2021/2006(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Welcomes the Commission proposal for a Methane Strategy in seeking to reduce overall methane emissions within the EU; recalls that within a 20 year timespan, methane emissions are 86 times more potent than CO2 in terms of its effect on global warming, and that it contributes to tropospheric ozone formation, a potent local air pollutant, damaging crops, forests and other vegetation, affecting biodiversity and causing serious health problems;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Regrets the lack of a comprehensive EU monitoring framework for methane emissions; calls on the Commission, therefore, to improve the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in the agricultural sector while taking into account the specific nature of enteric methane emissions linked to the valorisation of grass by ruminants and distinguishing short-cycle biogenic carbon from long- cycle carbon from fossil resource extraction in the light of recent research;

Amendment 100 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)

3 e. Stresses the need for a transition towards sustainable feed policy based on the locally sourced feed in order to reduce the environmental and climate impact of animal production and to avoid carbon leakage through imports from third countries;

Amendment 101 #

3 f. Warns against reliance on technological innovations such as the development of feed additives which do not address the root causes of methane emissions in the agricultural sector, nor the systemic environmental issues associated with industrial farming and can harm animal health and welfare; stresses instead the need to stimulate a transition towards plant-based diets in line with the objectives of the EU farm to fork strategy;

Amendment 102 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 g (new)

3 g. Stresses the need to swiftly move away from industrial animal farming, aiming at a 70% reduction in livestock numbers in the EU, with particular focus on Member States with high livestock density such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark;

Amendment 103 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 h (new)

3 h. Emphasizes that intensive industrial agriculture and livestock farming should not receive climate funding, nor be incentivized or rewarded;

Amendment 104 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 i (new)

3 i. Demands that measures aimed at reducing the methane emissions in agriculture are in line with the animal welfare and environmental objectives and the ‘Do no harm’ principle of the Green Deal;

Amendment 105 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Clara AGUILERA, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers that value-added utilisation of agricultural residues and other by-products is an important driver of the circular economy and bio-economy, only if it's done in a sustainable way; recalls, in this regard, that in order to meet new environmental targets, a balance of plant and animal production should be maintained, which will ensure sufficient amount of nutrients and organic matter in the soils in the EU, positively influencing the biodiversity and contributing to more healthy and balanced dietary habits of the Europeans; encourages farming models able to be sustainable socially, environmentally and economically; calls for the acceleration of European biogas production from agriculture waste in a sustainable way, as an important tool for reducing methane emissions;

Amendment 106 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. CStresses that there is great potential in the valorisation of non- recyclable agricultural waste and residue streams which can be used in anaerobic digesters to produce biogas while reducing methane emissions; stresses that residues from this process, digestate, are a sustainable soil improver which can reduce the import and use of chemical fertilisers; considers that value-added utilisation of agricultural residues and other by-products is an important driver of the circular economy and bio-economy which offers opportunities for development and investment in rural areas; calls for the acceleration of European biogas production from agriculture waste, as an important tool for reducing methane emissions;

Amendment 107 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers that value-added utilisation of agricultural residues and other by-products is an important driver of the circular economy and bio-economy; calls for the acceleration of European biogas production from agriculture waste, as an important tool for reducing methane emissions; highlights the need for agriculture support schemes to encourage biogas production and business at a farm level; underlines the importance of farmers having continuous access to the investment support for biogas production;

Amendment 108 #

Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Jan HUITEMA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Jérémy DECERLE, Hilde VAUTMANS, Alin MITUȚA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers that value-added utilisation of agricultural residues and other by-products is an important driver of the circular economy and bio-economy; calls for the acceleration of European biogas production from agriculture waste, as an important tool for reducing methane emissions; and increase circularity in the agricultural sector; stresses the role of permanent grassland for carbon sequestration and points out that the rate of grassland in Europe is tightly linked to livestock numbers;

