2020/2134(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Is opposed to climate change and environmental protection being used by the European Union and its activists as an excuse for illegitimate interference in the internal policy of sovereign states;

Amendment 101 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Is opposed to climate change and environmental protection being used by the European Union and its activists as an excuse for illegitimate interference in the internal policy of sovereign states;

Amendment 102 #

Vincenzo SOFO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls that sustainable development efforts in EU countries should not consist of a mere relocation of industrial pollution to third countries;

Amendment 103 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Urges the Member States not to scale down their national levels of environment protection standards as an economic recovery response to the current COVID-19 or other future crises; reiterates in this regard that sustainability as a fundamental condition for enjoyment of all human rights without any discrimination should be the essential approach in policy-making in order to ensure the public interest is safeguarded as well as social, environmental, and economic well-being of affected local communities;

Amendment 104 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Highlights that democracy, which protects human rights and fundamental freedoms, is the only form of government compatible with sustainable development and effective environmental and climate protection; points out that corruption and lack of transparency risk undermine environmental protection and climate action; highlights the need for good and structured cooperation with local authorities, the private sector and civil society;

Amendment 105 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Calls for a legal, universal definition of climate refugees, ensuring that there are safe and legal ways to the EU and that their right to asylum is respected in every Member State; calls for a legal and universal definition of internally displaced people due to climatic reasons, ensuring that our foreign policies are oriented towards protecting their rights;

Amendment 106 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Sees the principle of climate neutrality agreed in the Paris Agreement as an excellent opportunity for a qualitative development of both industrialised countries and countries in the global south in the sense of an approximation of global living conditions;

Amendment 107 #

Vincenzo SOFO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Considers that, for Europe, free trade agreements, which encourage the import of goods produced under uncertain humanitarian conditions, must come second to the promotion of localism, which is known to have a positive impact on the environment;

Amendment 108 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Stresses that the EU must be ready for climate induced displacement; and recognise the need for adequate measures to be taken to protect the human rights of populations under threat by the effects of climate change;

Amendment 109 #

Vincenzo SOFO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Recalls also that sustainable development cannot consist of the promotion of a Europe driven solely by the tertiary sector; recalls the importance of resource extraction and processing, which cannot be left solely to third countries for environmental reasons, as this constitutes the exporting of industrial pollution to countries that are less concerned about humanitarian conditions;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Recital A d (new)

Ad. whereas the increasing global demand for access to natural resources often results in unsustainable corporate or state exploitation of the natural and human environment putting ordinary people at the frontline protecting land, food, cultural heritage, communities and people against impacts of climate change, extraction and expansion of fossil fuels, deforestation, illegal logging, and land grabbing;

Amendment 110 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Underlines environmental decision making must be based on, and fully allow for, civic engagement based on the three pillars of access to information, public participation, and access to justice; calls in this regard for the adoption of international instruments to strengthen these fundamental principles;

Amendment 111 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Emphasizes that the EU should promote the involvement of multiple stakeholders, particularly the social organisations, local authorities and the private sector in order to address the challenge of environmentally induced migration in a comprehensive and sustainable way protecting human rights;

Amendment 112 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Recalls that humanity as a whole and the European Union have over crossed 4 out of 9 of the planetary boundaries which grants the Union and the Member States with a particular responsibility to reduce its ecological impact so as to return to the respect of those boundaries;

Amendment 113 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4d. Stresses that the Member States should implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and European – based business enterprises to carry out human rights due diligence, including with regard to the right to a safe, clean, and healthy environment, by conducting meaningful and inclusive consultations with potentially affected groups and other relevant stakeholders;

Amendment 114 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4d. Stresses that the ideology of free trade results in a race to the bottom and that this leads to the desertification of territories; recalls that these are facing the exodus of local populations and the loss of ecological added value;

Amendment 115 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4d. Believes also that, in this context and in order to fulfil its commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Union should raise its objective of reducing its domestic economy-wide GHG emissions to at least -65%by 2030 compared to 1990;

Amendment 116 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)

4e. Recalls the "Do No Harm" principle under the European Green Deal, and urges the Commission to rapidly ensure the full consistency of existing and future trade and investment agreements and other global regulations with the international environmental and climate goals, in particular the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and include binding provisions to end land grabbing and deforestation;

Amendment 117 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)

4e. Calls on the Commission to integrate climate security in its design and implementation, respecting rights of indigenous people, the right to development, the right to water and the right to clean air and clean environment;

Amendment 118 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)

4f. Calls the Commission to include mandatory, legally enforceable environmental standards in future international trade agreements that will halt deforestation and will ensure respect to human rights;

Amendment 119 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

~~5. Believes that any threats or violence against the main actors involved in the defence of the environment must be countered in compliance with the rule of law and through diplomatic means;~~deleted

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Recital A e (new)

Ae. whereas an increasing occurrence of killings of environmental defenders around the world has been reported, whereby the number of defenders that have been murdered has quadrupled in the last ten years1a with a rising death rate on average to more than four activists killed every week in 20191b; whereas the predominant share (90 %) of killings have been reported in Central and South America, and Southeast Asia; whereas among those regions some of most biodiverse places in the world are located; __________________ 1aEBB Report on “The harassment of environmental defenders in the EU – a case study of 16 December 2019. 1b https://www.globalwitness.org/documents/ 19938/Defending_Tomorrow_EN_high_r es_-_July_2020.pdf

Amendment 120 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 121 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 122 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 123 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 124 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Believes that any threats or violence against the main actors involved in the defence of the environment must be co~~Notes with concern that violence against environmental defenders is increasing dramatically and that 2019 saw an estimated 212 deaths of environmental defenders due to violence or murders, according to a report by Global Witness; untder~~ed in compliance with the rule of law and through diplomatic means.~~lines that indigenous people and women are particularly at risk; deplores the fact that offenders are only rarely traced or convicted; calls on the Commission in its external actions, including in trade and investment agreements, to always include provisions and discussions on the protection of human rights;

Amendment 125 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. BNotes with concern that environmental defenders face increasing banning, harassment, a closing political space and violence; believes that any threats or violence against the main actors involved in the defence of the environment must be countered in compliance with the rule of law and through ~~diplomatic means.~~an increased use of environmental diplomacy;

Amendment 126 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Believes that any threats or violence against ~~the main actor~~individuals and populations involved in the defence of the environment ~~must be countere~~and the fight against climate change must be countered by all means, within the framework of international law and in compliance with the rule of law and through diplomatic means;

Amendment 127 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Expresses its deep concern at the increasing menacing circumstances the environmental defenders, including women and indigenous groups, around the world are confronted with; it further strongly condemns killings of environmental defenders as the most cruel act of fundamental human rights violations as well as many other threats and violations the environmental defenders are subject to;

Amendment 128 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses that human rights defenders, including environmental human rights defenders, must be guaranteed a safe environment enabling them to undertake their work free from hindrance and insecurity, in recognition of their important role in supporting Member States to fulfil their obligations under the Paris Agreement and to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the pledge that no one will be left behind and to reach the furthest behind first;

Amendment 129 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses the EU role in helping human and environment rights defenders, and the role of EU representations in third countries;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Recital A f (new)

Af. whereas, according to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders2a, environmental defenders are subject to many other threats and violations, such as violent attacks and threats to their families, enforced disappearances, illegal surveillance, travel bans, blackmail, sexual harassment, judicial harassment and use of force to dispel peaceful protests; __________________ 2a https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/file /1625/download?token=BaRRh5uE

Amendment 130 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls for countries in Europe and the Global South to guarantee the protection of environmental defenders by adopting laws and holistic protection measures, and by ensuring investigation into and accountability for attacks and threats against them;

Amendment 131 #

Manuela RIPA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Asks the President of the European Parliament to create a Prize of the European Parliament specifically designed to reward environmental defenders and climate change activists, distinct from other European human rights awards; all those who, in the EU and all over the world, stand up in support of environmental rights play a special role in the management of natural resources and, as such, they deserve public recognition and a high degree of encouragement;

Amendment 132 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Points out that the European Union cannot impose its environmental protection model on third countries with fully democratic regimes where civil society enjoys vested rights; considers that cooperation on an equal footing with states that respect the rule of law is the most effective way of safeguarding the interests of the most vulnerable populations.

Amendment 133 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

Amendment 134 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that, according to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders in his 2016 special report as well as other sources, the situation for environmental rights defenders is particularly dramatic in Latin America and Asia, but that attacks and threats happen everywhere in the world;

Amendment 135 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Welcomes the landmark decision of the UN Human Rights Committee in the case of Teitiota v. New Zealand recognising that that people fleeing climate-related and natural disasters have a valid claim for international protection under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Amendment 136 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to ensure gender-just National Climate Plans (NDCs) by integrating more strongly gender equality into the revised NDCs, and the meaningful involvement of women’s groups in their design and implementation;

Amendment 137 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Urges the Member States to take all measures necessary to ensure the rights, protection and safety of all persons, including environmental human rights defenders, who exercise, inter alia, the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly and association, online and offline, which are essential for the promotion and protection of human rights and the protection and conservation of the environment;

Amendment 138 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Believes integrating the human right to a healthy environment in key environmental agreements and processes, is critical to a holistic response to COVID- 19 that includes a reconceptualization of the relationship between people and nature that will reduce risks and prevent future harms from environmental degradation;

Amendment 139 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Believes that women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate change, reflecting the fact that they are more likely to be marginalized and disadvantaged in many countries; stresses the importance of gender empowerment and the role of women as safeguards of the environment in the Global South and is particularly concerned by the sexual and gender-based violence against women human rights defenders;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Recital A g (new)

Ag. whereas the vulnerability of environmental defenders is further aggravated by the lack of efficient rule of law mechanisms leading to impunity of the offenders;

Amendment 140 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the partnerships with third countries are founded on principles of climate, environmental action achieving Agenda 2030 and of gender equality, and achieve a human rights based approach which puts communities and women at the heart of environmental and development efforts, assuring activists’ civil rights;

Amendment 141 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Urges the Commission and the Member States to take stock of the ruling of the UN Human Rights Committee in the Teitiota v. New Zealand case and take all the necessary measures to ensure full protection of environmentally displaced persons under EU law and to provide appropriate asylum for climate refugees;

Amendment 142 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Highlights the role of environment defenders in the protection of the Amazon rain forest and strongly condemns the increasing violence against Amazon forest protectors and indigenous communities;

Amendment 143 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Recognises that democracy and the rule of law are essential components for the protection of human rights defenders, including environmental human rights defenders, and urges Member States to take measures to strengthen democratic institutions, safeguard civic space, uphold the rule of law and combat impunity;

Amendment 144 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Is alarmed that harassment and attacks on environmental defenders are increasing also in Europe; deplores the murders in 2019 of two forest rangers combating illegal logging in Romania and other attacks on forest workers in Romania in recent years; calls on the Commission and the Member States to act resolutely to combat this rise and to give make sure that criminal investigations regarding crimes connected to environmental defenders are conducted in a legally secure manner;

Amendment 145 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Emphasises the interdependence of the climate, economy, society and human rights; underlines, in particular, the direct effects that climate change has on indigenous communities;

Amendment 146 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Expresses deep concern about the increasingly deteriorating situation of environmental defenders and whistle- blowers across the world;

Amendment 147 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Calls on the Commission and Member States to facilitate public awareness of and participation in environmental decision-making, implementation, monitoring and follow- up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including of civil society, women, children, youth, indigenous peoples, rural and local communities, peasants and others who depend directly on biodiversity and the services provided by ecosystems, by protecting all human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and to healthy environment, both online and offline;

Amendment 148 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Is alarmed by the fact that in 2019 more than four environmental defenders were killed every week, with the total amount of the deaths reaching the record high of all times at 212 people while 40% of murdered defenders were indigenous peoples, and that many more were silenced by the threat of attack, intimidation and sexual violence; denounces the widespread impunity for such crimes;

Amendment 149 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Is alarmed by the fact that in 2019 more than four environmental defenders were killed every week, with the total amount of the deaths reaching the record high of all times at 212 people while 40% of murdered defenders were indigenous peoples and many more were silenced by the threat of attack, intimidation and sexual violence;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Recital A h (new)

Ah. whereas according to European Environmental Bureau case study3a, harassment of environmental defenders is present also in the EU, whereby in 2018 there were 13 reported incidents, and according to the report there are Member States that have non-existent legislation surrounding harassment of environmental defenders and many Member States considered themselves to be ignorant with regards to the sanctioning of harassments; __________________ 3ahttps://eeb.org/library/the-harassment- of-environmental-defenders-in-the- european-union-a-case-study-report/

Amendment 150 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)

5e. Expresses its concern that indigenous people children, persons belonging to minorities and rural and marginalized communities, are subjected to extensive and systematic discrimination and persecution worldwide, with arbitrary arrests, forced displacements, land- grabbing acts and violations of indigenous rights by large corporations especially from agribusiness and oil, gas and mining corporations;

Amendment 151 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)

5e. Reminds that environmental journalists and lawyers are also under threat; underlines that ten environmental journalists were killed in the last 5 years while 53 violations of the rights of the press were registered, is alarmed by the situation of Steven Donziger, lawyer of the Lago Agrio plaintiffs from Ecuador;

Amendment 152 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)

5f. Reminds that everyone should have access to the enjoyment of human rights, environmental protection and sustainable development, and that no one shall be penalized, persecuted or harassed in any way for their involvement in activities to protect the environment; calls on the Commission to set up a rapid response and comprehensive strategy at Union level to support environmental defenders across the world;

Amendment 153 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)

5f. Is alarmed by the massive human - induced destruction of the Amazon rainforest;

Amendment 154 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 g (new)

5g. Calls on the Commission to establish a comprehensive strategy in support of environmental defenders across the world which would rely on: (i) the monitoring of situations of harassment, attacks, threats and assassinations of environmental defenders and journalists, in particular through the introduction of regular monitoring, reporting and assessment mechanism by the Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM), dedicated to the situation of environmental defenders; this monitoring should be transparent while respecting the need for anonymity of certain environmental defenders; (ii) prioritizing the support to environmental defenders within the EU's existing tools for support to human rights defenders, notably in relation to its financial assistance (EIDHR and successor programme, ProtectDefenders.EU) and policy orientations; financial and political support to environmental rights defenders should be increased and any reprisal or attack against them should be systematically condemned by the EU through public statements; particular attention should be paid to training environmental defenders and to accompany citizens' request for access to environmental information and access to justice in third countries; (iii) the adoption of an annex to the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders which would be dedicated to the specific challenges and needs of environmental defenders and EU policy in this regard; (iv) the adoption of a priority list of countries of concern where the EU and Member States would step up its action in support of environmental rights defenders and engage with local authorities in introducing or improving protection mechanisms and specific legislation that defines environmental defenders, recognises their work and guarantees their protection; this priority list would be prepared by the EEAS, in close consultation with stakeholders and with the Parliament, and updated on an annual basis; the High Representative would provide an annual, public report on the action carried out in the countries concerned, as well as on the protection of environmental defenders worldwide; (v) the suspension or modification of trade agreements or preferential trade arrangements when human rights, notably those of environmental defenders, are systematically violated; (vi) the application of mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence for all EU companies and financial institutions which should include meaningful and informed consultations with local communities, environmental defenders and all affected stakeholders in relation to their business activities; calls to regularly monitor the effectiveness of the access to justice mechanisms deployed to ensure such vigilance; calls to take initiatives to both improve the fight against environmental crime on its territory and in the world;

Amendment 155 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 g (new)

5g. Calls the Government of Brazil to renew the 2006 Amazon “soy moratorium” and effectively address any other challenges that might lead to the collapse of the entire Amazon ecosystem such as abandon mega-dams, illegal logging operations and put under control other commodities driving deforestation such as cattle - ranching;

Amendment 156 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 h (new)

5h. Calls on the European Parliament to celebrate the UN-established World Environment Day on 5th June, as an annually recurring day of remembrance for murdered and harassed environmental defenders;

Amendment 157 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 i (new)

5i. Urges the United Nations to assume a larger role in protecting global ecosystems and environmental defenders, in particular where climate change has a severe impact on indigenous communities; calls therefore for the creation of a UN-Green Helmets force to prevent serious environmental damage, respond to severe environmental crises and protect the human rights of most affected social groups, especially those segments of local populations already marginalised or in vulnerable situation due to pre-existing inequalities and discrimination;

Amendment 158 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 j (new)

5j. Calls on the Member States to recognise ecocides as criminal acts and to grant universal jurisdiction for these acts to their national jurisdictions;

Amendment 159 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 k (new)

5k. Calls on the Commission to establish a programme to build the capacity of national jurisdictions of Member States in these fields; calls on the Commission and the Member States to support amending the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to recognise ecocides as criminal acts into its scope of action;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

~~B. whereas the causal link between climate change and violations of the human rights of any population must be scientifically verifi~~deleted;

Amendment 160 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 l (new)

5l. Calls on the Union and the Member States to support, at the next UN General Assembly, the global recognition of the right to a healthy environment;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

~~B. whereas the causal link between climate change and violations of the human rights of any population must be scientifically verifi~~deleted;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

~~B. whereas the causal link between climate change and violations of the human rights of any population must be scientifically verifi~~deleted;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

~~B. whereas the causal link between climate change and violations of the human rights of any population must be scientifically verifi~~deleted;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas all persons, local communities orand populations have the right to ~~the full enjoyment of their human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights~~be guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other relevant instruments, such as: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

