BETA

37 Amendments of Bas EICKHOUT related to 2018/2974(RSP)

Amendment 22 #

Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that, according to the IPCC 1.5 Special report, limiting global warming to 1.5°C with no or limited overshoot implies to reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally by 2060in some scenarios already by 2044 or by 2067 at the latest, and to cap global GHG emissions by 2030 to around 25-30between 22.1-27.4 GtCO2eq per year; stresses that the EU, as a rich and highly developed economy and with a large historical responsibility, will have to move much quicker to net-zero emissions than the global average;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 29 #

Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Underlines that, according to the UN 2018 Environment Emissions Gap Report, the full implementation of current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) will lead however to an emissions gap of about 32 GtCO2eq compared to pathways compatible with the Paris Agreement, and to a global warming of around 3.2°C by the end of the century; stresses the urgency of all Parties to substantially increase their NDCs by 2020;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 31 #

Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Stresses, in light of the findings of the IPCC 1.5 Special report, that in order to have a safe chance of keeping global temperature below 1.5°C by 2100, the Union needs to strive towards reaching net-zero GHG emissions as early as possible and by 2050 at the latest;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 38 #

Paragraph 4
4. Recalls its demand expressed in its COP23 resolution for the Commission to prepare by COP24 a mid-century zero emissions strategy for the Union; welcomes in this regard the publication of the Commission Communication "A Clean Planet for all – A European strategic long- term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy"; askurges the Member States to agree on a net- zero 2050GHG emissions strategy, as part of the future of Europe debate, at the special EU summit in Sibiu in May 2019;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 46 #

Paragraph 5
5. Notes that the strategy presents eight pathways for the economic, technological and social transformation needed for the Union to comply with the long-term temperature goal of the Paris Agreement; stresses that there are many waysregrets that only two of them would enable the Union to reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 at the latest, butin line with its commitments under the Paris Agreement; highlights that this requires swift and early action from the local and regional levels to the national level, as well as from non-public actors; calls on the Member States to put in place clear short- and medium-term targets and policies and provide investment support for net-zero pathways and adopt long-term strategies as foreseen in the Governance Regulation;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 63 #

Paragraph 7
7. Points that the EU GDP is expected to increase more under zero emissions scenarios than in scenarios with lower emission reductions, however this may bewith the effects being spread unevenly across the EU in both cases; considers that the price of non- action would be by far the costliest scenario and would not only result in massive GDP loss in Europe, but also further increase economic inequalities between and within Member States as some are expected to be harder hit than others by the consequences of inaction;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 74 #

Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the inclusion of two pathways aiming at reaching net zero GHG emissions by 2050, and considers this mid- century objective as the only one compatible with the Union's commitments under the Paris Agreement; regrets, considering the urgency of early action and the uncertainties associated with climate feedbacks, the absence of a scenario exploring the possibility of an earlier move to net-zero GHG emissions than 2050.
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 89 #

Paragraph 9
9. Notes howeverAlso regrets that those two pathways rely to an unnecessary large extent on carbon removal technologies, including through carbon capture and storage and direct air capture, that yet have to prove their feasibility; considers that the EU net-zero strategy should not overly rely on such technologies, which should complementbut rather on direct emissions reductions; believ and actions protecting and enhancing the EU natural sinks; stresses that further aemissions reduction by 2030 is neededessential if the Union is to avoid relying on carbon removal technologies that would entail significant risks for ecosystems, biodiversity and food security as confirmed by the IPCC 1.5 report;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 116 #

Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Stresses the numerous co-benefits a climate-neutral society will have on public health, both in terms of prevented health costs and strains on insurance and public health systems, as well as on the general well-being of European citizens due to enhanced biodiversity, reductions in air pollution and mitigated exposure to pollutants;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 140 #

Paragraph 12
12. Insists that carbon leakage must be and can be avoided by intelligent policy frameworks; calls on the Commission to explore the possibility of introducing a carbon border tax adjustment mechanism for both imports and exports replacing free allocation of allowances;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 153 #