Amendment 109 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers that value-added utilisation of agricultural residues and other by-products is an important driver of the circular economy and bio-economy; calls for the acceleration of European biogas production from agriculture waste, as an important tool for reducing methane emissions and encourages Member States to include in their National Strategic Plans support measures for the purchase of biogas production facilities using agricultural waste ;

Amendment 11 #

Carmen AVRAM, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Clara AGUILERA, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Ivo HRISTOV

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Regrets the lack of a comprehensive EU monitoring framework for methane emissions, especially in the agriculture sector, where the sources of methane emissions are often diffuse and make measurement, reporting and verification challenging; welcomes the European Commission's initiative to develop, in cooperation with international partners, an international emissions observatory; calls on the Commission, therefore, to improve the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in the agricultural sector;

Amendment 110 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers that ~~value-added~~the utilisation of agricultural residues and other by-products ~~is an important~~can be a driver of the circular economy ~~and bio-economy; calls for the accel~~if stringent sustainability criteria are applied, so that only genuine waste and residues, for which no more sustainable alternati~~on of European biogas production from agriculture waste, as an important tool for reducing methane emissions~~ve use exists, are considered as potential sources of feed for the biogas plants, following a cascading principle of use; calls for the development of on-farm, small biogas plants, fed with agriculture waste only;

Amendment 111 #

Amendment 112 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers that value-added utilisation of agricultural residues and other by-products is an important driver of the circular economy and bio-economy; ~~calls for the acceleration of European biogas production from agriculture waste, as an important tool for reducing methane emissions;~~

Amendment 113 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 114 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers that value-added utilisation of agricultural residues and other by-products is an important driver of the circular economy and bio-economy; calls for the acceleration of European biogas production from agriculture waste, as an important tool for reducing methane emissionsStresses that agricultural residues play a key role in maintaining and restoring soil health and circularity and should not be regarded as parts of the so- called bio-economy; underlines that biogas production from agriculture waste frustrate efforts to recirculate nutrients in the natural cycles and should not be promoted nor subsidised;

Amendment 115 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 116 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers that value-added utilisation of agricultural residues and other by-products is an important driver of the circular economy and bio-economy; calls for the acceleration and support of European biogas production from agriculture waste, such as on-farm pocket digesters, as an important tool for reducing methane emissions;

Amendment 117 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers that value-added utilisation of agricultural residues and other by-products iscould be an important driver of the circular economy and bio-economy; calls for the acceleration of European biogas production from agriculture waste, as an important tool for reducing methane emissions;

Amendment 118 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Calls for the acceleration of European biogas production from agriculture waste as an important tool for reducing methane emissions; stresses that agricultural biogas plants, which are built predominantly in rural areas, also contribute to eradicating the energy poverty that these areas often face; furthermore, by providing energy to local customers and reducing energy transmission and distribution losses, they both contribute to the improvement of the national energy system and reduce its operating costs;

Amendment 119 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Having regard for the upcoming revision of Directive 2009/73/EU concerning common rules in the market for natural gas and Regulation 715/2009/EU on conditions for access to the natural gas transmission networks, calls on the Commission to ensure the appropriate financial incentives are made available to farmers to encourage the instillation of anaerobic digestion technology on farms and ensure access to national energy networks, in order to better facilitate the market entry of renewable and low carbon gases;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Regrets the lack of a comprehensiv~~Points to the insignificant share of methane emissions from EU agriculture, as the EU accounts for only 5 % of global methane emissions, and therefore understands why there is no appropriate EU monitoring framework for methane emissions; calls on the Commission, therefore, to ~~improve~~bring about an improvement in the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in the agricultural sector without undue bureaucracy and costs for farmers;

Amendment 120 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Clara AGUILERA, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Highlights the active engagement of the agricultural sector in climate action and recognizes the full potential of woodlands and grasslands; calls for the development of nutrient management systems and innovative dietary solutions to reduce methane emissions in the livestock sector and for methods to calculate the true impact of methane on the environment to be developed in light of more recent research on the lifecycle of methane;

