in mitigation and adaptation to climate change; calls on the international financial institutions, Multilateral Development Banks and governments to coordinate and propose a massive financial de-risking plans for climate mitigation and adaptation projects in the context of the COP29;
Amendment 221 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recalls that fossil fuels are responsible for over 75 % of all GHGs and are therefore the largest contributor to climate change; recalls the IEA’s assessment that there should be no new oil, gas or coal developments for emissions pathways that keep the global temperature increase below 1,5 °C1a; calls on all Parties to adopt plans to phase–out fossil fuels in keeping with the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement; _________________ 1a Net Zero Roadmap, September 2023
Amendment 228 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. RStrongly regrets that fossil energy subsidies in the EU remained stable between 2010 and 2020, at around EUR 50 billion per year, and even increased to EUR 123 billion in 2022; recalls that the 8th Environmental Action Programme requires the Commission and the Member States to ‘set a deadline for the phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies consistent with the ambition of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C’; calls on the Commission to urgently make a proposal in this regard and on the Member States to take concrete measures resulting in a swift phase–out of all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies;
Amendment 232 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Reiterates its call to end, as a matter of urgency, all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies in the EU as soon as possible and by 2025 at the latest, and other environmentally harmful subsidies as soon as possible and by 2027 at the latest, at both EU and Member State levels through the implementation of concrete policies, timelines and measures;
Amendment 236 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Is concerned that governments worldwide spent USD 620 billion in 2023 on subsidising the use of fossil fuels, which is significantly more than the USD 70 billion that was spent in 2023 on support for consumer-facing clean energy investments; encourages all Parties to end all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies as soon as possible; recalls that continued provisions of environmentally harmful subsidies prevent the Parties from meeting their climate targets and increases mitigation costs over time; calls on all Parties to ensure transparent reporting of their fossil fuels subsidies and to adopt immediate plans for their phase–out;
Amendment 244 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Reiterates its support for the work of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action and encourages all governments to adopt the coalition's commitments to align all policies and practices in the remit of finance ministries with the goals of the Paris Agreement and to adopt effective carbon pricing, as laid down in the Helsinki Principles;
Amendment 262 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the agreement on the framework for the global goal on adaptation (GGA) at COP28, namely the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience; highlights the need to translate the GGA into measurable outcomes and to track progress towards achieving the goal; calls on all Parties to adopt national adaptation plans with set targets and goals, and to update said plans every five years;
Amendment 314 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Stresses its profound concern regarding the choice of Baku as the COP29 host, considering the blatant violations of fundamental rights, democracy and international law perpetrated by Azerbaijan, namely through an unprovoked military offensive leading to an ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023; urges the EU to ensure that COP29 is not used by Azerbaijan as a platform to cover up these violations and advance its disinformation agenda, but rather as an occasion for the international community to bring them into focus and remind Azerbaijan of its international obligations;
Amendment 351 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Takes note of the EU’s updated NDC; highlights that the EU’s current climate legislation will reduce the EU’s net GHG emissions by around 57 % compared to 1990 by 2030; strongly urges the Member States as well as the private sector to take all necessary actions to ensure that the target is reached;
Amendment 357 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Underlines the need to adopt a science–based EU climate target for 2040 in accordance with the European Climate Law and as the basis for the EU's NDC for 2035 and 2040 and welcomes the Commission´s proposal for a 90 % reduction target as well as the commitment by president–elect Ursula von der Leyen in her political guidelines to enshrine the 90 % target in the Climate Law;
Amendment 379 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Reiterates the need to mainstream climate ambition into all EU policies and the measures transposing them, and underlines that Article 6(4) of the European Climate Law obliges the Commission to assess the consistency of any draft measure or legislative proposal, including budgetary proposals, with the EU’s climate targets; urges the Commission to apply this rule rigorously and without exceptions;
Amendment 386 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to ensure that the national energy and climate plans and long-term strategies of the Member States include sufficient action and financial means to achieve the EU’s 2030 targets and long– term objectives; expresses concern at the gap in ambition in the current plans and calls on all Member States to step up their climate action before it is too late;
Amendment 402 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses that the current geopolitical situation highlights the urgency of cuttending the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels and the need to boost the deployment of renewables;
Amendment 407 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Stresses the need to step up EU action on climate adaptation, resilience and preparedness by adopting binding EU legislation on climate adaptation, by taking action to improve water resilience, and by strengthening the EU Civil Protection Mechanism;
Amendment 415 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Notes that the GST highlights the importance of transitioning to sustainable lifestyles and sustainable patterns of consumption and production in efforts to address climate change, including through circular economy approaches, and underlines the need to continue to develop the circular economy in the EU, including by supporting innovation and investment in circular solutions and business models and markets for secondary raw materials;
Amendment 482 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Stresses the need to strengthen the UE Civil Protection Mechanism by increasing its financial, material and human resources in order to enhance the EU’s capacity to prevent and manage increasingly frequent large-scale and cross-border natural disasters such as wildfires, droughts and floods;
Amendment 520 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Highlights the fact that the transport sector is the only sector in the EU in which emissions have risen at EU level since 1990 and that this is not compatible with the EU’s climate goals, which require greater and faster reductions in emissions from all sectors of society, including the aviation and maritime sectors;
Amendment 577 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)
Paragraph 46 a (new)
46a. Welcomes the fact that according to the World Bank, 24 % of global emissions are now covered by carbon pricing; nevertheless regrets that both the coverage and the pricing levels remain far too low to meet the Paris Agreement goals; urges all Parties to implement pricing of fossil fuels and fossil raw materials as part of their climate policies in line with the polluter pays principle and taking into account the need for a just transition, at a level corresponding to the necessary emissions reductions; stresses the need for a global approach towards carbon pricing;
Amendment 579 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 b (new)
Paragraph 46 b (new)
46b. Invites the Commission to further promote emission trading schemes or other carbon pricing mechanisms on a global scale and to explore links and other forms of cooperation with existing carbon pricing mechanisms in non–EU countries in order to accelerate cost–efficient and socially fair emissions reductions worldwide; calls on the Commission, in this regard, to put in place safeguards to ensure that any links with the EU ETS will continue to deliver additional and permanent mitigation contributions and will not undermine the EU’s domestic GHG emissions commitments;
Amendment 583 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Stresses the need to address the climate and environmental impact of the textile sector and urges the sector to take a bigger responsibility globally for its emissions across its value chain and product lifecycle; highlights, in this regard, the need for consistent and transparent standards and criteria to help consumers make informed choices and prevent greenwashing by ensuring that sustainability claims are backed by verifiable evidence;
Amendment 590 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Stresses the need to fight greenwashing by working towards establishing global standards for green claims; in this regard underlines the need to establish strict rules at the EU level;