Paragraph 13
13. Considers that a strong and stablen ambitious medium-term target is necessary to bring sufficient stability for investments to the market and to fully harness the potential of technological innovation and strengthen the possibilities for Europe's businesses' to become global market leaders in low- emission production;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 158 #

Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that reaching net-zero GHG emissions in 2050 in the most cost- efficient manner, requires raising and alignsignificantly raising the 2030 ambition level with net- zero 2050 scenarios; believes it is of upmost importance that the Union sends a clear message, at the latest during the UN Climate Summit in New York in September 2019, that it stands ready to review its contribution to the Paris Agreement;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 167 #

Paragraph 15
15. Supports an updatincrease of the Union’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC); calls therefore on EU leaders to consider raising the level to a target of at least 55% GHG emission reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels; calls therefore on the Council to agree ofn amb common position ofor the Union’s NDC at the special EU Summit in Sibiu in May 2019, in view of to be able to raise the level of ambition of its NDC accordingly at the UN Climate Summit in September 2019;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 178 #

Paragraph 16
16. Considers therefore that the Commission should, at the latest, use its 2022-2024 reviews of the 2030 climate package and other relevant legislation, to raise the ambition level of domestic EU policies accordingly; believes that insufficient 2030 ambition would limit future options, possibly limiting the availability of some options for cost-efficient decarbonisation; considers these reviews to be an important milestone for securing the EU climate commitments;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 197 #

Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises that net emissions will have to be reduced close to zero in all sectors of the economy which should all contribute in the joint efforts to reduce emissions; stresses the importance of the polluter pays principle in this regard;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 216 #

Paragraph 19
19. Considers that technology developments and solutions, energy efficiency, circular economy and sustainable renewable energy, in particular in the transport and power sectors, will be key; underlines in this respect the importance of technology-specific strategies, such as for hydrogen or methanerenewable-based hydrogen;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 227 #

Paragraph 20
20. Underlines the central importance of a fully renewable-based power sector and asks the Commission and the Member States to take all necessary action in that regard as it will have spill-over effects across all economic sectors; highlights that all pathways assume full decarbonisation of the power sector by 2050, a drastic reductiont the latest, a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels and a strong increase in renewable energies; deplores the absence of a net-zero GHG emissions scenario assuming a 100% renewable- based energy system and urges the Commission to present such complementary scenario as soon as possible;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 258 #

Paragraph 22
22. Points out that the strategy confirms that GHG emissions from the transport sector are still on the rise, and that the Clean Mobility Package will not be sufficient to decarbonise the transport sector by 2050; underlines the importance of ensuring a modal shift from air to rail travel, and towards public transport and shared mobility;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 262 #

Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Emphasises the huge projected increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector; notes with concern the complete lack of adequate developments at global level to tackle those emissions; also notes, compared to other economic sectors, the lack of sufficient incentives at EU level to reduce emissions from those sectors; stresses the importance of stricter and new EU policy measures to curb emissions from aviation;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 264 #

Paragraph 22 b (new)
22 b. Welcomes the fact that the international shipping sector has set itself an absolute reduction target for greenhouse gas emissions; stresses however that this target has to be significantly increased in order to in line with the Paris Agreement; notes with concern the lack of progress regarding the translation of this target into short and medium term measures and other concrete actions;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 269 #

Paragraph 22 c (new)
22 c. Considers the review of the Common Agricultural Policy as a unique opportunity to put the sector in line with decarbonisation pathways; emphasizes that changes in dietary habits, in particular significantly reducing livestock consumption, could considerably reduce GHG emissions from the agricultural sector;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 274 #

Paragraph 23
23. Reiterates its call on the Commissminds the Commission of its obligation to explore as soon as possible policy options for rapidly addressing methane emissions as part of a Union strategic plan for methane, and to present legislative proposals to the European Parliament and the Council to that effect; underlines that agriculture will become one of the main remaining sources of EU GHG emissions in 2050 due in particular to methane and nitrous oxide emissions;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 277 #

Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Notes with concern that many Carbon Capture and Utilization technologies, on which the different pathways rely, do not lead to permanent emission reductions; calls on the Commission to work on technical criteria to ensure that any support to CCU technologies, including for steel, cement, plastics and chemicals, deliver permanent and verifiable net emission reductions;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 287 #