Amendment 121 #

Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Jan HUITEMA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Jérémy DECERLE, Hilde VAUTMANS, Alin MITUȚA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Calls for better coordination and improved infrastructure between farmers and renewable energy producers in order to enable the uptake of locally connected production of biogas; furthermore highlights the importance of returning high quality natural fertilizer, which is the by-product of biogas production, to the farms again;

Amendment 122 #

Jan HUITEMA, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Emma WIESNER, Alin MITUȚA, Hilde VAUTMANS, Jérémy DECERLE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Notes that measures to reduce methane emissions are not always beneficial for other aspects of sustainability; Calls on the Commission to take into account all aspects of sustainability when proposing best practises and promoting mitigation technologies;

Amendment 123 #

Clara AGUILERA, Cristina MAESTRE, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Recalls that circularity first means less waste, slowing the consumption of resources and energy, and implementing long-term waste prevention solutions, and that the role of biogas shall therefore be limited;

Amendment 124 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on the Member States to promote the establishment of community manure and slurry management centres, for both composting and biogas, and to support the transfer of the energy generated to the electricity grid;

Amendment 125 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Recalls that Article 13 TFEU states that when formulating and implementing the Union's policies, full regard should be paid to the welfare requirements of animals, since animals are sentient beings;

Amendment 126 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4 b. Considers, therefore, that action in this field should be an important part of the long-term vision of rural areas and that it supports the Commission’s efforts to review the regulatory framework in order to facilitate the introduction into the gas system of gaseous fuels derived from renewable energy sources, as fuel injected into gas distribution networks as well as local distribution networks;

Amendment 127 #

Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Jan HUITEMA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Jérémy DECERLE, Hilde VAUTMANS, Alin MITUȚA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4 b. Finds that renewable energy obtained through agricultural residues have significant potential and should be explored with further research, Investment and a supportive policy framework;

Amendment 128 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4 b. Rejects any attempts to genetically alter animals in order to artificially try to lower emissions;

Amendment 129 #

Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Jan HUITEMA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Jérémy DECERLE, Hilde VAUTMANS, Alin MITUȚA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4 c. Notes that the development of the circular economy and bio-economy will create more jobs in the primary production and stresses that the bio economy requires new skills, new knowledge and new disciplines be developed and/or integrated further in training and education in this sector in order to tackle bio economy-related societal changes, promote competitiveness, growth and job creation, meet the needs of the sector and ensure that skills and jobs are better matched;

Amendment 13 #

Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Jan HUITEMA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Jérémy DECERLE, Hilde VAUTMANS, Alin MITUȚA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Regrets the lack of a comprehensive EU monitoring framework for methane emissions; calls on the Commission, therefore, to improve the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in the agricultural sector; encourages the Commission and Member States to support and apply available mitigation technologies and practices that have the potential to deliver emission reductions decoupled from production;

Amendment 130 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4 c. Emphasises the need to ensure that animal welfare does not suffer under new measures for the agricultural sector, including regarding methane; stresses that no measures, targets, or incentives should lead to a restriction of livestock animals to indoor confinements; emphasises that animals must be able to graze outdoors and should not be prevented from exhibiting their natural behaviour;

Amendment 131 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4 c. Supports the Commission’s proposal to set up a pilot project to support rural areas and farmers in building biogas installations and to facilitate access to funding to support their development;

Amendment 132 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4 d. Stresses that an agricultural system which imports millions of tons of soy and maize each year, feeds that to animals, and uses the huge amounts of excess manure this system creates to produce so-called biogas is inherently unsustainable;

Amendment 133 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)

4 e. Points out that incentivising biogas production from animal waste streams is further increasing the dependency of the imports of protein from third countries, which exacerbates deforestation and ecosystem degradations in countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Indonesia;

Amendment 134 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)

4 f. Expresses the opinion that biogas produced from animal manure or crops is not sustainable and should not be incentivised nor facilitated;