~~B. whereas the causal link between climate change and violations of the human rights of any population must be scientifically verifi~~deleted;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas the ~~causal link between climate change and violations of the human rights of any population must be scientifically verified~~Paris Agreement, in its preamble, acknowledges that climate change is a common concern of humankind and that Parties of the Agreement should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas the causal link between climate change and violations of the human rights of any population ~~must be~~is scientifically verified;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas, for all these reasons, the EU, its Member States and other developed and emerging countries have a moral obligation to tackle climate change as well as to protect human rights, but also a legal obligation, according to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Paris Agreement, among other international treaties;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas human rights are closely linked to climate change because of the devastating effects not only on the environment but also on prosperity; whereas climate change affects the rights to life, health, water, housing, food and means of living;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the impacts of climate change are experienced differently by women and men; whereas women are under-represented in environment and climate change decision-making institutions; whereas there are gender differences in the effects of climate change as well as in adaptation and mitigation strategies; whereas women are more vulnerable and face higher risks and burdens for various reasons, ranging from unequal access to resources, education, job opportunities and land rights, to social and cultural norms and roles and their diverse intersectional experiences;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the negative consequences of climate change undermine development prospects of countries and deepen already existing gender disparities that result from numerous socio-economic, institutional, cultural and political determinants;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas globalisation leads to a significant increase in the production of consumer goods and ultimately destroys the natural areas in which indigenous peoples live;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the Aarhus Convention obliges states to protect those who exercise their environmental rights from any harassment, penalisation or persecution;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas citizens of industrialised countries can emit over hundred times more CO2 emissions compared to the citizens of the least developed countries; whereas this requires carbon budgeting to secure a just division of the remaining carbon budget;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas all ~~persons, local communities or populations have the right to the full enjoyment of their human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights~~human beings are entitled to the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas climate change could lead to conflicts and could threat our global security, especially in regions where States are fragile and not ruled democratically; whereas environmental change can also drive conflicts over land or resources, which in turn can lead to the displacement of people; whereas the situation for internally displaced people due to environmental reasons and climate refugees is worst for more vulnerable people like women and girls, who are exposed to violations of their basic rights being often victims of human trafficking and sex exploitation;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas the EU remains one of the regions of the world that generates the most imported deforestation, accounting for almost 39 % of the global footprint, resulting in the destruction of ecosystems which are home to local populations thousands of kilometres away;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted in March 2019 the Resolution A/HRC/40/L.22/Rev.1 “Recognizing the contribution of environmental human rights defenders to the enjoyment of human rights, environmental protection and sustainable development";

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 40/22 has recognized the contribution of environmental human rights defenders to the enjoyment of human rights, environmental protection and sustainable development;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)

Bc. whereas the irresponsible climate policies by some governments could be interpreted to be an ecocide and a crime against humanity;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)

Bc. whereas the European Court of Human Rights has clearly established that various types of environmental degradation can result in violations of substantive human rights, such as the right to life, to private and family life, the prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment, and the peaceful enjoyment of the home;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)

Bc. whereas no emergency should ever be used to erode democratic institutions or to undermine fundamental rights; whereas all measures will always be adopted through a democratic process;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

~~1. Considers it necessary to intervene to help local populations whenever it is proven that climate change is causing damage to the enjoyment of their fundamental rights;~~deleted

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

~~1. Considers it necessary to intervene to help local populations whenever it is proven that climate change is causing damage to the enjoyment of their fundamental rights;~~deleted

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

~~1. Considers it necessary to intervene to help local populations whenever it is proven that climate change is causing damage to the enjoyment of their fundamental rights;~~deleted

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas all persons, local communities or populations have the right to the full enjoyment of their human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, especially considering the rights to life, food security, safe drinking water and sanitation, health, housing, self-determination, work and development, as outlined in the UN Human Rights Council resolution 41/21, and calling for global recognition of the right to a healthy environment;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Considers it necessary to intervene ~~to help~~and protect human rights, as well as prevent and remedy violations of human rights of local populations whenever it is proven that climate change is causing damage to the enjoyment of their fundamental rights; recognises that climate change can have an impact on the enjoyment of human rights and in particular, the right to life, right to health, right to food and right to water, as well as property rights; underlines the importance of a rights-based approach to climate change in policy design at all levels;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Considers ~~it necessary to intervene to help local populations whenever it is proven that climate change is causing damage to the enjoyment of their fundamental rights;~~ that climate change threatens the enjoyment of a range of human rights, including those to life, water and sanitation, food, health, housing, self-determination, culture and development;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Considers it necessary to ~~intervene to help~~support local populations whenever it is proven that climate change is causing damage to the enjoyment of their fundamental rights; points out that EU measures in this area must respect the sovereignty of democratic states and focus their action on regions where the population is subject to undemocratic regimes;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Considers it necessary to intervene, without interfering in any way, to help local populations whenever it is proven that climate change is causing damage to the enjoyment of their fundamental rights;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Considers it necessary to intervene to help local and more vulnerable populations whenever it is proven that the effects of climate change isare causing damage to the enjoyment of their fundamental rights;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Underlines that there is strong evidence that the impact on health of climate-sensitive conditions, such as malnutrition, and the incidence of infectious diseases varies according to gender; notes with concern the high female mortality rate in disaster situations; urges the integration of the gender perspective in sustainable development policies and programmes to ensure that the rights of women and girls - including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and necessary healthcare services -, the promotion of gender equality and climate justice are mainstreamed through its strategy programmes;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses that warming is taking places globally and that internationally coordinated responses are expedient; notes that the EU ETS as the world's largest carbon market is currently the biggest source of demand for international carbon credits, making it the main driver of clean energy investment in developing countries and economies in transition; calls on the Commission to swiftly implement Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, a clear and robust framework for linking carbon markets, which keeps the EU ETS open for international transfers beyond phase 3;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Considers that engagement of the EU is necessary to help local populations in the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms in general and of their right to adequate standard of living in particular whenever those rights are hindered by consequences of climate change and man-made environmental degradation;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Recognises that the adverse effects of climate change will increase exponentially, depending on the level of climate change that will ultimately occur; deems therefore that international human rights measures are needed to combat climate change;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas all persons, local communities or populations have the right to the full enjoyment of their human rights, as enshrined in the ~~Universal Declaration~~International Bill of Human Rights;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls on the Commission to introduce and apply carbon budgeting tool in its policies;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Insists on a joined-up approach to the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, in internal and external policies and with the utmost regard for the human rights;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Stresses that climate change has dramatic consequences for the human rights in developing countries; recalls that according to the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights of 25 June 2019 on climate change and poverty, climate change threatens developing countries and renders them more vulnerable and exposed to climate change and less equipped to withstand its increasingly devastating impacts, including food and water crises, physical destruction caused by natural disasters, displacement and growing tensions over scarce resources;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1d. Believes that environmental degradation is one of the most pressing and serious threats to the ability of present and future generations to enjoy the right to life and protecting the human right to life; considers it necessary to incorporate the climate right into the Human Rights Charter; calls on all relevant bodies to include it in their discussions;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that climate change should not be tackled without scientific evidence and / or with actions that may harm the development interests of local communities; recognises the non-respect of their human rights, even when they are left alone in front of the excessive power of private speculative interests, which can lead to phenomena such as ‘land grabbing’;deleted

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Considers that climate change should not be tackled without~~Highlights the overwhelming scientific evidence aind / or with actions that may harm the development interests of local communities; recognises the non-respect of their human rights, even when they are left alone in front of the excessive power of private speculative interests, which can lead to phenomena such as ‘land grabbing’icating the need for rapid action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally in order to avoid disastrous impacts of climate change;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the international community, at the first UN conference on environment in 1972, endorsed the interdependent and reciprocal aspect between the human and the environment, whereby a healthy environment is integral to fully enjoying a wide range of human rights; whereas climate and environmental emergency, declared by the European Parliament in November last year, presents an additional challenge in this regard;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that climate change should not be tackled without scientific evidence ~~and / or with actions that may harm the development interests of local communities~~; recognises the non-respect of their human rights, even when they are left alone in front of the excessive power of private speculative interests, which can lead to phenomena such as ‘land grabbing’;

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that climate change should not be tackled without scientific evidence and / or with actions that may harm the development interests of local communities; recognises the non-respect of their human rights~~, even~~ and land rights , especially when they are left alone in front of the interests and excessive power of private speculative interests, which can lead to phenomena such as ‘land grabbing’;

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that climate change should not be tackled without scientific evidence and / or with actions that may harm the development interests of local communities; recognises the ~~non-respec~~infringement of their human rights, even when they are left alone in front of the excessive power of private speculative interests, which can lead to phenomena such as ‘land grabbing’;

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Recalls that so far the State Parties to the Paris Agreement have not provided a strong wording in order to mainstream a rights-based approach in the implementation of commitments made under the Paris Agreement; urges therefore the State Parties at COP26 to fully integrate human rights and the social and environmental principles reaffirmed in the preamble of the Paris Agreement, including the rights of indigenous peoples, public participation, gender equality, safeguarding food security and ending hunger, a just transition, and ecosystem integrity as part of the so-called Paris Agreement Rulebook;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Highlights the indispensability of human development opportunities for all; stresses the risks of human rights violations in international commodity supply chains for both conventional as well as green-tech and renewable energy, such as child labour in cobalt mines catering to the global lithium-ion battery chain; calls on the Commission to take human rights implications into account when assessing Union energy and transport technology pathways;

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Expresses concern about the violations of the human rights of local communities stemming from the phenomenon of ‘land grabbing’ fuelled, inter alia, by the excessive power of private speculative interests, including related to EU-based companies, and by the inaction of State authorities and international actors;

Amendment 66 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Recognises that the instrumentalisation of the problems of local and indigenous communities for political and ideological purposes must be avoided and advocates enhanced cooperation at international level to identify and protect the most vulnerable populations.

Amendment 67 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

Amendment 68 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses the importance of the concept of “climate justice” when taking action to address climate change;

Amendment 69 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Stresses that the increasing global competition for access to natural resources often results in unsustainable corporate or state exploitation of the natural and human environment; calls on the Commission, the Member States and corporations in this regard to abide by and promote the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct in order to prevent, reduce and remedy harm to the environment and biodiversity, taking into account obligations and commitments to ensure enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment; expresses its concern that certain international investment agreements, such as the Energy Charter Treaty, can enforce the interest of multinational corporations at the expense of legally binding environmental standards in State Parties to the treaties concerned; calls on the Commission to propose a due diligence and corporate accountability legislation at EU level, noting that several countries have already such legislation in place;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas every human being has a right to good status of the environment, healthy habitats and a liveable planet; whereas climate justice means that we have to adapt our CO2 emissions and climate policies so that we can secure these rights to all existing and future generations;

Amendment 70 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Considers it necessary to ensure the protection within the EU of the population most affected economically and with regard to its way of life by the vast legislative activity carried out under the Green Deal on the pretext of combating climate change and protecting the environment; points out that the economic crisis together with the new climate policies may aggravate the situation of the most disadvantaged people in the European Union;

Amendment 71 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Calls for greater international support for indigenous land rights, which would contribute to limiting global warming; urges all Member States to ratify without delay the ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169);

Amendment 72 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Believes that EU should recognise climate refugee status and provide asylum to climate refugees and human and environment rights defenders;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Acknowledges that civil society organizations are essential actors in the field of advocacy, awareness raising, and education pertained to impacts of climate change and environmental degradation; recognizes furthermore their role as agents of the EU climate external action; calls on the Member States and governments around the world to provide for a safe and enabling environment for activities of civil society organizations in general, and NGOs and environmental defenders in particular, inter alia, by ensuring them the exercise of their human rights as enshrined in international law, such as freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly and association, online and offline, as well as to put in place and enforce legislation that ensures prompt and independent investigations of violations, the prosecution of alleged perpetrators and the provision of effective judicial remedies;

Amendment 74 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Calls for the Commission to support the development of local networks in cooperation with local or global NGOs, in order to help those in immediate danger, and to receive information about the situation on the ground;

Amendment 75 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2d. Calls on the Commission to draft eligibility criteria for EU grants that would enable access to funds also to small-sized environmental NGOs for which is otherwise compulsory to enter in partnership with larger NGOs in order to be eligible for funding;

Amendment 76 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that abuse of the terms ‘urgency’ or ‘emergency’ with reference to climate change can trivialise both its importance and the evaluation of its effects on less protected populations;deleted

Amendment 77 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 78 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 79 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas climate change occurs globally, but has a greater impact on the countries and communities least responsible for global warming; whereas the impacts are greater on populations which are the most reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods and/or which have the least capacity to respond to natural hazards, such as droughts, landslides, floods and hurricanes; whereas those with less financial resources to adapt will be the ones which will be hit the hardest and will suffer the most from the impacts of climate change;

Amendment 80 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 81 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 82 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that abgeneralised use of the terms ‘urgency’ or ‘emergency’ with reference to climate change can ~~trivialise both its importance and~~overshadow the importance of its effects and hinder the evaluation of its effects on less protected populations; while considering that extreme climatic and environmental impacts and widespread adverse effects on human rights can be reached even if Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are achieved;

Amendment 83 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that abuse of the terms ‘urgency’ or ‘emergency’ with reference to climate change can ~~trivialise~~support both its importance and the evaluation of its effects on less protected populations;

Amendment 84 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Insists on ensuring that initiatives for strengthening the regulatory and policy framework for business and human rights at EU level take full account of the human rights obligations of Members States and companies related to environmental protection;

Amendment 85 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

~~4. Deems that the excessive pursuit of climate neutrality by developed countries can damage the growth and rights of developing countries;~~deleted

Amendment 86 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

~~4. Deems that the excessive pursuit of climate neutrality by developed countries can damage the growth and rights of developing countries;~~deleted

Amendment 87 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

~~4. Deems that the excessive pursuit of climate neutrality by developed countries can damage the growth and rights of developing countries;~~deleted

Amendment 88 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

~~4. Deems that the excessive pursuit of climate neutrality by developed countries can damage the growth and rights of developing countries;~~deleted

Amendment 89 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

~~4. Deems that the excessive pursuit of climate neutrality by developed countries can damage the growth and rights of developing countries;~~deleted

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas the preamble of the Paris Agreement makes it clear that all States should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights;

Amendment 90 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

~~4. Deems that the excessive pursuit of climate neutrality by developed countries can damage the growth and rights of developing countries;~~deleted

Amendment 91 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

~~4. Deems that the excessive pursuit of climate neutrality by developed countries can damage the growth and rights of developing countries;~~deleted

Amendment 92 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Deems that the ~~excessive pursuit of climate neutrality by~~impunity with which states and businesses have acted in the past have too often damaged the growth possibilities and the human rights of developeding countries ~~can damage the growth and rights of developing countries~~; stresses the need for the EU to share the costs of climate neutrality, especially under the effects of the COVID19 pandemic that is leading to an economic recession;

Amendment 93 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Deems that the excessive pursuit of climate neutrality by developed countries can damage the growth and rights of developing countries~~Recalls the EU target to achieve climate neutrality at the latest by 2050 and underlines the need for EU leadership to bring other countries to raise their climate ambition; calls for an active EU climate diplomacy that incorporates a rights- based approach;

Amendment 94 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Deems that the ~~excessive pursuit~~goal of climate neutrality ~~by developed countries can damage the growth and rights of developing countrie~~committed by all countries can contribute to their sustainable growth and rights;

Amendment 95 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Deems that the excessive pursuit of climate neutrality by developed countries can damage the growth and rights of developing countries; recognises that fossil fuels remain the cheapest, most reliable and secure energy resource available in many developing countries that need a strategic long-term plan to transition towards alternative forms of energy whilst maintaining the functionality of their socio-economic systems;

Amendment 96 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Welcomes the Commission’s intent, expressed in the European Green Deal Communication and similarly in EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 Communication, to consider revising the Aarhus Regulation in order to improve access to administrative and judicial review at EU level for citizens and NGOs who have concerns about the legality of decisions with effects on the environment, to take action to improve their access to justice before national courts in all Member States, and to promote action by the EU, its Member States and the international community to step up efforts against environmental crime; calls on the Commission and the Member States in this regard to facilitate active participation in environmental decision- making including of civil society organizations, women, children, youth, indigenous peoples, rural and local communities, peasants and others who in social, cultural, and economic terms depend directly on the local ecosystems, including their biodiversity; urges the Member States to condemn any kind of stigmatization related to the work of environmental NGOs and persons active in climate and environmental advocacy;

Amendment 97 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls that the UN Environment Global report on Environmental law found that despite a 38-fold increase in environmental laws put in place since 1972, failure to fully implement and enforce these laws is one of the greatest challenges to mitigating climate change, reducing pollution and preventing widespread species and habitat loss; underlines that a strengthening of the environmental rule of law both in the EU and in the rest of the world must be a priority;

Amendment 98 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities' which grants the Union and the Member States with a particular responsibility as well as capacity to act; stresses that the Union's capability is in itself a legal reason to act and support Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States;

Amendment 99 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that it is important to integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation deeper into national sustainable development strategies, linking disaster risk reduction, disaster risk management and climate change adaptation strategies, and to consider including human rights dimensions into existing tools;

source: 658.777

2020/10/15 AFET 196 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)

- having regard to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/53/144, adopting the Declaration on human rights defenders,

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the UN, along with other international organisations and experts, is calling for global recognition of the right to a healthy and safe environment;