Paragraph 23 b (new)
23 b. Invites the Commission to present an ambitious EU industrial strategy that takes into account the ecological limits of our planet and supports the just transition of all sectors, including energy intensive industries, towards net-zero GHG emissions;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 290 #

Paragraph 23 c (new)
23 c. Stresses the need to mainstream climate ambition into all EU policies, including trade policy; urges the Commission to ensure that all trade agreements signed by the EU are fully compatible with the Paris Agreement, as this would not only enhance global action on climate change but also guarantees a level-playing field for the affected sectors;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 292 #

Paragraph 23 d (new)
23 d. Regrets that the possibility of strengthening EU action on fluorinated greenhouse gases has notbeen taken up in the Commission's strategy; stresses that preventing illegal HFC trade through the adoption of an HFC licensing system, prohibiting the use of HFCs in sectors that no longer need them, allocating HFC quotas via an auctioning system, and fully implementing the F-Gas Regulation by banning all unnecessary uses of SF6, are clear opportunities to help the EU meet its Paris Agreement objectives
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 293 #

Subheading 5
Maximising the climate potentialNature-based solutions, and the role of forests and soils
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 298 #

Paragraph 23 e (new)
23 e. Highlights that conserving and enhancing natural carbon sinks is key to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of GHG within the Union as early as possible and, as appropriate, achieve net negative emissions in the second half of this century;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 305 #

Paragraph 24
24. Supports active and sustainable forest management at national level, together with concrete means to incentivise the potential of than efficient and sustainable EU bioeconomy, given the large potential of forests to contribute to strengthening Europe's climate efforts (through sequestration, storage and substitution effects) and achieving the target of zero emissions by 2050; recognising the need to halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystems services in the EU by 2020;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 315 #

Paragraph 25
25. Recognises the positive, but ultimately limited potential for afforestation in Europe; therefore, believes that afforestation initiatives must be complemented by concrete initiatives and incentives aiming to maximise the sequestration potential, while securing and enhancing the health of existing forest lands through restoration in order to reap benefits for both climate and biodiversity;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 319 #

Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Urges to maximise the protection and restoration of woodlands and wetlands as natural carbon removals;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 320 #

Paragraph 25 b (new)
25 b. Highlights that there is more carbon fixed in soils globally than in the biosphere and atmosphere combined; underlines therefore the importance of halting soil degradation in the EU, and of ensuring common EU action to preserve and improve the quality of soils and their capacity to store carbon;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 330 #

Paragraph 26
26. Calls for rapid implementation of the EU ETS Innovation Fund and for the start of the first call for proposals in 2019; calls for the inclusion in the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and all future EU budgetary framework programmes to be fully consistent with Article 2.1c of the Paris Agreement; calls for the inclusion of adequate financial means for supporting investments in the demonstration of low- carbon industrial breakthrough technologies;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 342 #

Paragraph 28
28. Considers that the EU mustDeplores the fact that fossil fuels subsidies are still increasing and amount to around €55 billion per year; urges the EU and the Member States to immediately phase out all European and national fossil fuel subsidies;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 363 #

Paragraph 30
30. Highlights the significant impact of behavioural change in achieving GHG emissions reduction, including from the transport sector and particularly the aviation sector; calls on the Commission to explore as soon as possible policy options to encourage behavioural change, including through a profound reform of EU and national environmental taxation;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 391 #

Paragraph 34
34. Underlines the importance of increased initiatives and sustained dialogue in relevant international fora, with the aim to spur similar policy decisions ramping up climate ambition in other regions and third countries; considers that the EU, must, inter alia,alls on the EU to increase its own climate financing and work actively to encourage Member States to increase their climate aid (development aid rather than loans) in third countries;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI
Amendment 399 #

Paragraph 35
35. Highlights the merit of strengthening the interoperability between EU policy instruments and third countries' equivalents, notably carbon markets and other carbon pricing mechanisms; underlines the importance of establishing environmental safeguards to ensure that such interoperability delivers actual and additional GHG reduction;
2019/02/04
Committee: ENVI