Amendment 135 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 g (new)

4 g. Emphasises that biogas production from agricultural waste is an end-of-pipe solution that allows intensive livestock farming to continue business as usual; highlights that the promotion of biogas incentivises industrial livestock farming and thereby harms the environment, biodiversity, public health, animal welfare and small farmers;

Amendment 136 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 h (new)

4 h. Stresses that promoting biogas as a "solution" risks locking in unsustainable forms of animal production that further contribute to the root causes of harmful methane emissions in agriculture;

Amendment 137 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 i (new)

4 i. Stresses that energy and climate policies' incentives aiming at achieving climate neutrality should not support the use of food crops for energy generation purposes or any unsustainable use of biomass, such as use of virgin biomass for energy generation purposes;

Amendment 138 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 j (new)

4 j. Calls for regulatory measure to ban the practice of co-digestion of manure and food crops which is inherently unsustainable;

Amendment 139 #

Clara AGUILERA, Cristina MAESTRE, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 k (new)

4 k. Urges against bioeconomy that is not based on the principle of sustainability; stresses that further research is needed on the environmental impact of energy produced from biomass and biofuels in order to draw the line between sustainable and unsustainable amounts of residues being taken away from the field for the energy generation purpose;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Regrets the lack of a comprehensive EU monitoring framework for methane emissions; calls on the Commission, therefore, to improve the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in the agricultural sector, in which further disaggregation of emission factors and their determination on a scientific basis is required for all EU production systems before progress beyond level 2 approaches can be made;

Amendment 140 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Clara AGUILERA, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. CWelcomes the announcement of the European Commission to set up an expert group with the aim of analysing the life-cycle methane emissions matrix; considers that farm level certification schemes for climate effective farming, including common measurement and verification data for methane reductions, will be an important tool for monitoring and incentivising methane reductions at farm level; highlights the need to assess not just the impact on methane emissions of specific livestock management and animal welfare choices, imported or domestic feeds and intensive or pastoral farming choices, but also of the impact of supplementing the animal diet with feed additives on animal health, pest resilience, food safety(toxicity), productivity, product quality, environmental impact;

Amendment 141 #

Ivan DAVID, Mara BIZZOTTO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that farm level certification schemes for climate effective farming, including common measurement and verification data for methane reductions, will be an important tool for monitoring and incentivising methane reductions at farm level; stresses the need for a simple and transparent system for the collection of agricultural methane emissions data using state-of-the-art data collection technologies; stresses the importance of publishing a common set of data that do not mislead European consumers regarding the adverse effects of agricultural methane emissions;

Amendment 142 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that farm level certification schemes for climate effective farming, including common measurement and verification data for methane reductions, w~~ill be an important tool for monitoring and incentivising methane reductions at farm level;~~ ould, if introduced, necessitate significant expenditure by farms, adversely impacting the competitiveness of European agriculture, and therefore calls on the Commission, in he event of their adoption, to provide 100% subsidies to farmers for the purchase of the relevant equipment; subsidies for this purpose should be paid out from a different section of the EU budget than the common agricultural policy, and optimally from climate policy spending;

Amendment 143 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that farm level certification schemes for climate effective farming, including common measurement and verification data for methane reductions, will be an important tool for monitoring and incentivising methane reductions at farm level; stresses that obstacles such as insufficient knowledge and expertise preventing wider application should be addressed; urges the Commission to publish an inventory of best practices and available technologies by the end of 2021;

Amendment 144 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that farm level certification schemes for climate effective farming, including common measurement and verification data for methane reductions, ~~will~~could be an important tool for monitoring and incentivising methane reductions at farm level; points out that livestock farming is part of a fiercely competitive agricultural sector and that livestock farmers in particular should therefore not be exposed to increasing burdens and excessive bureaucracy, but, rather, should have the burdens on them reduced and should be supported;