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Encourages the EU and the Member States to take a bold initiative within the International Criminal Court (ICC) in order to pave the way towards new negotiations between the parties with a view to recognising ‘ecocide’ as an international crime under the Rome Statute; calls on the Commission and the EU VP/HR, with the active involvement of his Special Representative for Human Rights, to promote an EU initiative in this regard, as well as to establish a programme to build the capacity of national jurisdictions of Member States in these fields;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Encourages the EU and the Member States to take a bold initiative within the International Criminal Court (ICC) in order to pave the way towards new negotiations between the parties with a view to recognising ‘ecocide’ as an international crime under the Rome Statutepropose an amendment to the Rome Statute to include “Ecocide” as a fifth crime under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and to include corporate criminal responsibility in its provisions;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Union and its Member States to deeply assess how the external dimension of the European Green Deal can best contribute to a holistic and human rights-based approach to climate action and to stopping biodiversity loss; calls for the EU to leverage the broad range of external policies, tools and political and financial instruments at its disposal to fully comply with and implement it; calls for the establishment of climate focal points within the relevant services of the Commission and the European External Action Service, which would inter alia ensure the climate-proofing of all EU external dealings; calls for the EU to revise its climate finance mechanisms in order to ensure full respect for human rights and to establish strong safeguards for this purpose;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Union and its Member States to ~~deeply~~ assess ~~how~~ the external dimension of the European Green Deal ~~can best contribute to a holistic and human rights-based approach~~with regards to climate action and ~~to stopping~~ biodiversity loss; calls for the EU to leverage the broad range of external policies, tools and political and financial instruments at its disposal to implement it; calls for the EU to revisew its climate finance mechanisms and propose to amend them where appropriate, in order to ensure full respect for human rights and to establish strong safeguards for this purpose;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Calls on the Union and its Member States to stress upon companies and local government authorities to promote and implement solutions that will contribute to the protection of the environment;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas climate change must be addressed using scientific evidence, and whereas the excessive achievement of climate neutrality and its instrumentalisation for political and ideological purposes by countries with established democracies may harm growth and people’s rights in developing countries or in countries with undemocratic regimes;

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the Commission to increase financial and technical assistance and capacity building activities to support third countries with the integration of human rights in their national climate actions and programmes; recalls its position that at least 45 % of the funding from the proposed 2021-2027 Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) should support climate and environment objectives; insists that all activities of European Financial Institutions, notably the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in third countries, are strictly consistent with the EU’s climate commitments and apply a HRBA in all their external dealings; calls for the establishment of a complaints and redress mechanism for individuals or groups whose rights would have been violated by such activities;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the Commission to ~~increase~~review and possibly revise, where appropriate, financial and technical assistance and capacity building activities to support third countries with the integration of human rights in their national climate actions and programmes; recalls its position that at least 45 % of the funding from the proposed 2021-2027 Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) should support climate and environment objectives;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the Commission to increase financial and technical assistance and capacity building activities to support third countries with the integration of human rights in their national climate actions and programmes to ensure that climate change does not interfere with the exercise of human rights in those countries; recalls its position that at least 45 % of the funding from the proposed 2021-2027 Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) should support climate and environment objectives;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to raise awareness of people on environmental knowledge and human rights both within the EU but also through bilateral initiatives with third countries; calls for transparent and informative communication on these issues in EU development cooperation with third countries;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10 a. Reiterates the importance of Arctic in climate change and the necessity of EU Arctic policy;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10 b. Recognises the importance of a common EU Energy policy in its environmental goals and that it is necessary to guarantee the coherence of different EU policies, including Energy policy and CFSP;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Acknowledges the impact of the nexus of climate change, environmental degradation and disasters on migration and displacement and regrets the lack of human rights safeguards and specific protections for environmentally displaced people at international level; calls on the Commission and the Member States to cooperate in the development of an international mechanism for addressing climate-induced displacement and migration at international forums and to address climate-induced displacement in related fields of the EU’s external action; insists on gender-based participation in fulfilling the rights of all individuals, notably those most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change such women, children, afro-descendent and indigenous communities, individuals subjected to discrimination, and persons often living in poor and remote areas;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Acknowledges the impact of the nexus of climate change, environmental degradation and disasters on migration and displacement and regrets the lack of human rights safeguards and specific protections for environmentally displaced people at international level; strongly calls on the ~~Commiss~~Union and the Member States to cooperate in the development of an international mechanism for addressing climate-induced displacement and migration at international forums and to address climate-induced displacement in related fields of the EU’s external action; insists on gender-based participation in fulfilling the rights of all individuals, notably those most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change such women, children, afro-descendent and indigenous communities, individuals subjected to discrimination, and persons often living in poor and remote areasrecognize “climate refugees” as a unique group of displaced individuals in need of special protection, thus providing the protection, legitimacy and urgency that climate refugees deserve; stresses the need to include climate refugees in the refugee status and in the Common European Asylum System;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Acknowledges the impact of the nexus of climate change, environmental degradation and disasters onas drivers for migration and displacement and ~~regrets the lack of human rights safeguards and~~it should be addressed in the migratory frameworks in place at international level, regrets the specific protections for environmentally displaced people at international level and assisting them to cope with the challenges of climate change at local level; calls on the Commission and the Member States to cooperate in the development of an international mechanism for addressing climate-induced displacement and migration at international forums and to address climate-induced displacement in related fields of the EU’s external action~~; insists on gender-based particip~~ with the increasing of resilience of local population; in sists on fulfilling the rights of all individuals, notably those most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change such women, children, afro-descendent and indigenous communities, individuals subjected to discrimination, and persons often living in poor and remote areas without any discrimination based on gender, ethnic origin or religious affiliation, notably those most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change such coastal communities, inhabitants of dry lands and semi-desert areas, population of small island developing states, and rural population in developing countries, including women and girls and other vulnerable groups, such as children, indigenous communities, religious minorities, individuals and families subjected to discrimination;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Acknowledges the impact of the nexus of climate change, environmental degradation and disasters on migration and displacement and regrets the lack of human rights safeguards and specific protections for environmentally displaced people at international level; calls on the Commission and the Member States to cooperate in the development of an international mechanism for; calls on the Commission to address~~ing~~ climate-induced displacement and migration ~~at international forum~~in its future migration initiatives and to address climate-induced displacement in related fields of the EU’s external action; insists on ~~gender-based~~equal participation in fulfilling the rights of all individuals, notably those most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change such women, children, afro-descendent and indigenous communities, individuals subjected to discrimination, and persons often living in poor and remote areas;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas recent reports by the UN have shown that human rights are being systematically breached and eroded, and in some cases crimes against humanity are being committed, in countries with totalitarian regimes such as Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Ecuador, etc.;

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Acknowledges the impact of the nexus of climate change, environmental degradation and natural disasters on migration and displacement and regrets the lack of human rights safeguards and specific protections for environmentally displaced people at international level; calls on the Commission and the Member States to build on the work of the Platform on Disaster Displacement and the Task Force on Displacement to cooperate in the development of an international ~~mechanism~~framework for addressing climate-induced displacement and migration at international forums and to address climate-induced displacement in related fields of the EU’s external action; ~~insists on gender-based participation in fulfill~~welcomes the inclusion of climate-induced migration and displacement ing the ~~rights of all individuals, notably those most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change such wo~~Cancun Adaptation Framework, and calls on the EU to explore ways to enhance understanding, coordination and cooperation with regard to climate change induced displacement, ~~children, afro-descendent and indigenous communities, individuals subjected to discrimination, and persons often living in poor and remote areas~~migration and planned relocation in the EU adaptation strategy, including through long-term planning mechanism;

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Insists on gender-based participation in fulfilling the rights of all individuals, notably those most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change such women, children, afro-descendent and indigenous communities, individuals subjected to discrimination, and persons often living in poor and remote areas;

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Stresses it is crucial to ensure and facilitate public participation in decisions that affect vulnerable groups, and for decisions concerning the displacement or resettlement of certain groups; insists on gender-based participation in fulfilling the rights of all individuals, notably those most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change such women, children, afro-descendent and indigenous communities, individuals subjected to discrimination, and persons often living in poor and remote areas;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Underlines that, in its first ruling on a complaint by an individual seeking asylum protection from the effects of climate change, the UN Human Rights Committee has stated that countries may not deport individuals who face climate change-induced conditions that violate the right to life, thus ruling that States must take into account the human rights impacts caused by the climate crisis in the country of origin when considering deportation of asylum seekers;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Encourages Commission and EU Member States to work together on increasing support to people who are displaced due to the climate change and are no longer able to live in their places of residence to provide aid in order to appease their basic needs;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Recalls the fact that the inequality, violence and discrimination experienced by women are amplified by climate change; calls on the EU and its Member States to design and implement policies with a transversal gender perspective in the fields of trade, cooperation, climate and external action, promoting the empowerment and participation of women in the decision-making process and recognising the specific constraints faced by girls and women;

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Recalls the fact that the inequality, violence and discrimination experienced by women and families are amplified by climate change; calls on the EU and its Member States to design and implement policies w~~ith a transversal gender perspective in the fields of trade, cooperation, climate and external~~hich recognising the specific constraints faced by girls and women in the fields of climate action, promoting the empowerment and participation of women in the decision- making process ~~and recognising the specific constraints faced by girls and women~~;

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. encourages Member States to promote solutions that are in line with an integral ecology, whether concerning public health, respect for the family unit and family freedoms, or respect for the end of natural life; recalls the intellectual dissonance between the constant calls for material ecological reforms without first taking account of a human ecology;

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Recalls that increasing competition over diminishing renewable resources, such as land and water, is on the rise and it is further aggravated by environmental degradation, population growth and climate change; notes that the mismanagement of land and natural resources is contributing to new conflicts and obstructing the peaceful resolution of existing ones;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Encourages the EEAS, the Commission and EU Member States, under their development cooperation assistance to third countries, to prioritize their support to building the capacity of public authorities to address climate change and to adopt and ensure compliance with environmental regulations aimed at securing a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, including by promoting good governance in natural resources management and the rule of law, access to information, public participation in decision making and access to justice on environmental and climate matters;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)

Bc. whereas the human rights of the most vulnerable communities are also being breached when they are left to stand alone against the excessive power wielded by those in politics in countries with undemocratic and/or totalitarian regimes such as Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador, etc.;

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12 b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to strengthen the role and capacity of regional human rights bodies and other mechanisms in addressing the nexus between climate change and human rights, promoting environmental rights and protecting environmental rights defenders; in particular, calls on the Commission to initiate a programme in support of the Escazu Agreement, which would inter alia assist State Parties in ratifying and implementing the Agreement, assist civil society in engaging and contributing to its implementation, and provide support to the Voluntary Fund established under the Agreement;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

~~COVID-19 response~~deleted

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses that the global COVID-19 pandemic perfectly illustrates the impact of environmental degradation in creating the conditions for an increase of zoonosis with severe health, social, economic and political consequences; calls on the Commission and EU Member States to commit to putting environmental rights, and those who protect them, at the centre of any response to the COVID-19 pandemic;deleted

Amendment 133 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses that the global COVID-19 pandemic perfectly illustrates the impact of environmental degradation in creating the conditions for an increase of zoonosis with severe health, social, economic and political consequences; calls on the Commission and EU Member States to commit to ~~putting~~include environmental rights, and those who protect them, ~~at the centre of~~in any response to the COVID-19 pandemic;

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Expresses its deep concern that a global recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic might lower, delay or shift states’ commitments in terms of international climate objectives and human rights standards; calls on the EU and its Member States to ensure that policies envisaged for the economic recovery will be fully in line with the promotion and the protection of human rights as enshrined in Article 21 of the Lisbon Treaty as well as with environmental protection and sustainable development;deleted

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Expresses its deep concern that a global recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic might lower, delay or shift states’ commitments in terms of international climate objectives and human rights standards; calls on the EU and its Member States to ensure that external policies envisaged for the economic recovery will be fully in line with the promotion and the protection of human rights as enshrined in Article 21 of the ~~Lisbon Treaty~~Treaty on European Union as well as with environmental protection and sustainable development;

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Urges the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), the Commission and the Member States to advocate for an effective response to the COVID-19 crisis which fully takes into consideration the importance of respecting, protecting and fulfilling the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, as a bulwark to prevent future environmental and health crises which have the potential to put basic human rights at risk; calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to increase their climate and environment ambition in the light of the COVID-19 crisis and to shape an ambitious strategic approach to climate diplomacy;deleted

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Expresses concern that emergency and lockdown measures taken in response to COVID-19 may have been misused in several parts of the world by political authorities, security forces, and non-state armed groups to limit, intimidate and murder human rights defenders including environmental and land defenders; recalls, in this regard, how indigenous defenders have also been disproportionately vulnerable to COVID- 19 as a result of weak health infrastructure in remote areas and government neglect;deleted

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Expresses concern that emergency and lockdown measures taken in response to COVID-19 may have been misused in several parts of the world by political authorities, security forces, and non-state armed groups to limit, intimidate and murder human rights defenders including environmental and land defenders; States need to guarantee the protection of those who exercise their fundamental rights of freedom of expression and association in relation to human rights and environmental issues; recalls, in this regard, how indigenous defenders have also been disproportionately vulnerable to COVID-19 as a result of weak health infrastructure in remote areas and government neglect;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas addressing climate change in particular when provoked by human actions, raises issues of justice and equity, both between and within ~~nation~~peoples and generations; whereas access to justice in environmental matters, access to information and public participation in decision-making are enshrined under Implementing Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, the Aarhus Convention of 25 June 1998 and the Escazu Convention of 4 March 2018;

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Expresses concern that emergency and lockdown measures taken in response to COVID-19 may have been misused in several parts of the world by political authorities, security forces, and non-state armed groups to limit, intimidate and murder human rights defenders including environmental and land defenders and those promoting integral human development of individuals, families and peoples; recalls, in this regard, how indigenous defenders have also been disproportionately vulnerable to COVID- 19 as a result of weak health infrastructure in remote areas and government neglect;

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16 a. Notes that the COVID-19 pandemic threatens food security and nutrition of millions of people around the world, as global food supply chains have been affected, at a time when food security and food systems are already under strain due to climate change and natural disasters; highlights that the pandemic crisis could serve as a turning point to rebalance and transform foodsystems, making them more inclusive, sustainable and resilient;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Is opposed to climate change and environmental protection being used by the European Union and its activists as an excuse for interference in the internal policy of sovereign states;

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Recalls the obligation on states to protect environmental defenders from harassment, intimidation and violence, as enshrined in human rights law, as well as to guarantee their fundamental freedoms, and their obligation to recognise the rights of indigenous peop~~ulation~~les and local communities, and to acknowledge their contributions and experiences to the fight against biodiversity loss and environmental degradation; and to recognise their specific role and expertise in land management and preservation;

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Recalls the obligation on states to protect environmental defenders from harassment, intimidation ~~and violence~~, violence and all other pressures or blackmail against them and their families, as enshrined in human rights law, as well as to guarantee their fundamental freedoms, and their obligation to recognise the rights of indigenous populations and local communities, and to acknowledge their contribution to the fight against biodiversity loss and environmental degradation;

Amendment 145 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17 a. Calls on the Commission and the Council to use all the instruments at its disposal, along with the provisions concerning the implementation and enforcement of human rights in the framework of EU’s instruments of foreign policy and Association Agreements, as elements of pressure to effectively support and protect human and environmental rights defenders in EU’s neighbourhood, as well as with EU candidate countries to effectively converge with European values and standards;

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17 a. Calls for increased cooperation with and inclusion of indigenous peoples and the use of their knowledge as well as to strive for the strengthening of their democratic participation in relevant decision making;

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18 a. Stresses that women environmental human rights defenders face additional challenges in their work, communities and homes as they are targeted for or exposed to gender-specific threats and gender-specific violence; notes that women defenders are more at risk of being subject to certain forms of violence and other violations, prejudice, exclusion, and repudiation than their male counterparts;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Reiterates its position on the need for the EEAS, the Commission and the Member States to invest in and strengthen specific protection mechanisms and programmes for ~~environment~~all human rights defenders, and to promote and facilitate access to protection mechanisms for local and indigenous defenders;

Amendment 149 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. RCalls on the EU and its Member States to support environmental rights defenders and their legal representatives, both politically and financially as well as to raise individual cases related but not limited to land rights, labour rights, natural resources, environmental issues, climate change, and those resulting from corporate abuses; reiterates its position on the need for the EEAS, the Commission and the Member States to invest in and strengthen specific gender-responsive protection mechanisms and programmes for environmental human rights defenders, and to promote and facilitate access to protection mechanisms for local and indigenous defenders;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas addressing climate change raises issues of justice ~~and equity, both between and within nations and generations; whereas access to justice in environmental matters~~in environmental matters, in particular access to justice, access to information and public participation in decision-making, which are enshrined under Implementing Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, the Aarhus Convention of 25 June 1998 and the Escazu Convention of 4 March 2018;

Amendment 150 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Reiterates its position on the need for the EEAS, the Commission and the Member States to invest in and strengthen specific protection mechanisms and programmes for environmental human rights defenders, ~~and~~ to promote and facilitate access to protection mechanisms for local and indigenous defenders and to regularly involve them in investigations;

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the EU and the Member States to request and ensure that the right to free, prior, informed and binding consultation and consent with indigenous peoples is respected, without coercion, in any agreement or development projects that may affect the lands, territories or natural assets of indigenous peoples; stresses that the promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples and their traditional practices are key to achieving sustainable development, combating climate change and conserving biodiversity, whilst also assuring adequate safeguards and access to remedy and redress;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the EU and the Member States to request and ensure that the right to free, prior, informed and binding consultation and consent with indigenous peoples is respected, without coercion, in any agreement or development projects that may affect the lands, territories or natural assets of indigenous peoples; stresses that the promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples and their traditional practices are ~~key~~important to achieving sustainable development, combating climate change and conserving biodiversity;

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote, through policy dialogue, the adoption of national action plans that guarantee a safe and free environment for peaceful environmental defenders by integrating a wider perspective of collective protection, including political measures to legitimise communities and groups involved in the protection of the environment; calls on the Commission to address explicitly the human rights of indigenous peoples and local communities under forest law, governance and trade voluntary partnership agreements (FLEGT VPAs);

Amendment 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22 a. Calls for the adoption of an EU list of priority countries, where the EEAS, Commission and Member States would step up their action in support of environmental rights defenders and engage with local authorities in introducing or improving protection mechanisms and specific legislation that defines environmental defenders, recognises their work and guarantees their protection; insists that this priority list should be prepared by the EEAS, in close consultation with stakeholders and with Parliament, and updated on an annual basis; also calls on the High Representative to provide an annual, public report on the action carried out in the priority countries, as well as on the protection of environmental defenders worldwide;

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)

