Activities of Seán KELLY related to 2020/2273(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives
Amendments (12)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the damage to the planet’s biodiversity is almost at the point of no return and that biodiversity loss is a driver of zoonotic pathogens such as COVID-19biodiversity is declining globally at unprecedented rates in human history, and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, impacting human health worldwide in a variety of ways; highlights the scientific evidence on the role of unsustainable trade in biodiversity loss, in particular with regard to trade in minerals, biomass and certain agricultural commodities, and biodiversity loss due to global land-use changes, invasive alien species, overexploitation of resources and pollution; reminds of the targets agreed under the 2021-2027 MFF for achieving a biodiversity spending level of 10% and a climate mainstreaming spending level of 30%, applying a robust, transparent and comprehensive methodology; notes the severe economic difficulties experienced by European businesses caused by the pandemic, therefore believes that the strategy needs to support both biodiversity and jobs, allowing businesses to recover by maintaining competitiveness and openness to trade, in line with the Green Deal’s objectives and the “do no significant harm“ principle, to ensure sustainable economic growth;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that open strategic autonomy should ensure fair competition and include coherence between different EU policies and initiatives, including Biodiversity strategy, while promoting all aspects of sustainability and extend the benefits of trade to European businesses, especially SMEs;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 2 – point 1 (new)
(1) Believes that the EU should promote sustainable economic growth as a priority for developing countries in expanding, transforming their economies and attaining development benefit, noting that trade can be an enabler for achieving environmental goals, in addition to social and economic goals; notes that trade and investment in biodiversity-based products and services can incentivise the reduction of over-exploitation of biodiversity while enabling the creation of more sustainable economic sectors that contribute to inclusive growth and sustainable production, trade and consumption patterns; underscores that market incentives and capacity building should be made accessible to businesses to engage them in smart, sustainable and inclusive growth as well as help them meet consumer expectations and the increasing demands for respecting nature;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers it crucial that the Commission foster a non-product related process and production method approach in order to support measures that set out to prevent further biodiversity loss, on the basis of Ar under a secure, predictable and non- discriminatory framework, that is compaticble XX of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Tradewith the WTO, with respect to domestic products and products exported by third countries;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that the EU’s trade policy and green diplomacy should aim to phase out fossil fuels and environmentally harmful subsidies as a matter of urgency in accordance with the commitments taken at the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh in 2009support the climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest; invites the Commission to agree on a roadmap with each trade partner covered by a trade agreement, with milestones in place, and to show leadership in relevant international forums; highlights that sustainability and carbon neutrality shall remain at the core objectives of EU programmes, therefore, EU trade policy in line with the Biodiversity Strategy should allow SMEs to take advantage of the green transition in terms of competitiveness, cost reduction and job creation; believes that any land protection target in the EU should take into account the differing conditions and opportunities of each Member state;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Requests that the Council in its draft mandate of future agreements and, on the occasion of the review of existing agreements, makeprioritise effective implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), together with the Paris Agreement, an essential element of free trade agreementsin trade and investment agreements and reaffirm commitments towards the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), together with the verifiable targets of the Paris Agreement, an essential element of free trade agreements; believes that tariff conditionalities must be workable in practice and not simply lead to trading partners trading outside of FTAs and should incentivise improvements in sustainable development; highlights that the Aichi Biodiversity Targets have not been implemented as expected and global biodiversity is facing a severe situation, directly threatening human’s interests including food, health and security; notes that new targets for CBD post-2020 global biodiversity framework, including on trade issues covering wildlife and flora, are set to be agreed during COP 15; calls on the Commission to advocate for increasing ambition in targets for the protection of biodiversity, including for quantifiable indicators and effective monitoring mechanisms; highlights that the CBD is a universal agreement of 196 parties, therefore calls on the US and the Vatican City to join the agreement;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 (new)
5a. Calls on Member States to mainstream the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at national, regional and local levels through sectoral and cross-sectoral policies including trade, plans and programs, to establish an effective institutional, legislative and regulatory framework that incorporates an approach that is inclusive; underscores the importance of openness and predictability to European businesses, especially SMEs, and that there needs to be increased communication and capacity building to allow SMEs from taking full advantage of trade agreements in a sustainable way;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Urges the EU to adopt a whitelist of endangered speciimprove the training of customs officials, increase technical knowledge and provide adequate resources to efsignificieantly combat the illegal trade thereof, to improve the training of customs officials and to support the establishment of a mechanism to prohibit the export of nationally protected endangered species in their countries of origin; enhance enforcement capabilities to monitor the trade in protected endangered species and further strengthen the fight against illegal wildlife trade; notes that over 38,700 species, including roughly 5,950 species of animals and 32,800 species of plants, are protected by CITES against over exploitation through international trade; notes that the adoption of a whitelist of endangered species would require an overhaul of the existing international wildlife trade regime to be effective; therefore, believes that further resources be allocated to strengthen enforcement measures under the existing international structures;
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to present a legislative proposal in Spring 2021 that will prohibit the placing of products associated with deforestation or forest degradation from the EU market; calls on the Commission to adopt a moraechanism for effective monitoriumng onf imports of wild animals from reported emerging infectious disease hotspots, with a view of possible intervention if safety concerns are not adequately addressed;
Amendment 84 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to prioritise capacity building for beneficiary countries to implement the CBD under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument and Aid for Trade; calls on the Commission to promote synergies with other conventions, international organisations and third countries when facilitating and implementing capacity building activities in relation to protection of biodiversity, to ensure an integrated and coordinated approach to capacity building and technical and scientific cooperation; recognises that many countries lack capacity to sufficiently implement biodiversity protective measures; therefore, calls on the Commission to increase capacity building, including knowledge transfers, technology sharing and skills training, to empower countries to better manage their biodiversity and benefit from their ecosystem services.