Amendment 145 #

Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Jan HUITEMA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Jérémy DECERLE, Alin MITUȚA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that farm level certification schemes for climate effective farming, including common measurement and verification data for methane reductions, will be an important tool for monitoring and incentivising methane reductions at farm level; calls on the Commission to submit a report on measures to support climate-efficient farming and food production by means of third party certification schemes by 30 September 2023;

Amendment 146 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that voluntary farm level certification schemes for climate effective farming, including common measurement and verification data for methane reductions, will be an important tool for monitoring and incentivising methane reductions at farm level; acknowledges the differences between Member States in livestock manure handling practices; highlights the need for advisory services and exchange of best practices;

Amendment 147 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that farm level certification schemes for climate effective farming, including common measurement and verification data for methane reductions, will be an important tool for monitoring and incentivising methane reductions at farm level, stresses that effective climate measures have to be taken, and that voluntary and market based measures will be utterly insufficient to tackle the climate crisis;

Amendment 148 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that farm level ~~certification schemes for climate effective farming, including common measurement and verification data for methane reductions, will be an important tool for monitoring and incentivising~~action must be taken to mitigate the impact of our food system on climate, which includes methane reductions ~~at farm level~~;

Amendment 149 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that minimal-level bureaucracy farm level certification schemes for climate effective farming, including common measurement and verification data for methane reductions, will be an important tool for monitoring and incentivising methane reductions at farm level;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Regrets the lack of a comprehensive EU regulatory and monitoring framework for methane emissions; calls on the Commission, therefore, to put forward binding measures and emissions reduction targets covering all methane emissions, including those of the agricultural sector, and to improve the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in the agricultural sector to track the progress towards these targets;

Amendment 150 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that fair and functional farm level certification schemes for climate effective farming, including common measurement and verification data for methane reductions, will be an important tool for monitoring and incentivising methane reductions at farm level;

Amendment 151 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers that optional farm level certification schemes for climate effective farming, including common measurement and verification data for methane reductions, ~~will be an important~~could be a possible tool for monitoring and incentivising methane reductions at farm level;

Amendment 152 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Clara AGUILERA, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Acknowledges that animal production is the only possible activity on permanent grassland, allowing the survival, economic stability and existence of rural farms in hill and mountain regions, thus preventing the overgrowth of such areas and the excessive reproduction of large carnivores (bears, wolves), the promotion of animal production therefore being essential in such areas; underlines that carbon storage by grasslands compensates up to 45% of GHG emissions (almost all of the enteric fermentation produced by ruminants); stresses the need to integrate the carbon stored by grasslands and their capacity not to release carbon in order to better assess the mitigation potential of agriculture;

Amendment 153 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Believes this regulatory framework should be built on the basis of best available science and ensure no negative impacts on the environment, in particular biodiversity; reminds of the importance of nature-based solutions, such as agroecology or ecosystem restoration, especially peatland restoration, for increasing natural carbon sinks in accordance with the EU Climate Law;

Amendment 154 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Calls on the Commission to re- focus its climate policy on global warming outcomes and to increase financial incentives within the agricultural sector to reduce methane emissions;

Amendment 155 #

5 b. Urges the Commission to support Member States in the collection of data regarding the carbon sequestration potential of grassland in order to allow for a more targeted approach to climate policy;

Amendment 156 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5 c. Recognises that livestock grazing can play a central role in the mitigation of GHGs;

Amendment 157 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. NEmphasizes the importance of agriculture in capturing and storing carbon; notes that within the wider circular economy, the uptake of carbon removals and increased circularity of carbon should be incentivised whilst avoiding additional pressure on the price of agricultural land, to the detriment of young farmers; calls on the Commission, in accordance with the EU Climate Law, to explore the development of a regulatory framework for the certification of carbon removals on the basis of robust and transparent carbon accounting that takes into account the differences between the greenhouse gases, and to verify the authenticity of carbon removals and reward farmers for their mitigation efforts.; notes that farmers can be supported through the CAP, but should be able to rely on other sources of support too;