22 b. Calls for the adoption of an annex to the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders, which would be dedicated to the specific challenges and needs of environmental defenders and EU policy in this regard;

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)

22 c. Recommends that at least 25% of the allocation for human rights under the 2021-2027 allocation for the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) should support the protection of environmental human rights defenders;

Amendment 158 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 d (new)

22 d. Stresses the importance to ensure the continuation of ProtectDefenders.eu project at increased levels of funding as well as of other existing EU tools for supporting human rights defenders; is convinced that financial and political support to environmental rights defenders should be increased and that any reprisal or attack against them should be systematically condemned by the EU through public statements and local demarches when appropriate;

Amendment 159 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 e (new)

22 e. Urges the United Nations to assume a larger role in protecting global eco-systems and environmental defenders, in particular where climate change has a severe impact on indigenous and local communities; thus, calls for the EU to promote a UN-level initiative for international observers to monitor serious environmental damage, severe environmental crises or situations where environmental rights defenders are most at risk and to engage with and assist the authorities in establishing a protective environment for these defenders;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the causal link between environmental degradation, climate change and unsustainable development ~~constitute some of the most pressing and serious threats to the ability of present and futur~~, as well as the restrictions on the gen~~erations to enjoy~~joyment of multiple human rights~~; whereas parties to the UNFCCC have an obligation to take effective measures to mitigate climate change, enhance the adaptive capacity of vulnerable populations and prevent foreseeable loss of life~~, must be scientifically verified; whereas parties to the UNFCCC ought to advocate enhanced cooperation at international level to identify and protect the most vulnerable populations;

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. ~~Regrets the fact~~Notes that, even if fully implemented by all states, current nationally determined contributions (NDCs) would likely lead to a disastrous global temperature rise of 3 °C above pre- industrial levels, violating the Paris Agreement; warns that such a scenario would result in extreme climatic and environmental impacts and widespread adverse effects on human rights;

Amendment 161 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Regrets the fact that, even if fully implemented by all states, current nationally determined contributions (NDCs) would lead to a disastrous global temperature rise of 3 °C above pre- industrial levels, violating the Paris Agreement; warns that such a scenario would result in extreme climatic and environmental impacts and widespread adverse effects on human rights, and the solution for climate change must rely on a new global economic paradigm;

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Welcomes the inclusion of human rights in the Preamble to the Paris Agreement ~~and~~; calls ~~for effective measures to respect and promote human rights obligations when implement~~on the States Parties to adopte at COP26 an effective human rights-based approach by integrating measures to respect and promote human rights, as well as environmental and social standards, food security and the protection of biodiversity ing the Paris Agreement ~~and taking climate action; regrets, however,~~Implementation Guidelines (Rulebook); regrets that there are no concrete provisions to hold state and corporate actors accountable for human rights violations linked to climate change;

Amendment 163 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Welcomes the inclusion of human rights in the Preamble to the Paris Agreement and calls for effective measures to respect and promote human rights obligations when implementing the Agreement and taking climate action; ~~regrets, however, that there are no concrete provisions to hold state and corporate actors accountable for human rights violations linked to climate change;~~

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Urges the parties to the UNFCCC to continue increasing their mitigation and adaptation ambition in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and to integrate the human rights dimension in their NDCs and in their adaptation communication; calls on the secretariat of the UNFCCC to develop guidelines on how to integrate human rights protections into ~~climate policy~~nationally determined contribution and adaptation communication in collaboration with the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights;

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. Stresses the need to strengthen synergies across climate and human rights reporting obligations; considers that the guidelines on the transparency framework of the Paris Agreement (article 13) should ask Parties to provide information not only concerning greenhouse gas emissions but also whether climate policies are implemented in line with other societal objectives and existing legal frameworks and therefore include information on good practices, including rights-based approaches to mitigation and adaptation measures, as well as support;

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. Urges the parties to the UNFCCC to revise Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs),with the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and develop monitoring mechanisms for NDCs with the participation of Indigenous Peoples; Urges the EU and the Member States to include indigenous peoples in their country delegations at the international climate negotiations;

Amendment 167 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Urges the EU’s institutions to play an active and ambitious role in the promotion of a human rights approach in the ongoing international climate negotiations, notably in the Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM) and other guidelines for mechanisms under Article 6, paragraph 4 of the Paris Agreement, that ensure meaningful and informed participation of rights-holders, adequate environmental and social safeguards, and independent redress mechanisms; stresses that the SDM should aim to finance projects that benefit those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, that all projects financed under the SDM should undergo a human rights impact assessment with clear procedural requirements for stakeholder consultations, with only projects with positive impacts being eligible for registration;

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Urges the EU’s institutions to ~~play an active and ambitious role~~cooperate closely in the promotion of a human rights approach in the ongoing international climate negotiations, notably in the Sustainable Development Mechanism and other guidelines for mechanisms under Article 6, paragraph 4 of the Paris Agreement, that ensure meaningful and informed participation of rights-holders, adequate environmental and social safeguards, and independent redress mechanisms;

Amendment 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Stresses that in order to ensure accountability for all actors, both public and private, new mechanisms such as the Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM) must integrate institutional safeguard policies and rights-based grievance mechanisms to guarantee the effective protection of rights;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

Amendment 170 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

~~28. Calls on the Secretariat of the UNFCCC to develop, together with the parties to the Convention, a common legal framework for climate justice;~~deleted

Amendment 171 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Calls on the Secretariat of the UNFCCC to develop, together with the parties to the Convention, a common legal framework for climate justice in order to protect people and communities most vulnerable to climate impacts and to safeguard human rights in all mitigation and adaptation activities; calls on the EU to integrate this climate justice dimension in the framework of the Green Deal and in the EU external action to ensure compatibility between climate action and the protection of human rights; stresses that in this context, all affected public must be adequately informed about the impacts of climate change and the measures undertaken to both mitigate and adapt to climate change, adequately involved in public decisions about climate change, and given access to administrative, judicial, and other remedies when rights are violated as a result of climate change and responses to it;

Amendment 172 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Stresses that the Global Stocktake referred to in Article 14 of the Paris Agreement should be used to review progress towards the integration of human rights and other principles into climate action and the implementation of the Paris Agreement, help identify good practices and barriers to implementation, and inform future NDCs and international cooperation;

Amendment 173 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Stresses that the Global Stocktake referred to in Article 14 of the Paris Agreement should be used to review progress towards the integration of human rights and other principles into climate action; notes that it should include opportunities for civil society and intergovernmental organizations to provide their input;

Amendment 174 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)

29 a. Stresses that all effective rights- based climate actions should guarantee free, active, meaningful and informed participation; recommends that mitigation and adaptation plans should be publicly available, transparently financed and developed with affected and/or potentially affected groups, especially the mostvulnerable;

Amendment 175 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Underlines its view that human rights laws and institutions that are commonly used to bridge the governance accountability gap can by no means replace effective measures to prevent and redress harm caused by climate change; considers that National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and civil society may play an effective role in national accountability and oversight mechanisms designed to ensure access to remedy for those who suffer human rights harms as a result of climate change;deleted

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Underlines its view that human rights laws and institutions that are commonly used to bridge the governance accountability gap can by no means replace effective measures to prevent and redress harm caused by climate change; considers that National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and civil society ~~may play~~should have an effective role in national accountability and oversight mechanisms designed to ensure access to remedy for those who suffer human rights harms as a result of climate change;

Amendment 177 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Believes that the EU must play an active~~, strong and ambitious leadership~~ and engaged role in the preparations for the 26th UN climate change conference (COP26), putting the inclusion of human rights principles at the heart of international climate change policymaking in order to avoid irreversible damage to current and future human development and generations;

Amendment 178 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Acknowledges the active role and involvement of civil society, non- governmental organisations and environmental defenders in advocating for human rights-based approaches to climate action; stresses the need to guarantee civil society participation in the transparency framework laid out in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement; calls on all states, particularly the EU and the Member States, to ensure that indigenous peoples and local communities are included in the deliberations and decision-making processes of international climate diplomacy; warmly welcomes the efforts of the Commission to support the participation of indigenous peoples through its support to Docip and to the Indigenous Navigator Project; encourages the Commission to continue to promote dialogue and collaboration between indigenous peoples and the European Union as well as with international fora, notably in relation to climate change;

Amendment 179 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Acknowledges the active role and involvement of civil society, non- governmental organisations and environmental defenders in advocating for human rights-based approaches to climate action and calls on the support and finance of such activities by the EU; stresses the need to guarantee civil society participation in the transparency framework laid out in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas approaching climate change from a human rights perspective highlights the principles of universality and non-discrimination, emphasising that rights are guaranteed for all persons in the world, including vulnerable groups; whereas this ecological approach should also comprise a human dimension and respect the natural processes of birth and death of men and women;

Amendment 180 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Acknowledges the active role and involvement of civil society, including non- governmental organisations ~~and~~, environmental defenders, Churches and faith based organizations in advocating for human rights-based approaches to climate action; stresses the need to guarantee civil society participation in the transparency framework laid out in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement;

Amendment 181 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Recalls that Member States are required to regulate corporations to ensure that they do not cause human rights ~~abuse~~violations and that private and corporate actors have the obligation to address the human rights implications of ~~climate chang~~their actions harming environment and people, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;

Amendment 182 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Recalls that Member States are required to regulate corporations to ensure that they do not cause human rights abuses along their supply-chain and that private and corporate actors have the obligation to address the human rights implications of climate change, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;

Amendment 183 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Recalls that Member States are required to ~~regulate~~monitor corporations to ensure that they do not cause human rights abuses and that private and corporate actors have the obligation to address the human rights implications of climate change, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;

Amendment 184 #

Gabriel MATO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Calls on the EU to support corporate accountability as a key element of the European Green Deal; calls on the Member States to implement effective regulatory measures to provide redress and hold businesses accountable when it comes to ensuring that they fulfil their due diligence obligations regarding the impact of climate change on human rights; calls on the EU and the Member States to ensure that the people hardest hit by the structural changes made in order to achieve the drastic cut in emissions by 2030 are guaranteed the right to work; emphasises that the green transition should be fair and leave no one behind;

Amendment 185 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Calls on the EU to support sustainable corporate accountability as a key element of the European Green Deal; calls on the Member States to implement effective regulatory measures to ~~provide redres~~identify, prevent, investigate, punish and redress abuses and hold businesses accountable when it comes to ensuring that they fulfil their due diligence obligations regarding the impact of climate change on human rights;

Amendment 186 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)

34 a. Encourages the Commission and the Member States to be active players in the design, establishment and promotion of safeguards and accountability processes within the Internationally recognised bodies to ensure that climate policies are designed, implemented and monitored in a manner that protects the rights of affected people and communities;

Amendment 187 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)

34 a. Stresses the importance of corporate due diligence and corporate accountability as significant aspect and indispensable mean of human rights protection against severe human rights violations;

Amendment 188 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to develop a legislative proposal on mandatory human rights and environmental corporate due diligence for companies to identify, take account of and mitigate negative human rights and environmental impacts in their supply chains; ~~stresses the importance of effective consultation with different stakeholders, such as human rights~~recommends that this legislative proposal should support and facilitate the development of common impact measuring methodologies for environmental and climate change impacts; stresses the importance of effective, meaningful and informed consultation with all affected or potentially affected stakeholders, including but not limited to human rights and environmental defenders, civil society, trade unions ~~and~~, workers, indigenous people;, local communicates and women's organizations; believes that the Commission legislative proposal should include effective safeguards and redress mechanisms for all affected rights- holders, urges the EU to support and effectively engage in the ongoing negotiations for an international, legally binding instrument to regulate the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises; considers that any such instrument must encourage corporate actors to assume their responsibilities with regard to the human right to a healthy environment;

Amendment 189 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to develop a legislative proposal on mandatory human rights and environmental corporate due diligence for companies ~~to identify, take account of and mitigate negativ~~and financial institutions to identify, prevent, cease, mitigate, track, monitor, disclose, account, address, communicate, and remediate human rights ~~and~~, environmental ~~impacts in their supply chai~~and governance risks in their entire value chain and to provide appropriate sanctions; stresses the importance of effective consultation with different stakeholders, such as human rights defenders, civil society, trade unions and indigenous people; urges the EU to support and effectively engage in the ongoing negotiations ~~for an international, legally binding instrument~~UN binding treaty on business and human rights to regulate the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises; considers that any such instrument must encourage corporate actors and investors to assume their responsibilities with regard to the human right to a healthy environment;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas approaching climate change from a human rights perspective highlights the principles of universality and non-discrimination, emphasising that rights are guaranteed for all persons in the world, without distinction of any kind, such as, race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, including vulnerable groups;

Amendment 190 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

Amendment 191 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)

35 a. Considers that any such instrument must include solid environment protection provisions and encourage corporate actors as well as International and European Financial Institutions, in particular the World Bank, the EIB, and EBRD, but also regional investment or development FIs to assume their responsibilities with regard to the human right to a healthy environment; is convinced that climate change mitigation and adaptation, in line with the goal of the Paris Agreement to hold the increase in the global average temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, must form part of corporate due diligence obligations;

Amendment 192 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)

35 a. Underlines the importance to fight corruption on the global level as it has an impact on the enjoyment of human rights, has specific negative repercussions and disproportionately affects the most disadvantaged, marginalised and vulnerable groups in society, such as women, children, persons with disabilities, the elderly, the poor, indigenous people or people belonging to minorities, by barring them from equal access to natural resources, including land, inter alia;

Amendment 193 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)

35 b. Calls upon the Council and the EEAS to include the corruption related crimes among punishable acts under the European human rights sanctions mechanism, a so-called the European Magnitsky Act, and ensure its swift adoption and implementation;

Amendment 194 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)

35 b. Recalls the importance of ensuring the compliance of the Parliament's travelling outside the EU with its strategy for climate neutrality and calls for a comprehensive audit of the carbon impact of all its external travelling before the COP 26;

Amendment 195 #

Gabriel MATO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Believes that the current EU trade policy review should be an opportunity to redefine, promote and reinforce the protection of human rights in trade policy; stresses that the sustainable development chapters of future trade agreements must be covered by the dispute settlement mechanisms of these agreements; welcomes the fact that the political agreement reached by the EU and the Mercosur countries with regard to the conclusion of an ambitious and balanced trade agreement includes a commitment by the parties to apply the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement on climate change effectively; also welcomes the fact that the commitments made in the chapter on trade and sustainable development are covered by the dispute resolution mechanism included in the agreement;

Amendment 196 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Believes that the current EU trade policy review should be an opportunity to redefine, promote and reinforce the protection of human rights in trade policy; stresses that the sustainable development chapters (TSD chapters) of future trade agreements must be covered by the dispute settlement mechanisms of these agreements with the introduction of tariff reduction linked to the effective implementation of TSD provisions, including the possibility of withdrawal of these specific tariff lines in the event of a breach of these provisions, in order for the EU trade policy to be an effective tool for the promotion of human rights in third countries and contribute to the fight against climate change;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 17

— having regard to the Council conclusions of 15 May 2017 on Indigenous Peoples and the Joint Staff Working Document Implementing EU External Policy and on Indigenous Peoples of 17 October 2016, of 19 November 2018 on Water Diplomacy, of 17 June 2019 on EU action to strengthen rules-based multilateralism and of 20 January 2020 on Climate Diplomacy,

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas approaching climate change from a human rights perspective highlights the principles of universality, independence and non-discrimination, emphasising that ~~rights ar~~fundamental rights rooted in human dignity should be guaranteed for all persons in the world, including vulnerable individuals, families and groups;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas s~~tat~~ocieties and peoples have an ethical and inter-generational responsibility to take action to pr~~otect~~eserve the planet as our “common home” that will allow a sustainable and dignified life for present and future generations from negative ~~human rights~~ impacts of climate change;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas states ~~have an ethical and inter-generational responsibility~~are increasingly proactive in terms of policy and cooperation with other states with the goal to agree on ethical standards and to take action to protect present and future generations from negative human rights impacts of climate change;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas states have an ethical and inter-generational responsibility to take action to ~~protec~~guarantee that present and future generations ~~from negative human rights impacts of climate change~~have full enjoyment of their human rights;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. whereas EU measures in this area must respect the sovereignty of democratic states and focus their action on regions where the population is subject to undemocratic regimes;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas it is widely recognised that the human rights obligations of states and the human rights responsibilities of the private sector have specific implications in relation to climate change; whereas failure to protect the environment and those who defend it is contrary to the legally binding human rights obligations of states and could constitute a violation of the right to a healthy environment;deleted

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas it is widely recognised that the human rights obligations of states and the human rights responsibilities of the private sector have specific implications in relation to climate change; whereas failure to protect the environment and those who defend it is contrary to the legally binding human rights obligations of states ~~and could~~ constitute a violation of the right to a healthy environment;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 13 September 2017 on corruption and human rights in third countries,

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas it is widely recognised that the human rights obligations of states and the human rights responsibilities of the private sector have specific implications in relation to climate change; whereas failure to protect the environment and those who peacefully defend it is contrary to the legally binding human rights obligations of states and could constitute a violation of the right to a healthy environment;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the Paris Agreement is the first international treaty to explicitly recognise the link between climate action and human rights, thus allowing the use of existing human rights-related legal instruments to urge states and private corporates to reduce ~~emissions; whereas the are no concrete instruments within the Paris Agreement to hold state and corporate actors accountable~~their environmental footprint;

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the Paris Agreement is the first international treaty to explicitly recognise the link between climate action and human rights, thus allowing the use of existing human rights-related legal instruments to urge states and private corporates to reduce emissions; whereas there are no concrete instruments within the Paris Agreement to hold state and corporate actors accountable for their impact on climate change and the exercise of human rights;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the Paris Agreement is the first international treaty to explicitly recognise the link between climate action and human rights, thus allowing the use of existing human rights-related legal instruments to urge states and private corporates to reduce emissions; whereas there are no concrete instruments within the Paris Agreement to hold state and corporate actors accountable;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