Amendment 158 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that within the wider circular economy, the uptake of carbon removals and increased circularity of carbon should be incentivised; calls on the Commission, in accordance with the EU Climate Law, to explore the development of a regulatory framework for the certification of carbon removals on the basis of robust and transparent carbon accounting that takes into account the differences between the greenhouse gases, and to verify the authenticity of carbon removals and reward farmers for their mitigation efforts; considers that the replacement of more costly domestic products (that are nevertheless compatible with climate targets) with cheaper imports (that are not) cancels out the green transition under the Common Agricultural Policy.

Amendment 159 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that within the wider circular economy, the uptake of carbon removals and increased circularity of carbon should be incentivised; calls on the Commission, in accordance with the EU Climate Law, to explore the development of a regulatory framework for the certification of carbon removals on the basis of robust and transparent carbon accounting that takes into account the differences between the greenhouse gases, and to verify the authenticity of carbon removals and reward farmers for their mitigation efforts.; calls on the Member States to promote the uptake of mitigation technologies through a wider deployment of carbon farming in their national strategic plans;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Regret~~Notes the lack of a comprehensive EU monitoring framework for methane emissions; calls on the Commission, therefore, to improve the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in the agricultural sector and provide greater incentives for farmers to achieve larger emission cuts;

Amendment 160 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that within the wider circular economy, the uptake of carbon removals and increased circularity of carbon shcould be incentivised; calls on the Commission, in accordance with the EU Climate Law, to explore the development of a regulatory framework for the certification of carbon removals on the basis of robust and transparent carbon accounting that takes into account the differences between the greenhouse gases, and to verify the authenticity of carbon removals and reward farmers for their mitigation effortMember States to demonstrate, by means of evidence-based studies, the possible effectiveness of such incentives, taking into account a clear cost-benefit analysis.

Amendment 161 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that within the wider circular economy, the uptake of ~~carbon~~progressive carbon dioxide emissions removals and increased circularity of carbon should be incentivised; calls on the Commission, in accordance with the EU Climate Law, to explore the development of a regulatory framework for the certification of carbon removals on the basis of robust and transparent carbon accounting that takes into account the differences between the greenhouse gases, and to verify the authenticity of carbon removals and reward farmers with incentives for their mitigation efforts.

Amendment 162 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Notes th~~at within the~~e important role of a wider circular economy~~, the uptake of carbon removals and increased circularity of carbon should be incentivised; calls~~ in reducing GHG emissions; takes note of the work onf the Commission, in ~~accordance with the EU Climate Law, to~~ exploreing the development of a regulatory framework for the certification of carbon removals on the basis of robust and transparent carbon accounting that takes into account the differences between the greenhouse gases, and to verify the authenticity of carbon removals and reward farmers for their mitigation efforts.;

Amendment 163 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that within the wider circular economy, the uptake of carbon removals and increased circularity of carbon should be incentivised; calls on the Commission, in accordance with the EU Climate Law, to explore the development of a regulatory framework for the certification of carbon removals on the basis of robust and transparent carbon accounting that takes into account the differences between the greenhouse gases, and to verify the authenticity of carbon removals and support and reward farmers for their mitigation efforts.;

Amendment 164 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that within the wider circular economy, the uptake of carbon removals and ~~increased circularity of carb~~sequestration should be incentivised; calls on the Commission, in accordance with the EU Climate Law, to explore the development of a regulatory framework for the certification of carbon removals on the basis of robust and transparent carbon accounting that takes into account the differences between the greenhouse gases, and to verify the authenticity of carbon removals and reward farmers for their mitigation efforts.