I a. whereas the European Court of Human Rights has clearly established that various types of environmental degradation can result in violations of substantive human rights, such as the right to life, to private and family life, the prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment, and the peaceful enjoyment of the home;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas climate justice aims at addressing the climate crisis using human rights law to bridge the accountability gap in climate governance, by using climate change litigation against states and corporate actors to be responsible for their actions in terms of the due preservation of nature that allows a dignified and healthy life for present and future generations;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas several outstanding legal cases have paved the way towards accountability via the documentation of human rights violations following failures by states and corporate actors in addressing the consequences of climate change;deleted

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas several ~~outstanding~~ legal cases have ~~paved the way towards accountability via the documentation of human rights violations following failur~~documented human rights violations linked to failures or inabilities by states and corporate actors in addressing the consequences of climate change;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)

-A. whereas all persons, local communities and populations have the right to the full enjoyment of their human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas several outstanding legal cases have paved the way towards accountability via the documentation of human rights violations following failures by individuals, states and corporate actors in addressing the consequences of climate change;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)

K a. whereas the intensified competition over natural resources led by private companies, at times with government complicity, has placed environnemental defenders and indigenous communities seeking to protect their traditional lands at the forefront as targets of persecution;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)

K a. whereas countries have different contributions to climate change, different vulnerability to environmental harm, different capacity to address environmental problems and different economic and political power in environmental negotiations; whereas the responsibility for current and historic environmental harm is linked to economic development and wealthy industrialized nations, as for wealthy nations have benefitted significantly from emitting greenhouse pollutants, which have become a virtual death sentence for poorer nations; whereas the economic growth model established in the world is the main cause for climate change and leads to the growth of inequalities, the solution for the problem relies on a global paradigm shift;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas the human rights consequences of climate change will be felt not only by the most vulnerable people, but by the whole of the world’s population; whereas the most vulnerable communities causing the least pollution and environmental destructions suffer the most from direct consequences of climate change; whereas the figures for disease and premature death resulting from environmental pollution are already three times greater than those for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined, threatening the right to life, a healthy environment and clean air;

Amendment 44 #

M. whereas climate change impacts are asymmetric and their adverse effects are destructive for present and future generations, especially in developing countries; whereas climate change intensely affects developing countries and exacerbates existing social and economic inequalities, causing vulnerable groups ~~such as indigenous peoples, women, children, persons with disabilities, refugees and displaced people~~ to suffer disproportionately from its adverse effects;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital M

M. whereas environmental justice is part of social justice and climate change impacts are asymmetric and their adverse effects are destructive for present and future generations, especially in developing countries; whereas climate change intensely affects developing countries and exacerbates existing social and economic inequalities, causing vulnerable groups such as indigenous peoples, women, children, persons with disabilities, refugees and displaced people to suffer disproportionately from its adverse effects;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital M

M. whereas climate change impacts are asymmetric and their adverse effects are destructive for present and future generations, especially in developing countries; whereas climate change intensely affects developing countries and exacerbates existing social and economic inequalities, causing vulnerable groups such as indigenous peoples, women, children, persons with disabilities, religious minorities, refugees and displaced people to suffer disproportionately from its adverse effects;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital M

M. whereas climate change impacts are asymmetric and their adverse effects are destructive for present and future generations, especially in developing countries; whereas climate change intensely affects developing countries and exacerbates existing social and economic inequalities, causing vulnerable groups such as indigenous peoples, women, children, persons with disabilities, older people, refugees and displaced people to suffer disproportionately from its adverse effects;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)

M a. whereas persons, communities and States that occupy and rely upon low- lying islands and coastal lands, tundra and Arctic ice, arid lands, and other delicate ecosystems and at-risk territories for their housing and subsistence face the greatest threats from climate change; whereas Kiribati, Tuvalu and other small island developing state (SIDS) have repeatedly recalled that climate change and, in particular, sea level rise already severely threatens low-lying countries particularly atoll SIDS with the risk of being submerged;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas climate change is an increasingly important contributor to displacement and migration, both within nations and across international borders; whereas ~~80 % of people displaced by climate change are women, according to the UNDP;~~ displacement is an imminent prospect for some communities, such as those living in areas threatened by desertification, those situated in the rapidly melting Arctic, low-lying coastal areas, and small islands; whereas 80 % of people displaced by climate change are women, according to the UNDP; whereas climate-induced displacement may pose a direct threat to human rights, culture and traditional knowledge, as well as to the right to a nationality for inhabitants of small island nations;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the ~~effe~~impacts of climate change and continued environmental degradation ~~threaten~~on freshwater resources, ecosystems, and livelihoods of communities are already undermining the effective enjoyment of human rights, including the rights to life, food security, safe drinking water and sanitation, health, Housing, self- determination, work and development, as outlined in UN Human Rights Council resolution 41/21; whereas, even if the international objective of limiting global warming to a 2°C increase above pre-industrial levels is achieved, these impacts will expand dramatically in the coming decades;

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas climate change is an increasingly important contributor to displacement and migration, both within nations and across international borders; whereas since 2008, an average of 24 million people have been displaced by catastrophic weather disasters each year and it is estimated that within three of the most vulnerable regions — sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America — 143 million people could be displaced by these impacts by 2050; whereas 80 % of people displaced by climate change are women, according to the UNDP;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas climate change is an increasingly important contributor to displacement and migration, both within nations and across international borders; whereas 80 % of people displaced by climate change are women, according to the UNDP; and the percentage of the people forced to migration due to the climate change is constantly increasing;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas ~~climate change is an increasingly important contributor to displacement and migration, both within nations and across international borders; whereas~~, according to figures set out in ‘Climate change and disaster mitigation. Gender makes the difference’, Women’s Environmental Network, L. de Aguilar (2004), 80 % of people displaced by climate change are women~~, according to the UNDP~~;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)

N a. whereas developing countries and poor countries and regions will bear an estimated 75-80 % of the costs of climate change, according the report of the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights on Climate change and poverty of 17 July 2019;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)

N a. whereas climate change related natural disasters have tripled in the past 30 years; whereas due to climate change, around 20 million people have to leave their homes each year what in consequence influences not only people leaving their place of residence, but also has a great impact to the countries and territories where they come to settle;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

O. whereas COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns have reduced transparency and monitoring of human rights violations, and have intensified political intimidation and digital surveillance, while limiting access to justice and the abilities of environmental defenders and local and indigenous communities to effectively participate in decision-making processes; whereas lockdowns of indigenous communities and sanitary measures have limited their ability to ~~patrol and protect their territories~~effectively participate in decision-making processes and to patrol and protect their territories; whereas such restrictions must be prescribed by law, pursuant to a legitimate and democratic aim;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

O. whereas COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns have reduced transparency and monitoring of human rights violations, and have intensified political intimidation and digital surveillance, while limiting access to justice and the abilities of environmental defenders and local and indigenous communities to effectively participate in decision-making processes; whereas lockdowns of indigenous communities have limited their ability to patrol and protect their territories; whereas the capacity of the international community to observe and investigate such alleged violations has been considerably diminished due to the pandemic;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital P

P. whereas the ability of people to adapt to climate change is inextricably linked to their access to basic human rights and the health of the ecosystems they depend on for their livelihoods and wellbeing as well as on the financial situation;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the effects of climate change and continued environmental degradation ~~threaten~~are negatively factoring in to the effective enjoyment of human rights, including the rights to life, food security, safe drinking water and sanitation, health, Housing, self- determination, work and development, as outlined in UN Human Rights Council resolution 41/21;

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital P

P. whereas the ability of people to adapt to climate change is ~~inextricably~~ linked to their access to basic human rights and the health of the ecosystems they depend on for their livelihoods and wellbeing;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Q

Q. whereas climate change could reverse human development by reducing agricultural productivity, increasing food and water insecurity, increasing exposure to extreme natural disasters, causing the collapse of ecosystems and increasing health risks; whereas water scarcity is a growing source of global conflict;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Q

Q. whereas climate change could potentially reverse human development by reducing agricultural productivity, increasing food and water insecurity, increasing exposure to extreme natural disasters, causing the collapse of ecosystems and increasing health risks;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)

Q a. whereas natural disasters such as floods, tropical storms and long periods of droughts constantly increase and cause damaging consequences for food security in the countries of the global south and for many human rights; whereas droughts are among the most common causes of hunger in the world;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital S

S. whereas the climate crisis amplifies gender inequalities, as extreme weather events, natural disasters and long-term environmental degradation threaten homes, livelihoods and community social networks and infrastructure with disproportionate impacts on women and girls, which include increased unpaid care and domestic work of women, prevalence of gender-based violence and the marginalization of women’s education, participation and leadership;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital T

T. whereas any violence against ~~women environmental activists and defenders of environmental rights has~~those involved in the defence of the environment must be co~~me a well- documented trend~~untered in compliance with the rule of law and through diplomatic means;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital T

T. whereas verbal and physical violence against women environmental activists and defenders of environmental rights and their lawyers has become a well- documented trend including mass media and social media coverage;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital T

T. whereas violence against women environmental activists and defenders of environmental rights has become a well- documented trend; whereas they suffer from gender-specific forms of violence and intimidation;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital T

T. whereas violence against women environmental activists and defenders of environmental rights has become a well- documented ~~trend~~issue of grave concern;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital T

T. whereas violence against ~~women~~ environmental activists and defenders of environmental rights, women in particular, has become a well- documented trend;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas climate change poses an immediate and far-reaching threat to the people of the world mainly to the world's poor that are especially vulnerable as outlined in UN Human Rights Council resolution 7/23; whereas partly responsible for current situation are human beings and their actions;

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital T

T. whereas violence against women, environmental activists, and defenders of environmental rights has become a well- documented trend;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital U

U. whereas peaceful environmental defenders are on the front line of climate action and accountability; whereas human rights bodies have increasingly drawn attention to the need to specifically protect peaceful environmental defenders; whereas the shrinking space for civil society is a global phenomenon that is disproportionally affecting human rights defenders who are working on environmental and land issues and who are often in rural and isolated areas with reduced access to protection mechanisms;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital U

U. whereas environmental defenders are on the front line of climate action and accountability; whereas human rights bodies have increasingly drawn attention to the need to specifically protect environmental defenders; whereas the shrinking physical space for civil society is a global phenomenon that is ~~disproportional~~consequently affecting human rights defenders who are working on environmental and land issues and who are often in rural and isolated areas with reduced access to protection mechanisms;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital U a (new)

U a. whereas the support and protection of human rights and environmental rights defenders are priorities for the European Union in its external action around the world and in its neighbourhood; whereas the Union must use in this regards all the instruments at its disposal, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument and within the framework of its Association Agreements;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital X

X. whereas indigenous peoples enjoy specific rights as regards the protection of the environment, lands and resources as enshrined in Article 7 of the ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention of 1989; whereas Article 29 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 2007 affirms that ‘indigenous peoples have the rights to the conservation and protection of the environment and the productive capacity of their lands or territories and resources’; believes furthermore that it is legitimate, from both a political and a legal point of view, that Member States have exclusive sovereignty over any initiative in this regard;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital X a (new)

X a. whereas the overwhelming majority of human rights abuses against human rights and environmental defenders are committed in a climate of near total impunity, whereas a 2017 report of the NGO Frontline Defenders documents that a suspect is arrested in only 12% of cases where a human rights defender is killed;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Y

Y. whereas the Escazu Agreement is the first regional agreement on access to information, public participation and justice in environmental matters in Latin America and the Caribbean; whereas the Escazu Agreement, which has been open for ratification since 1 September 2019, is the first treaty to establish the right to a healthy environment (Article 4); whereas the Escazu Agreement may serve as an inspiration for other regions, facing similar challenges; reiterates the importance of regional cooperation;

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Y a (new)

Y a. whereas the Aarhus Convention establishes a number of rights to the individuals and civil society organizations with regard to the environment, including access to environmental information, public participation in environmental decision making and access to justice; whereas the Parties to the Convention are required to make the necessary provisions so that public authorities (at national, regional or local level) will contribute to these rights to become effective;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Y a (new)

Y a. whereas mitigation and adaptation measures, such as access to, and the use of, natural resources, such as land, water, and forests, and resettlement of people, may also have an adverse effect on the exercise of human rights, such as that to food, culture, the respect for family life, access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and indigenous peoples’ self- determination;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that human rights and a healthy planet are mutually dependent; calls for the EU and its Member States to act as a credible and reliable partner on the global stage through the adoption, strengthening and implementation of legislation aligned with a comprehensive human rights-based approach to climate action (HRBA), to guide and ensure that policies and measures of climate change mitigation and adaptation ~~while protecting the rights of all~~are adequate, sufficiently ambitious, non-discriminatory and compliant with human rights obligations; notes that principles and standards derived from international human rights law should guide all policies and programming related to climate change, and at all stages of the process;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas a responsible and sustainable extraction and use of natural resources for the development of peoples and nations is a legitimate action that should not be considered in itself as threatening the “common home” and the environment;

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that human rights and a healthy planet are mutually dependent, interconnected and interrelated; calls for the EU and its Member States to act as a credible and reliable partner on the global stage through the adoption, strengthening and implementation of legislation aligned with a comprehensive human rights-based approach to climate action (HRBA), to guide policies and measures of climate change mitigation and adaptation while protecting the rights of all, and to call on the EU and its Member States to encourage non-EU States to implement and adopt national measures aimed at addressing the consequences of climate change;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that ~~human rights~~the protection and promotion of human rights rooted in human dignity and a healthy planet are mutually dependent; calls for the EU and its Member States to act as a credible and reliable partner on the global stage through the adoption, strengthening and implementation of legislation aligned with a comprehensive human rights-based approach to climate action (HRBA), to guide policies and measures of climate change mitigation and adaptation while protecting the fundamental rights of all;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that human rights and a healthy planet are ~~mutually dependent~~both of the essence and linked; calls for the EU and its Member States to act as a credible and reliable partner on the global stage through the adoption, strengthening and implementation of ~~legislation~~standards and guidelines, aligned with a comprehensive human rights-based approach to climate action (HRBA), to guide policies and measures of climate change mitigation and adaptation while protecting the rights of all;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that human rights and a healthy and sustainable planet are mutually dependent; calls ~~for~~on the EU and its Member States to act as a credible and reliable partner on the global stage through the adoption, strengthening and implementation of legislation aligned with a comprehensive human rights-based approach to climate action (HRBA), to guide policies and measures of climate change mitigation and adaptation while protecting the rights of all;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that human rights and a healthy planet are ~~mutu~~partially dependent; calls for the EU and its Member States to act as a credible and reliable partner on the global stage through the adoption, strengthening and implementation of legislation aligned with a comprehensive human rights-based approach to climate action (HRBA), to guide policies and measures of climate change mitigation and adaptation while protecting the rights of all;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Calls on the Union and its Member States to strengthen the linkage between human rights and the environment throughout their external action as well as to assist international, regional and local human rights mechanisms to address environmental challenges, notably climate change; notes the importance to support activities that raise awareness of human rights impacts caused by climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss; calls also on the Union to support and strengthen collaboration with third countries to integrate human rights in environmental laws and policies;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Highlights the indispensability of human development opportunities for all; stresses the risks of human rights violations in international commodity supply chains for both conventional as well as green-tech renewable energy, such as child labour in cobalt mines catering to the global lithium-ion battery chain; calls on the Commission to take human rights implications into account when assessing Union energy and transport technology pathways;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Points out that the European Union cannot impose its environmental protection model on third countries with fully democratic regimes where civil society enjoys vested rights; considers that cooperation on an equal footing with states that respect the rule of law is the most effective way of safeguarding the interests of the most vulnerable populations;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Calls on the Commission to ensure the integration of the issues of climate change and human rights within all relevant EU policies and the coherence of these policies;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Stresses the fact that water scarcity as one of the consequences of climate change is affecting many people all around the world; calls EU and its Member States to point that fact in legislation, make the water scarcity a key priority and revise its attitude to the problem with the potential proposal for the solution of the problem;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the UN, along with other international organisations and experts, is calling for global recognition of the right to a healthy environment as a fundamental and universal right;

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls the obligation to respect the legal recognition of the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment; recalls that international human rights law provides legal remedies to redress the damage caused by climate change, implement measures to combat climate change and hold states and businesses accountable for their activities which impact climate change and human rights; in this respect, calls on the EU to make the fight against impunity one of its key priorities;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls the obligation to respect the legal recognition of the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment that at the same time allows sustainable economic activities which are the source for the well-being and the livelihoods of individuals, families and communities; recalls that international human rights law provides legal remedies to redress the damage caused by climate change, implement measures to combat climate change and hold states and businesses accountable for their activities which impact climate change and human rights; in this respect, calls on the EU to make the fight against impunity one of its key priorities;

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls the obligation to respect the legal recognition of the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment; recalls that international human rights law provides legal remedies to redress the damage caused by climate change, implement measures to combat climate change and hold states ~~and~~, businesses and individuals accountable for their activities which impact climate change and human rights; in this respect, calls on the EU to make the fight against impunity one of its key priorities by creating instruments which allows for a full, effective and sustained implementation of human rights and environmental laws and its enforcement;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Urges all involved to contribute to debates on environmental issues from a serious, reasonable and reasoned standpoint, and to refrain from the abuse and disproportionate, often inappropriate, use of terms that poison and lower the tone of debates, such as ‘climate justice’, ‘climate governance’, ‘heat stress’, ‘a healthy planet’, ‘climate emergency’, ‘climate crisis’, ‘climate sceptics’, ‘deniers’, and ‘ecocide’;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the concrete commitments on human rights, environment and climate change already established in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020- 2024 are effectively implemented and monitored, and that a gender and family perspective is included in its implementation;

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Supports the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment to push for global recognition that every human being has the right to live in a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment; calls on the Union and the Member States to support, at the next UN General Assembly, the global recognition of this right;considers that this recognition should serve as a catalyst for stronger environmental policies and improved law enforcement, public participation in environmental decision- making, access to information and justice and better outcomes for people and planet;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Supports the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment to push for global recognition ~~that every human being has~~of the right to live in a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human, fundamental and universal right; considers that this recognition should serve as a catalyst for stronger environmental policies and improved law enforcement, public participation in environmental decision- making, access to information and justice and better outcomes for people and planet;

Amendment 97 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Urges the Commission to ~~establish a horizontal monitoring programme on human rights and climate change in order to assess the progress in integrating and mainstreaming h~~continue monitoring human rights and climate change in close cooperation with the UN Human Rights Council / UN High Commissioner on Human rRights ~~into all aspects of climate action at domestic and international level in close cooperation with the UN Human Rights Council / UN High Commissioner on H~~; stresses in this regard the importance of close cooperation with Member States and all actors involved in ensuring the proper implementation of human Rrights; and environmental provisions; recalls fourther the ~~Union, in this regard, to introduce the right to a safe and healthy environment in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU~~importance of supporting small organisations and corporations and economically weaker Member States in their efforts to providing for the best conditions possible;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Urges the Commission to establish a horizontal monitoring programme on human rights and climate change in order to assess the progress in integrating and mainstreaming human rights into all aspects of climate action at domestic and international level in close cooperation with the UN Human Rights Council / UN High Commissioner on Human Rights; calls for the Union, in this regard, to ~~introduce the right to a safe and healthy environment in~~take actions and fully integrate the Article 37 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU to its policies;

Amendment 99 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Urges the Commission to ~~establish a horizontal monitoring programme on~~continue to monitor the situation for human rights and climate change in order to assess the progress in integrating and mainstreaming human rights into all aspects of climate action at domestic and international level in close cooperation with the UN Human Rights Council / UN High Commissioner on Human Rights; calls for the Union, in this regard, to introduce the right to a safe and healthy environment in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU;

source: 658.900

2020/10/16 DEVE 80 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. Whereas in recent years, environmental defenders have been subjected to ever increasing incidences of killings, kidnappings, torture, gender- based violence, threats, harassment, intimidation, smear campaigns, criminalisation, judicial harassment, forced eviction and displacement;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that developing countries are ~~the most~~significantly exposed to climate change, and that their human rights activists and environmental defenders are ~~particularly subjected to threats, repression and judicial persecution for~~often threatened when defending their land, heritage and environment from the consequences of the exploitation of natural resources;

Amendment 11 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Recalls that the continuing destruction and degradation of biodiversity will undermine the enjoyment of a wide range of human rights; deplores that States have utterly failed to meet the aim of reducing the rate of biodiversity loss; recalls that the harmful effects of ecosystem degradation are being borne disproportionately by the poor and are sometimes the principal factor causing poverty and social conflicts; reiterates the duty of the States to effectively address the drivers of biodiversity loss, including by mainstreaming obligations of conservation and sustainable use of resources into broader development policies; more broadly, emphasises that States have obligations not only to protect environmental defenders, but also to protect the ecosystems on which the human rights of so many people depend;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses that the populations of developing countries are directly dependent on biodiversity for their food security, health security and economic security; deplores the fact that the degradation of biodiversity caused by climate change and the resulting loss of resources are increasing the vulnerability of those populations and is detrimental to their fundamental rights and their dignity;

Amendment 13 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Emphasises the fact that developing countries cannot deal with the effects of climate change by themselves and that they are often dependent on international assistance in relation to their crisis management capacity and their capacity to adapt to and anticipate the effects of climate change; in this connection, recalls the commitment made by the signatory countries to the Paris Agreements to mobilise at least USD 100 billion per year to undertake climate change mitigation and adaptation activities in developing countries in order to strengthen the resilience of the residents affected;

Amendment 14 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Calls on the Union and the Member States to support, at the next UN General Assembly, the global recognition of the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Stresses the importance of the key role of environmental activists in protecting the fundamental rights and the dignity of those impacted by the effects of climate change; emphasises that they are vital in highlighting and protecting our public goods, and in particular indigenous and community heritage areas;

Amendment 16 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1d. Notes that environmental activists often work in dangerous environments, where armed clashes, over-exploitation and poaching are rife; and whereas environmental degradation and resource depletion merely heighten these tensions;

Amendment 17 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Is deeply concerned about the increased criminalisation and persecution of environmental activists in developing countries by governments and multinational companies that are investing in the exploitation of natural, non- renewable resources, thus contributing to deforestation, loss of biodiversity and human rights violations, mostly affecting indigenous peoples; and local communities; in this respect, reminds that they play a vital role for sustainable management of natural resources and conservation of biodiversity, while the lack of recognition of their customary land rights generates risks of landgrabbing, thereby jeopardising their livelihoods and their ability to respond to climate change or biodiversity loss; calls the EU to put an end to conservation projects which evict indigenous peoples from their homelands; recommends that EU Member States which have not done so to ratify International Labour Organisation Convention 169 on Indigenous and tribal peoples; in particular, urges the EU and its partner countries to recognise and protect indigenous people’s rights to customary ownership and control of their lands and natural resources as set out in the UNDRIP and ILO Convention 169 and to comply with the principle of Free, Prior and Informed consent, i.e. by enabling collective registration of land;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. IExpresses its deeply concern~~ed abou~~ at the increaseding criminalisation and persecution of environmental activists in developing countries by governments and multinational companies that are investing in the exploitation of natural, non- renewable resources, thus contributing to deforestation, loss of biodiversity and human rights violations, mostly affecting indigenous peoples; condemns any attempts to deregulate environmental and human rights protections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises; also expresses its concern at the situation of environmental defenders and whistle- blowers throughout the world; recalls that everyone should have access to the enjoyment of human rights, environmental protection and sustainable development, and that no one should be penalised, persecuted or harassed for protecting the environment; calls on the Commission to support environmental defenders across the world;

Amendment 19 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Is deeply concerned about the increased criminalisation and persecution of environmental activists in developing countries ~~by governments and multinational companies that are investing in the exploitation of natural, non- renewable resources,~~, particularly of women, victims of attacks carried out by many perpetrators who can be difficult to trace, such as armed groups and militias or private individuals that are investing in projects thusat contribut~~ing~~e to deforestation, loss of biodiversity and human rights violations, mostly affecting indigenous peoples; in this connection, calls for enhanced international support for the collective rights of indigenous peoples over the land, regions and resources that they protect and which contribute to limiting the effects of global warming;

Amendment 2 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)

Ab. Whereas criminalisation of environmental defenders is routine in many countries and strategic lawsuits against public administration direct resources, energy and focus away from defenders´ work towards overcoming lengthy and often unfounded court proceedings;

Amendment 20 #

Hildegard BENTELE, Tomas TOBÉ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Is deeply concerned about the ~~increased criminalisation and~~frequent persecution of environmental activists in developing countries by governments and multinational companies that are investing in the exploitation of natural, non-renewable resources, thus contributing to deforestation, loss of biodiversity and human rights violations, mostly affecting indigenous peoples;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Is deeply concerned ~~about the~~of increased ~~criminalis~~actions a~~nd persecution of~~gainst environmental activists in developing countries by governments and multinational companies that are investing in the exploitation of natural, non-renewable resources, thus contributing to deforestation, loss of biodiversity and human rights violations, mostly affecting indigenous peoples;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Is deeply concerned about the increased criminalisation and persecution of environmental activists in developing countries by governments, ands well as their intimidation by some multinational companies, that are, in some places, investing in the exploitation of natural, non- renewable resources, thus contributing to deforestation, loss of biodiversity and human rights violations, mostly affecting indigenous peoples;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission to secure the independence of impact assessment studies prior to the conclusion of trade and cooperation agreements and the implementation of development projects, with a specific focus on measuring and preventing their effects on the rights of local populations; insists that the impact assessment be conducted with the significant participation of civil society and local communities and that the findings are duly be taken into account in economic agreements and development projects; calls on the Commission to reassess the execution of projects in the event of human rights violations;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses that environmental defenders in developing countries play a vital role in protecting forests and ecosystems and that indigenous-managed lands have lower deforestation rates and better conservation outcomes than protection zones that exclude indigenous peoples.

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Denounces the judicial persecution and criminalization of environmental activists in the Amazon region, namely in Brazil and Colombia, where attacks, killings and persecution of environmental activists are on the rise even after the peace process;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Denounces the increased number of attacks and persecutions against environmental activists in Honduras, and the recent killing of the Guapinol environmental activist Arnold Joaquim Morazán Erazo; expresses its concern that funds coming from EU cooperation programmes could have contributed to the repression and criminalization of environmentalist and indigenous activities in the country, as denounced by several CSOs;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2d. Calls on the commission to make full use of the suspension clauses of its association and trade agreements with developing and third countries, in the event of violations of human rights and repression of environmental activists;

Amendment 29 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)

2e. Believes that the rise of number of attacks on environmental and human rights activists in Colombia and the government's failure to implement the 2016 peace agreements should lead the Commission to consider the suspension of the free trade agreement;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Recital A c (new)

Ac. Whereas over the last three years it has been recorded killings of 578 environmental, land and indigenous people´s rights defenders, stressing the Philippines consistently being top of the list where is most dangerous being an environmental rights defender; notes that in many of the cases conflicts and violations takes place within a context of economic inequality and social exclusion;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 f (new)

2f. Express its concern on the impact of new trade agreements like Mercosur on human rights activist and environmental defenders in the Amazonian region;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 g (new)

2g. Reiterates its call on the European Commission to immediately initiate the procedure for the withdrawal of GSP+ preferences to Philippines, due to the continued deterioration of the human rights situation and attacks against environmental activists;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 h (new)

2h. recalls how often women community leaders and environmental activists are victims of repression and even murder, as in the case of the valiant activists nominated for the Sakharov prize of the European Parliament Marielle Franco and Berta Caceres. Calls on the Commission to demand effective investigations and to demand to bring to justice those responsible for their murders and for all other cases of murders of environmental activists.

Amendment 33 #

Nadine MORANO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that in the next few years the impact of climate change will force many to move due to necessity as their land is no longer habitable, and as such, will create more environmental migrants from developing countries~~, and~~; to that ~~in order to better protect their human rights,~~end and to ensure that human rights and dignity are preserved, international recognition of environmental refugee status needs ~~international recogni~~consideration;

Amendment 35 #

Beata KEMPA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Believes that in the next few years climate change will create more environmental migrants from~~Recognizes that migration is becoming a part of the response to climate change especially in developing and least develop~~ing~~ed countries, ~~and that in order to better protect their human rights, environmental refugee status needs international recognition~~calls for international cooperation in managing climate migration, taking into consideration however that the main causes of migration are economic, social and political;

Amendment 36 #

3. Believes that in the next few years climate change will create more environmental migrants from developing countries, and that in order to better protect their human rights, environmental refugee status needs international recognition; welcomes, in this respect, the landmark decision of the UN Human Rights Committee in the case of Teitiota v. New Zealand recognising that that people fleeing climate-related and natural disasters have a valid claim for international protection under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; urges the Commission and the Member States to take stock of this ruling and take all the necessary measures to ensure full protection of environmentally displaced persons under EU law and to provide appropriate asylum for climate refugees, while creating channels for safe and regular migration; in particular, proposes that a climate pass is issued to persons coming from a country, territory or island which will be inhabitable due to climate change as a way to offer protection from vulnerability and statelessness and that change in the environment due to climate change be added as one of the eligibility criteria for humanitarian protection; calls on the Commission and Member States to put forward such solutions in international fora, in parallel to other EU initiatives; recalls that ODA must keep its purposes of eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, meeting humanitarian needs and respect human rights, never be conditional on migration control;

Amendment 37 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that in the next few years climate change will create more environmental migrants from developing ~~countries, and that in order to better protect their human rights, environmental refugee s~~and developed countries; welcomes the landmark decision of the UN Human Rights Committee in the case of Teitiota v. New Zealand recognising that people fleeing climate-related and natural disasters have a valid claim for international protection under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; urges the Commission and the Member States to take stock of this ruling and take all the necessary measures to ensure full protection of environmentally displaced persons under EU law, and to provide appropriate asylum for climate refugees; calls on the Member Statues ~~needs international recogni~~to consider the risk of violations of the right to life due to climate change as part of their return decisions, notably triggering non- refoulement obligations;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that in the next few years climate change will create more environmental migrants from developing countries, and that in order to better protect their human rights, environmental refugee status needs international recognitionCalls for solutions to be found to assisting peoples from regions that will, in the short or long term, become uninhabitable because of the effects of climate change in order to better protect their human rights and support their resilience; notes, in this connection, that the 1951 International Convention relating to the Status of Refugees does not cover the protection of persons displaced for environmental reasons; calls for common terminology to be clarified, both internationally and Europe-wide, regarding the conditions applicable to people moving as a result of climate change;

Amendment 39 #

György HÖLVÉNYI, Tomas TOBÉ, Hildegard BENTELE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that in the next few years climate change will ~~create more environmental migrants from developing countries, and that in order to better protect their human rights, environmental refugee status needs international recognition~~aggravate existing vulnerabilities and will increase the displacement of people, and that in order to better protect their human rights, more targeted and more effective implementation of the relevant EU instruments is crucial; as well as the increase of the actions under the NDICI which contribute to climate change and mitigation as stressed in the European Parliament first reading position on the NDICI, adopted in its legislative resolution of 27 March 2019 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council establishing the NDICI (P8_TA(2019)0298);

Amendment 4 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Draft opinion
Recital A d (new)

Ad. Whereas the economic crisis that is expected to result from the pandemic may push states to divert away from the environment protection in order to stimulate short term economic growth; which will result in increased violence to force communities off their land to allow for its exploitation;

Amendment 40 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that in the next few years climate change will create more environmental migrants from developing ~~countries, and that in order to better protect their human rights, environmental refugee status needs international recognition~~and developed countries; welcomes the landmark decision of the UN Human Rights Committee in the case of Teitiota v. New Zealand recognising that people fleeing climate-related and natural disasters have a valid claim for international protection under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; urges the Commission and the Member States to take stock of this ruling and take all the necessary measures to ensure full protection of environmentally displaced persons under EU law, and to provide appropriate asylum for climate refugees;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that in the next few years climate change will create more environmental migrants from developing countries, and that in order to better protect their human rights, environmental refugee status needs international recognition; Expresses it is very worrying that climate change would lead to destruction of habitable land, withering of ecosystems and increased desertification in certain territories, especially in developing countries; considers that climate change will have in coming years devastating effects including exacerbating forced displacement, hence there is an acute need to find the best approach on how to assist those people that will be forced to move from territories affected by climate change in order to better protect their human rights;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that in the next few years climate change will create more environmental migrants from developing countries, and that in order to better protect their human rights, environmental refugee status needs international recognition; calls on the Commission to submit a legislative proposal to grant temporary or subsidiary protection to persons who may have had to temporarily move to the EU because of the catastrophic effects of climate change;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that in the next few years ~~climate change will cre~~effective local support must be given to compensate mfor~~e environmental migrants from~~ the negative effects of climate change on people living in developing countries, and ~~that in order~~ to better protect their human rights, ~~environmental refugee status needs international recognition~~so that they are not forced to leave their homes, thereby avoiding humanitarian disasters;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Encourages Member States to incorporate, among other, the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement into domestic law, and to develop regional instruments to protect environmentally displaced persons, taking inspiration from the African Union Kampala Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa; proposes that a climate passport be issued to persons coming from a country, or part of it, that will become uninhabitable due to climate change as a way to offer them protection from vulnerability and statelessness; calls on the Commission and Member States to put forward such proposals in international forums, in parallel to other EU initiatives;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to increase support to developing countries to achieve durable solutions for environmentally displaced persons, including indigenous peoples, pastoralists and other rural populations whose traditional livelihoods have been destroyed by the adverse impacts of climate change, and to find new livelihoods which are better adapted to a changing climate;

Amendment 46 #

Beata KEMPA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Deems that ~~the introduction of bi~~effective implementation of national and in~~g EU~~ternational legislation on business due diligence can help improve the defence of human rights and compliance with environmental standards in the fight against climate change in developing countries; ~~calls on the Commission to continue working towards the approval of the UN binding treaty for transnational corporations on human rights;~~

Amendment 47 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Deems that the introduction of ~~binding~~ EU legislation on business due diligence can help improve the defence of human rights and compliance with environmental standards in the fight against climate change in developing countries; calls on the Commission to continue working towards the approval of the UN ~~binding~~ treaty for transnational corporations on human rights;

Amendment 48 #

Nadine MORANO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Deems that the introduction of binding~~Highlights the importance of the private sector in the fight against climate change and the vital role of private investment in helping developing countries to anticipate and adapt to its effects; deems that the introduction of EU legislation on business due diligence can help improve the defence of human rights and compliance with environmental standards in the fight against climate change in developing countries; in this connection, welcomes the Commission’s plan to draft a legislative proposal on this topic; calls on the Commission to continue working towards the approval of the UN binding treaty for transnational corporations on human rights;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 50 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses the proven benefits for companies of having effective responsible business conduct practices in place, which include better risk-management; lower cost of capital; overall better financial performance; and enhanced competitiveness; Emphasises that due diligence is primarily a preventative mechanism and companies should be first and foremost required to identify risks or adverse impacts and adopt policies and measures to address them; Stresses that should an undertaking cause or contribute to an adverse impact it should provide for a remedy and should be subject to corporate accountability for such impacts; Emphasises that corporate accountability, including for harms linked to an undertaking’s operations, is necessary to ensure undertakings are incentivised to undertake due diligence and for due diligence to be effective; Deems that the introduction of binding EU legislation on business due diligence can help improve the defence of human rights and compliance with environmental standards in the fight against climate change in developing countries; calls on the Commission to continue working towards the approval of the UN binding treaty for transnational corporations on human rights; stresses however that this should apply to all undertakings operating in the EU Single Market;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Deems that the introduction of binding and harmonised EU legislation on business due diligence can help improve the defence of human rights and compliance with environmental standards in the fight against impunity and climate change in developing countries and contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and the objectives of the EU Green Deal; stresses that the future legislation should take into account the specific needs and rights of women and vulnerable groups such as children and indigenous people; deems that the future legislation should be subjected to a meaningful and inclusive consultation process on the ground with the relevant stakeholders and affected communities and deems that such a process should be carried out in close cooperation with the EU Delegations; calls on the Commission to continue working towards the approval of the UN binding treaty for transnational corporations on human rights;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Deems that the introduction of ~~binding~~ EU legislation on binding and mandatory business due diligence can help improve the defence of human rights and compliance with environmental standards in the fight against climate change in developing countries; ~~calls on the Commission to continue working towards the approval of the UN binding treaty for transnational corporations on human rights~~in particular, reiterates that EU investment and trade agreements should include binding and enforceable provisions to address climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss and the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, through an effective monitoring and sanctions mechanism; calls on the Commission to continue working towards the approval of the UN binding treaty for transnational corporations on human rights, which ensures access to justice for victims of human rights violations and provide mechanisms for redress and accountability for the communities affected;

Amendment 53 #

György HÖLVÉNYI, Tomas TOBÉ, Hildegard BENTELE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Deems that the introduction of binding EU legislation on business due diligence can help improve the defence of human rights and compliance with environmental standards in the fight against climate change in developing countries; underlines the importance to includes in the new legislation a civil liability mechanism to provide access to justice and access to remedy for victims; calls on the Commission to continue working towards the approval of the UN binding treaty for transnational corporations on human rights;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Deems that the introduction of binding EU legislation on business due diligence can help improve the defence of human rights and compliance with environmental standards in the fight against climate change in developing countries; calls on the Commission to continue working towards the approval of the UN ~~binding~~ treaty for transnational corporations on human rights;

Amendment 55 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls that the negative consequences of climate change undermine a country’s development prospects, compounding already existing inequalities such as gender disparities; underlines that the impact of climate change is worse for more vulnerable people such as women and girls, and that 80 % of people displaced by climate change are women; welcomes the commitments made by Vice-President Timmermans to redress gender inequalities that are exacerbated by climate change; urges the Commission to mainstream gender equality and climate justice in the elaboration and implementation of all policies that have an impact on the situation of women and girls, and to promote the participation of indigenous women, women’s rights defenders and all marginalised gender communities within the UNFCCC framework;

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls that the Special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples indicated, in its 2017 report, to have received an increasing number of allegations concerning situations where climate change mitigation projects have negatively affected the rights of indigenous peoples, notably renewable energy projects such as biofuel production and the construction of hydroelectric dam; recalls the EU’s commitment to follow a Rights-Based Approach (RBA) to development, on this line, urges partner countries to adopt measures to effectively engage indigenous peoples in climate change adaptation and mitigation measures and to provide, to this effect, technical and financial assistance that directly reaches indigenous peoples to support self-government, territorial control and management;

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that the imposition of activities financed trough DFIs without the consent or meaningful consultation of local communities and marginalized groups is one of the key root causes of threats for human rights and environmental defenders;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Recalls that the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous people has identified the extractive industries as a main source of conflict and violence on indigenous peoples’ territories; stresses that frameworks such as the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT) can help to provide legal certainty; accordingly, urges the EU to make the effective implementation of these guidelines a pre-condition of investment in the remit of the European External Investment Plan;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Commission to check carefully that the infrastructure and energy projects financed through the various development cooperation and external policy instruments, including through the European Investment Bank, do not jeopardise human rights, the Sustainable Development Goals, the objectives of the Paris agreement to combat climate change or the European Green Deal; more broadly, recalls that a rights-based approach should be operationalised and strictly applied and respected in all ODA funded projects, particularly regarding the rights of pastoralists and indigenous people, which implies to provide i.e. effective complaint and redress mechanisms, in accordance with Commission Recommendation 2013/396/EU of 11 June 2013, notably in case climate actions violate their rights;

Amendment 6 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that developing countries are the most exposed to climate change, and that their human rights activists and environmental defenders are particularly subjected to threats, repression and judicial persecution for defending their land, heritage and environment from the consequences of the exploitation of natural resources; highlights that while attacks and threats happen everywhere in the world, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders outlines that it is particularly dramatic in Latin America and Asia where many international investors, companies and local governments ignore the legitimate concerns of the population; stresses that a number of environmental conflicts could be avoided by prior consultation and active participation of local communities, indigenous peoples and environmental activists;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Commission to check carefully that the infrastructure and energy projects financed through the various development cooperation and external policy instruments, including through the European Investment Bank, do not jeopardise human rights, the Sustainable Development Goals, the objectives of the Paris agreement to combat climate change or the European Green Deal; also calls in this regard to carefully evaluate if the proposed projects have been consulted with indigenous communities and local population and have included their experience and knowledge of local ecology, human rights and development needs;

Amendment 61 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses that the actions of environmental activists are absolutely in keeping with the Sustainable Development Goals and that a systemic implementation of these goals should be pursued locally, nationally and internationally;

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Invites the Commission to do more to protect and empower human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, environmental activists and organisations engaged in the fight against climate change ~~in developing countries.~~worldwide, and pay a specific attention to the differentiated needs of protection of women human rights defenders, acknowledging their role as powerful agents of change in particular for climate action; calls for EU development programmes to promote the meaningful participation and empowerment of women and their organisations at all levels and at all stages of climate policy design, planning, financing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, as their inclusions is crucial to improve climate mitigation, and calls for fair allocation of resources to tackle the obstacles that affect them disproportionately, to advance gender-just climate actions and to ensure long-term sustainable climate solutions; stresses in this regards, the need to support capacity building and women’s role as educators and promoters of change and ensure adequate financing for these organisations;

Amendment 63 #

György HÖLVÉNYI, Tomas TOBÉ, Hildegard BENTELE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Invites the Commission to do more to protect human rights defenders, environmental activists and organisations engaged in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss in developing countries.; urges the States to recognize that defenders of biodiversity, that aim to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable development, are also human rights defenders; in addition, calls on the EU and its Member States to examine the case for giving legal personality to nature, thereby strengthening the legal protection of the environment;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Invites the Commission to do more to protect human rights defenders, environmental activists and notably local organisations engaged in ~~the fight against climate change in developing countries.~~addressing the vulnerabilities aggravated by the climate change in developing countries , if they face unfounded legal actions or discrimination due to their activities in the field of environment protection;

Amendment 65 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Invites the Commission to ~~do more to~~improve the framework of protection for human rights defenders, and environmental activists ~~and~~by enabling them to have a better awareness of their rights and the protective measures from which they may benefit, but also to strengthen the network and improve connectivity between organisations engaged in the fight against climate change in developing countries.;

Amendment 66 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Invites the Commission to do more to protect human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, environmental activists and organisations engaged in the fight against climate change ~~in developing countries.~~worldwide, and pay a specific attention to the differentiated needs of protection of women human rights defenders;

Amendment 67 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Invites the Commission to ~~do more~~continue its efforts to protect human rights defenders, environmental activists and organisations engaged in the fight against climate change in developing countries.;

Amendment 68 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the EU and its member States to develop and adopt, as part of the reform of the Union’s Migration and Asylum Policy, appropriate measures such as mobility schemes, skilling and re- skilling and preferential access for third- country workers coming from countries particularly affected by adverse impacts of climate change, including those working in the fossil fuel industry, extractive sectors and agriculture, as part of the European Green Deal, to enable them to contribute to the low-carbon transition across the global supply chain; the use of humanitarian visa and temporary protection for persons displaced by sudden-onset disasters; and long-term admission of persons coming from a country that is becoming or has become inhabitable due to climate change;

Amendment 69 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the European Union to support a regional approach in the response to the effects of climate change in developing countries in order to give decentralised local authorities, local civil society organisations and environmental activists a greater role in tackling the environmental, social and economic effects of climate change;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that developing countries, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS), are the most exposed to climate change, and that their human rights activists and environmental defenders are particularly subjected to threats, repression and judicial persecution for defending their land, heritage and environment from ~~the consequences of the exploitation of natural resources~~climate change;

Amendment 70 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the Council and the EEAS, within the framework of the common foreign and security policy, to implement a consistent policy to protect human rights defenders, using the same language and taking the same measures in relation to all States where human rights defenders are under attack;

Amendment 71 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the Commission to envisage adequate support for local, regional and international networks for environmental defenders in order to facilitate their cooperation and which would permit them to step up their activities and contribution to protecting natural ecosystems;

Amendment 72 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the Commission to ensure an action plan against the increased violence to force communities off their lands in the face of the covid-19 pandemic;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Encourages the mobilisation of financial resources for environmental defenders in order for them to be able to invest in better equipment for more efficient observation of territories that are endangered by climate change, as well as the provision of support for the collection of scientific data and best practices, the development of environmental education programs for adaptation to environmental changes, and development projects to improve environmental conditions and quality of life;

Amendment 74 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Calls on the Council and the EEAS to strengthen the application of their guidelines on support for human rights defenders, to take systematically into consideration measures to protect human rights defenders and, in addition to reacting to specific situations, to develop a long-term strategy to protect human rights defenders as effectively as possible;

Amendment 75 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Points to the provisions of the Escazú agreement on international environmental law, particularly in relation to the interdependence between the environment and human rights and the need to protect environmental activists; encourages the Commission and Member States to conclude similar agreements with other macro regions worldwide;

Amendment 76 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Urges the Commission to provide support for states to introduce protection mechanisms and legislation that would define environmental defenders, recognise their work and guarantee their protection;

Amendment 77 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Considers that the Council and the EEAS should present an annual report to the European Parliament on EU action on protecting human rights defenders;

Amendment 78 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Calls on increased political and financial support to environmental rights defenders and systematically condemns reprisals against them;

Amendment 79 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)

6d. Calls on EU to facilitate, in accordance with the UN human rights council resolution to facilitate public awareness and participation in environmental decision-making, including with civil society, women, children youth, indigenous people, rural and local communities, not limited to developing countries but globally;

Amendment 8 #

Evin INCIR, Mónica Silvana GONZÁLEZ, Marc TARABELLA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that developing countries are the most exposed to climate change, and that their human rights activists and environmental defenders are particularly subjected to threats, repression and judicial persecution ~~for defending their land, heritage and environment from the consequences of the exploitation of natural resourc~~; highlights the indispensable role of environmental defenders, who are highly conscious of the urgent, existential challenges of climate change and who strive to mitigate the adverse effects the latter has on natural resources and the accessibility of people to those resources; recognises that the actions undertaken by environmental defenders are essential as they search for, device and disseminate viable solutions and mechanisms for prevention, resilience and adaptation to climate change to the people living in affected territories;

Amendment 80 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)

6e. Believes from a development perspective that the EU trade policy review should redefine, promote and reinforce the protection of the environment and human rights; stresses that social, environmental and human rights due diligence duties should be enforced within all new and existing trade mechanisms such as FTAs, Economic Partnership Agreements, Generalised Schemes of Preferences and Investment Agreements;

Amendment 9 #

Catherine CHABAUD, Jan-Christoph OETJEN, Iskra MIHAYLOVA, Stéphane BIJOUX, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that developing countries are the most exposed to climate change, and that their human rights activists and environmental defenders are ~~particularly subjected to threats, repression and judicial persecution for defending their land, heritage and environment from the consequence~~often members of indigenous or traditional communities who have to deal with multiple forms of violence, ranging from psychological and physical threats to restrictions ofn the ~~exploitation of natural resources~~ir liberty, judicial persecution and even assassination;

source: 659.018

2020/11/11 LIBE 89 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas ~~the EU~~article 2 of TEU states that the Union is founded on the values of respect for human rights, ~~democracy and the rule of law; whereas these values also guide~~freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities; whereas these values should also be observed in the EU’s external action;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas the UN General Assembly adopted a Declaration on human rights defenders in 1998; whereas this Declaration affirms that States should take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas the negative impacts of climate change are disproportionately borne by persons and communities already in disadvantageous situations owing to geography, poverty, age, disability, cultural or ethnic background, that have historically contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions and that the specific nature of indigenous peoples and their local communities can aggravate their vulnerability, as they can be located in incredibly isolated areas;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas climate change has an impact on fundamental rights such as the right to life, water, food, and health, the right to private and family life, the prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment, and peaceful enjoyment of the home; whereas a clean and healthy environment is fundamental to human life;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas in recent years, environmental defenders have been subjected to ever increasing incidences of killings, kidnappings, torture, gender- based violence, threats, harassment, intimidation, smear campaigns, criminalisation, judicial harassment, forced eviction and displacement;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)

B b. whereas according to the Framework Principles on Human Rights and the Environment of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Environment (2018)1a as regards states’ obligations under human rights law related to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, states must “…monitor and effectively enforce compliance with the standards by preventing, investigating, punishing and redressing violations of the standards by private actors as well as governmental authorities;” (Framework principle 12) _________________ 1ahttps://documents-dds- ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G18/017/42/ PDF/G1801742.pdf?OpenElement

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)

B b. whereas, criminalisation of environmental defenders is routine in many countries and strategic lawsuits against public administration direct resources, energy and focus away from defenders´ work towards overcoming lengthy and often frivolous court proceedings;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)

B b. whereas environmental human rights defenders have been resisting in the EU and in third countries against human- induced climate change, such as land grabs, illegal logging and mega-projects of multinational corporations;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)

B c. whereas the UN Human Rights Council recognised in a resolution in 2019 the positive, important and legitimate role played by human rights defenders in the promotion and protection of human rights as they relate to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and expressed deep concerns that human rights defenders working in environmental matters, referred to as environmental human rights defenders, are among the human rights defenders most exposed and at risk;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)

B c. whereas over the last three years there have been recorded killings of 578 environmental, land and indigenous people´s rights defenders, with Philippines consistently being top of the list as the most dangerous country for being an environmental rights defender; notes that in many of the cases conflicts and violations take place within a context of economic inequality and social exclusion;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)

B c. whereas private and corporate actors have the obligation to address the human rights implications of climate change, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and play an important role in fostering civic space and promoting an enabling environment for environmental defenders;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas the EU is founded on the values of respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law, respect for human dignity, as well as equality and solidarity; whereas these values also guide the EU’s external action;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Recital B d (new)

B d. whereas the economic crisis that is expected to result from the pandemic may push states to divert away from the environment in order to stimulate short term economic growth; whereas this will result in increased violence to force communities off their land to allow for its exploitation;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Acknowledges the inevitable link between environmental change and human rights;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges the ~~role of human rights defenders and their legal representatives; deplores the fact that environmental defenders are facing threats of violence~~inextricable link between human rights and environmental protection and underlines the key role of human rights defenders and their legal representatives in this regard; condemns all acts of violence, harassment and intimidation committed against them; calls on the Member States to ensure that all such acts are investigated appropriately and effectively; calls on the Member States to establish and safeguard, in law and in practice, a safe, secure environment for human rights defenders in the area of the environment which enables them to carry out their work, and to guarantee them effective access to justice and appropriate legal remedies;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges the crucial role of human rights defenders and their legal representatives~~; deplores the fact that environmental defenders are facing threats of violence~~ in defending land, indigenous peoples’ and environmental rights; deplores the fact that environmental defenders are facing increasing levels of harassments and violence; particularly highlights the work of and condemns the risks for female environmental defenders;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges the role of human rights defenders and their legal representatives; deplores the fincreasing rate of killings and violent acts that environmental defenders are facing ~~threats of violence~~, such as gender-based violence, threats, harassment, intimidation, smear campaigns, criminalization, judicial harassment, forced eviction and displacement;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Acknowledges the role of~~Expresses its strong support to human rights defenders and their legal representatives; ~~deplore~~condemns the fact that environmental human rights defenders are facing ~~threats of violence~~repression, criminalisation and threats against their lives for their struggle in favour of their environment and community;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges the role of human rights defenders and their legal representatives; deplores the fact that environmental defenders are facing threats of violence and that their messages are being misunderstood;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Acknowledges the~~Highlights the important role of human rights defenders and their legal representatives; ~~deplore~~condemns the fact that environmental defenders ar~~e facing~~ound the world and in Europe face increasing repression and threats of violence; and death;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Reiterates that the obligation of states in protecting citizens’ rights is clearly laid out in international law; calls on the Commission and its Member States to protect the rights of defenders of environmental human rights in the EU and worldwide, specifically protecting freedom of expression and media freedom and pluralism in the context of environmental rights, and to ensure the safety and protection of journalists; calls on the EU and its Member States to take all measures necessary to create a safe and enabling environment for women environmental defenders;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that female environmental defenders are also likely to be targeted by or exposed to threats and acts of violence linked specifically to their gender, particularly sexual violence, and to threats, harassment and defamation campaigns connected to their status as women; calls on the Member States to ensure that all such acts are investigated appropriately and effectively and to introduce targeted measures to combat gender-based violence;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas studies have shown that climate change and environmental degradation will increasingly threaten basic human rights of vulnerable people, like the right to life, water, food, sanitation, healthcare and education; whereas the number of people displaced by the impact of the climate crisis is increasing; whereas the EU is fighting climate change through ambitious policies at home and close cooperation with international partners;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Further acknowledges the multiple and intersecting forms of violence and discrimination faced by women environmental human rights defenders, including sexual and gender-based violence; urges countries to adopt effective measures to protect women defenders and to consider integrating a gender perspective into their efforts to investigate threats and attacks against human rights defenders;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Invites the Commission to do more to protect human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, environmental activists and organisations engaged in the fight against climate change worldwide, and pay specific attention to the differentiated needs of protection of women human rights defenders;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Calls for immediate action against the harassment, intimidation, violent attacks against and imprisonment of environmental defenders and calls for a rapid response for their protection against any harassment, persecution, and violence;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Calls on EU Member States to provide international protection to environmental human rights defenders who are seeking safety in the EU;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Expresses its concerns regarding the deterioration of the situation of human rights defenders in many countries;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Takes note of the report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)1 a, which found that human activities which cause climate change and biodiversity loss also increase the risk of pandemics through their impact on the environment, that the risk of pandemics can be considerably lessened by reducing human activities which drive biodiversity loss, and that the cost of reducing the risk of pandemics is 100 times less than that of responding to them; welcomes the fact that the link between biodiversity loss and pandemics is acknowledged in the EU's recently- adopted biodiversity strategy but stresses the urgent need to take fresh measures; calls for the political options set out by the IPBES to be adopted and implemented by the Commission and the Member States, thereby paving the way for the profound change needed to prevent future pandemics; _________________ 1a IPBES workshop report on Biodiversity ad Pandemics: https://ipbes.net/pandemics

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Recalls that countries are obligated under international law to respect the rights of environmental defenders and protect them from harm; urges, therefore, countries to guarantee the protection of environmental defenders by adopting laws and holistic protection measures, and by ensuring investigation into and accountability for attacks and threats against them;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Calls on the Commission to ensure an action plan against the increased violence to force communities off their lands in the face of the covid- 19pandemic;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1 c. Urges the Commission to provide support for states to introduce protection mechanisms and legislation that would define environmental defenders, recognise their work and guarantee their protection;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1 d. Calls on increased political and financial support to environmental rights defenders and systematically condemn reprisals against them;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas ~~the EU is fighting climate change through~~combating climate change and protecting the environment are legal obligations stemming from the Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; whereas, in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, the EU and the Member States must implement ambitious policies, at ~~home~~national level and in close cooperation with international partners, aimed at strengthening the global response to climate change;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)

1 e. Calls on the EU to facilitate, in accordance with the UN human rights council resolution to facilitate public awareness and participation in environmental decision-making, including with civil society, women, children youth, indigenous people, rural and local communities, not limited to developing countries but globally;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

~~2. Calls for the EU and its Member States to protect freedom of expression and media freedom and pluralism and to ensure the safety and protection of journalists in external relations;~~deleted

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Calls for the EU and its Member States to protect freedom of expression and media freedom and pluralism and to ensure the safety and protection of journalists in external relations~~Is deeply concerned by the growing deterioration in the situation of environmental defenders, whistle-blowers, journalists and legal professionals specialising in the environment throughout the world, including in the European Union; calls for the EU and its Member States to protect freedom of expression and media freedom and pluralism and to ensure the safety and protection of journalists; points out that whistleblowing is a fundamental aspect of freedom of expression and plays a central role in deterring and preventing wrongdoing and in strengthening democratic accountability and transparency; calls in this context on the Commission to monitor the transposition and guarantee the full application by the Member States of Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls for the EU and its Member States to protect freedom of expression and media freedom and pluralism and to ensure the safety and protection of journalists in the EU and in external relations; expresses its deep concern at the abuses, crimes and deadly attacks still being committed against journalists and media workers because of their activities;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls for the EU and its Member States to protect freedom of expression and media freedom and pluralism, the right to assembly and to ensure the safety and protection of journalists, whistleblowers and environmental defenders also in external relations;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls for the EU and its Member States to protect freedom of expression and media freedom and pluralism and to ensure the safety and protection of journalists and environmental defenders in external relations;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls for the EU and its Member States to protect freedom of expression and media freedom and pluralism and to ensure the safety and protection of journalists, human rights defenders, and environmental defenders in external relations;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Considers the right of information as an important instrument for people possibly affected by the climate change’s consequences to know early and appropriately about harmful effects of climate change and adaptation measures; demands respect for the right and freedom of information; supports an implementation of the principle of participation in the fight against climate change and the establishment of interconnected structures in the Member states that allow full support of the public concerned;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Supports the Commission in strengthening democracy, the rule of law and human rights in the EU’s external action, given the continued need for the EU to be the world's leading player in promoting and enforcing the protection of human rights, and in developing initiatives to combat organised crime, illegal land grabs and deforestation; strongly supports the development of stable institutions and enforceable justice and the promotion of good governance in the countries concerned;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Supports the Commission in strengthening democracy, the rule of law and human rights in the EU’s external action in particular in regards of climate and in developing initiatives to combat organised crime, illegal land grabs and deforestation; strongly supports the development of stable institutions and enforceable justice ~~and the promotion of good governance in the countries concerned~~, better access to legal remedies for victims of human rights abuses as a result of climate change and the promotion of human rights and good governance;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas the EU is fighting climate change through ambitious policies at home and close cooperation with international partners, in a bid to make Europe more climate-resilient and to promote greater coordination and exchange of information between Member States;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Supports the Commission in strengthening democracy, the rule of law and human rights in the EU’s external action and in developing initiatives to combat organised crime, illegal land grabs and deforestation as these are essential components to ensure the protection of environmental human rights defenders; strongly supports the development of stable institutions and enforceable justice and the promotion of good governance in the countries concerned;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Supports the Commission in ~~strengthening democracy, the rule of law and human rights in the EU’s external action and in~~ developing initiatives to combat organised crime, illegal land grabs and deforestation; strongly supports the development of stable institutions and enforceable justice and the promotion of good governance in the countries concerned;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Support~~Asks the Commission ~~in strengthening~~always to put democracy, the rule of law and human rights inat the centre of the EU’s external action and ~~in developing~~to draw up and boost initiatives to combat organised crime, illegal land grabs and deforestation; ~~strongly supports the development of stable institutions and enforceable justice and the promotion of good governance in the countries concerned;~~

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Supports the Commission in strengthening democracy, the rule of law and human rights in the EU’s external action and in developing initiatives to combat organised crime, illegal land grabs and deforestation; strongly supports the work regarding development of stable institutions and enforceable justice and the promotion of good governance in the countries concerned;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Supports~~Calls on the Commission in ~~strengthening democracy, the rule of law and human rights in the EU’s~~respecting fundamental rights in all EU's internal and external ~~action~~policy and in ~~developing initiatives to combat organised crime,~~ensuring that the EU does not support initiatives and projects that would lead to illegal land grabs, illegal logging and deforestation~~; strongly supports the development of stable institutions and enforceable justice and the promotion of good governance in the countries concerned~~, including mega-projects of multinational corporations that have a damaging impact on the environment;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Expresses its deep concern at the increasing criminalisation and persecution of environmental activists in developing countries by governments and multinational companies that are investing in the exploitation of natural, non-renewable resources, thus contributing to deforestation, loss of biodiversity and human rights violations, mostly affecting indigenous peoples; condemns any attempts to deregulate environmental and human rights protections in the context of the COVID- 19 pandemic and other crises; also expresses its concern at the situation of environmental defenders and whistle- blowers throughout the world; recalls that everyone should have access to the enjoyment of human rights, environmental protection and sustainable development, and that no one should be penalised, persecuted or harassed for protecting the environment; calls on the Commission to support environmental defenders across the world;

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Underlines that the security of environmental human rights defenders is inherently linked to the security of the communities they defend and can be protected with a holistic approach that includes the strengthening of democratic institutions, the fight against impunity, a reduction in economic inequality and equal access to justice; urges countries to take measures in this regard to strengthen democratic institutions, safeguard civic space, uphold the rule of law and combat impunity;

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls on the Commission to put forward a legislative proposal to update and strengthen the EU's legislative framework on environmental administrative and criminal liability and access to justice in environmental matters and to examine the possibility of expanding the remit of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, once it is fully operational, to cover environmental offences;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Deems that the introduction of binding and harmonised EU legislation on business due diligence can help improve the defence of human rights and compliance with environmental standards in the fight against impunity and climate change in developing countries and contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and the objectives of the EU Green Deal; stresses that the future legislation should take into account the specific needs and rights of women and vulnerable groups such as children and indigenous people, that the future legislation should be subjected to a meaningful and inclusive consultation process on the ground with the relevant stakeholders and affected communities, and that that process should be carried out in close cooperation with the EU Delegations; calls on the Commission to continue working towards the approval of the UN binding treaty for transnational corporations on human rights;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote and support international recognition of the crime of ecocide under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas the EU ~~is fighting~~has a responsibility to fight human-induced climate change through ambitious policies at home and close cooperation with international partners; whereas the 2018 IPCC Special Report findings were alarming and pointed that unprecedented changes before the year 2030 are required;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3 c. Calls on the Commission to check carefully that the infrastructure and energy projects financed through the various development cooperation and external policy instruments, including through the European Investment Bank, do not jeopardise human rights, the Sustainable Development Goals, the objectives of the Paris agreement to combat climate change or the European Green Deal; also calls in this regard to carefully evaluate if the proposed projects have been consulted with indigenous communities and local population and have included their experience and knowledge of local ecology, human rights and development needs;

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3 d. Believes from a development perspective that the EU trade policy review should redefine, promote and reinforce the protection of the environment and human rights; stresses that social, environmental and human rights due diligence duties should be enforced within all new and existing trade mechanisms such as FTAs, Economic Partnership Agreements, Generalised Schemes of Preferences and Investment Agreements;

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates its position that all relevant EU policies, instruments and tools, including trade agreements, as well as development aid and visa policies should be linked with cooperation and respect for democracy, the rule of law and the principles of good governance; believes that this cooperation should be based on the ‘more for more’ principle and that insufficient cooperation, intimidation, repression and violence against indigenous people and environmental defenders should result in a reduction in external aid and support, without affecting humanitarian aid; , human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, as well as equality and solidarity and the principles of good governance; supports the establishment of an accountability mechanism to guarantee that funds are not used for projects that harm the environment or human rights; stresses that the respect for environment and human rights is essential to sustainable development; calls on the EU to explore ways to enhance understanding, coordination and cooperation with regard to climate change induced displacement.

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates its position that all relevant EU policies, instruments and tools, including trade agreements, as well as development aid and visa policies should be linked with cooperation and respect for the rule of law and the principles of good governance; believes that this cooperation should be based on the ‘more for more’ principle and that insufficient cooperation, intimidation, repression and violence against indigenomust always be based on the highest European and international environmental and human rights standards and must include the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as points of reference for cooperation with non-EU countries; calls on the Commission to conduct specific impact assessments on human rights and gender equality before concluding any trade negotiation and to sus pe~~ople and environm~~nd or amend preferential ~~defenders should result in a reduction in external aid and support, without affecting humanitarian ai~~trade agreements or arrangements whenever human rights, including those of environmental defenders, are systematically violated;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Reiterates its position that~~Calls on the Commission to carry out a comprehensive human-rights and environmental review of all relevant EU policies, instruments and tools, including trade agreements, as well as development aid and visa policies should be linked with cooperation and respect for the rule of law and the principles of good governance; believes that this cooperation should be based on the ‘more for more’ principle and that insufficient cooperation, intimidation, repression and violence against indigenous people and environmental defenders should result in a reduction in external aid and support, without affecting humanitarian aid; calls on EU delegation in third countries to liaise closely with representatives of indigenous people and environmental defenders and support them through appropriate measures;

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates its position that all relevant EU policies, instruments and tools, including trade agreements, as well as development aid and visa policies should be ~~linked with cooperation and~~on the prerequisite of respect for the rule of law and the principles of good governance, without harming final beneficiaries; believes that this cooperation should be based on the ‘more for more’ principle and that insufficient cooperation, intimidation, repression and violence against indigenous people and environmental defenders should result in a reduction in or suspension of external aid and support, without affecting humanitarian aid;

Amendment 66 #

Amendment 67 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Recalls the obligation of the EU and its Member States to regulate corporations operating in the Union in order to safeguard human rights; stresses how this includes creating avenues for accountability and judicial redress;

Amendment 68 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on the Union and the Member States to support, at the next UN General Assembly, global recognition of the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment;

Amendment 69 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Supports the work of human rights defenders, their protection and the development of an enabling environment for their activities;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas the EU isneeds to fight~~ing~~ climate change through ambitious ~~policie~~and comprehensive policies based on human rights at home and close cooperation with international partners;

Amendment 70 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4 b. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to adopt a legislative proposal on EU-wide due diligence requirements for businesses to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for abuses of human rights, including the rights of the child and fundamental freedoms, serious bodily injury or health risks, environmental damage, including with respect to climate; stresses the importance of revising the Directive on Environmental Liability, notably with regards to enhancing enforcement, in order to ensure liability of EU businesses for environmental damage;

Amendment 71 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Calls for the EU and its Member States to provide~~Stresses that indigenous peoples around the world are particularly affected by the consequences of climate change, and that children from Indigenous communities are often particularly vulnerable to climatic changes; strongly condemns violence against indigenous people, Human Rights and environmental defenders; whereas climate-induced displacement may pose a direct threat to human rights, culture and traditional knowledge, as well as to the right to a nationality; calls for the EU and its Member States to consider the rights of indigenous peoples in climate policies and to provide special financial and technical assistance for indigenous people, refugees and displaced people ~~in hosting communities~~;

Amendment 72 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for the EU and its Member States to provide financial and technical assistance ~~for~~to implement support programmes for those most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, such as indigenous people, refugees and displaced people ~~in hosting communities~~;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for the EU and its Member States to ~~provide~~consider the urgency and extent of financial and technical assistance for indigenous people, refugees and displaced people in hosting communities according to the specific conditions and situation in the country;

Amendment 74 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for the EU and its Member States to provide financial and technical assistance for indigenous people, refugees and displaced people, as well as environmental defenders, in hosting communities;

Amendment 75 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for the EU and its Member States to provide ~~financial and technical assistance for indigenous people, refugees and displaced people in hosting communities~~support to people who have been forced to move as a result of climate-induced displacement within a State or across an international border;

Amendment 76 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Believes that in the next few years climate change will create more environmental migrants from developing and developed countries; welcomes the landmark decision of the UN Human Rights Committee in the case of Teitiota v. New Zealand recognising that people fleeing climate-related and natural disasters have a valid claim for international protection under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; urges the Commission and the Member States to take stock of this ruling and take all the necessary measures to ensure full protection of environmentally displaced persons under EU law, and to provide appropriate asylum for climate refugees;

Amendment 77 #

5 a. Highlights that also women are especially affected by the impacts of the climate change; calls on the EU and its Member States to consider the particular situation of women and girls and to identify gender-specific discrimination and vulnerabilities, addressing good practices where women act as agents of change in safeguarding sustainably environment; stresses that gender equality and the effective participation of women are important and indispensable for effective action to combat climate change in all areas;

Amendment 78 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

~~6. Supports a human rights-based approach to migration governance in third countries and the strengthening of the capacity of states, civil society and UN partners to implement this approach.~~deleted

Amendment 79 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Supports a h~~uman~~olistic human and fundamental rights-based approach ~~to migration governance in third countries~~in the EU’s external action and the strengthening of the capacity of states~~, civil society~~ as well as the cooperation and the permanent dialogue with civil society organizations including those representing indigenous peoples and other persons in vulnerable situations and UN partners toin implementing this approach; supports the identifying and promoting of good practices related to human rights obligations and commitments that support and strengthen the environmental protection policymaking on European and international level.

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas the EU ~~is fighting~~must continue to increase its fight against climate change through ambitious policies at home and close cooperation with international partners;

Amendment 80 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Supports~~Underlines the need to strengthen a human -rights-based approach to migration ~~governance in third countries and the strengthening of the capa~~at EU and international level, in full cooperation with civil society and UN partners; proposes that any change in the environment due to climate change be explicitly ~~of states, civil society and UN partners to implement this approach.~~listed among eligibility criteria for humanitarian protection; calls on the Commission and the Member States to present any such proposals at international forums, alongside other EU initiatives;

Amendment 81 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Supports a human rights-based approach to migration governance in third countries which considers any human rights protection gaps in the context of migration and the displacement of persons due to the adverse effects of climate change and the strengthening of the capacity of states, civil society and UN partners to implement this approach.;

Amendment 82 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Supports a human rights-based approach to migration governance in third countries, more effective control of external borders and migrant flows and the strengthening of the capacity of states, civil society and UN partners to implement this approach.

Amendment 83 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Supports a human rights-based approach to migration governance in third countries and to the EU, including the creation of legal pathways to the EU as well as the strengthening of the capacity of states, civil society and UN partners to implement this approach.

Amendment 84 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Supports a ~~human rights-based~~n approach to reducing migration ~~governance~~ based on the principle of resolving the crisis within third countries and on the strengthening of the capacity of states, civil society and UN partners to implement this approach.

Amendment 85 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Recalls that the negative consequences of climate change undermine a country’s development prospects, compounding already existing inequalities such as gender disparities; underlines that the impact of climate change is worse for more vulnerable people such as women and girls, and that 80 % of people displaced by climate change are women; welcomes the commitments made by Vice-President Timmermans to redress gender inequalities that are exacerbated by climate change; urges the Commission to mainstream gender equality and climate justice in the elaboration and implementation of all policies that have an impact on the situation of women and girls, and to promote the participation of indigenous women, women’s rights defenders and all marginalised gender communities within the UNFCCC framework;

Amendment 86 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Takes the view that climate change will force more and more people to migrate; welcomes in this context the historic decision of the UN Human Rights Commission in the case Teitiota v. New Zealand, which recognised that people displaced by climate and natural disasters are entitled to international protection under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; urges the Commission and the Member States to consider this decision and to take all measures necessary to ensure that people displaced for environmental reasons are fully protected under Community law as well as providing them with a proper asylum procedure by creating safe and legal migration pathways;

Amendment 87 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Calls for further collaboration with international partners to integrate the infringement of human rights caused by environmental degradation in environmental policies and take human rights- based climate actions;

Amendment 88 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Recognises the invaluable work of human rights defenders for the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental values;

Amendment 89 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6 b. Calls for the EU to address the climate crisis as a human rights crisis and implement effective measures to fight climate change and lead the way for safeguarding the rights of future generations.

Amendment 9 #