Amendment 165 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Highlights that peatlands are the worlds largest terrestrial carbon store; underscores that the draining of peatlands for agriculture converts them from a carbon sink to a significant carbon source and makes them more susceptible to damaging wildfires; calls on the Commission to swiftly present an ambitious and concrete action plan to halt the conversion, draining and burning of peatlands and urgently stimulate their restoration and rewetting;

Amendment 166 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Believes this regulatory framework should be built on the basis of best available science and ensure no negative impacts on the environment, in particular biodiversity; reminds of the importance of nature-based solutions, such as agroecology or ecosystem restoration, especially peatland restoration, for increasing natural carbon sinks in accordance with the EU Climate Law;

Amendment 167 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Clara AGUILERA, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Calls on the Commission to include in its forthcoming Long Term Vision for Rural Areas cross-sector cooperative approaches with and amongst farmers and local communities in order to develop and promote circularity also in the field of sustainable biogas production, aiming at reducing methane emissions;

Amendment 168 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Urges the Commission to make a distinction between fossil and biogenic methane sources; states that fossil methane places an additional burden on the carbon cycle, while methane from biogenic sources is a natural component of the carbon system;

Amendment 169 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Notes the biogenic origin of methane emissions from the agricultural sector; stresses that biogenic methane sources in comparison to fossil resource combustion, do not add new carbon dioxide to the atmosphere after decomposition, as it stems from carbon dioxide that is already in the atmosphere;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Regrets the lack of a comprehensive EU monitoring framework for methane emissions; calls on the Commission, therefore, to improve the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in the agricultural sector by taking full advantage of digital tools whilst avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy to farmers;

Amendment 170 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses the importance of international cooperation for reducing methane emissions; stresses that our trade policy must be consistent with our environmental objectives in order to ensure that our efforts are not in vain;

Amendment 171 #

Norbert LINS, Marlene MORTLER, Christine SCHNEIDER, Peter JAHR

6 a. Recognises the importance of voluntary industry initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions and considers that any regulatory initiatives should build upon best practices from existing voluntary actions and must be duly preceded by thorough impact assessments;

Amendment 172 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Highlights the fact that the overall strategy for reducing emissions from livestock farming must also take into account possible effects on international agricultural trade and the possible transfer of emissions to third countries;

Amendment 173 #

Clara AGUILERA, Cristina MAESTRE, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Takes the view that technical mitigation measures will complement other significant advances in the livestock sector in rural areas, in keeping with the EU's farm to fork strategy;

Amendment 174 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Points out that in agriculture a significant share of global methane emissions originates outside the EU and that the share of non-EU emissions is expected to further increase; stresses that EU action must be embedded in a global approach;

Amendment 175 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Points out that defects in the Ukrainian section of the Brotherhood pipeline, caused by neglect in carrying out maintenance by the operator, cause an order of magnitude more leakage of methane and other harmful gases into the air than the entire EU agricultural complex;

Amendment 176 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that food continues to be produced in the most environmentally sustainable locations;

Amendment 177 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6 b. Highlights that the sink strength from forest soils is large, and that the global methane budget is sensitive to disturbances of forests; Highlights that certain forestry practices, like forest management operations that involve clear-cutting and waterlogging, cause significant methane emissions from the soil; Calls on the Commission to introduce a phase-out of these practices and to consider the effects of all greenhouse gases on the climate for any forest management policy;

Amendment 178 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6 b. Emphasises that GHG emissions from European agriculture have not caused any additional global warming since 2005;notes that European agriculture is the most efficient in the world regarding the quantity of carbon produced per unit and that any reduction in European productivity could result in increased imports from third countries with lower sustainability standards and higher carbon footprint;

Amendment 179 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Notes that the extraction, processing and use of fossil raw materials is a major source of methane and that their continued intensive use makes it difficult to achieve both the Green Deal and Paris climate accord targets;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 180 #

Norbert LINS, Marlene MORTLER, Christine SCHNEIDER, Peter JAHR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6 b. Calls on the Commission to make the disbursement of any funds from the EU budget to Ukraine conditional on the repair of defects in the Brotherhood pipeline that result in gas leaks into the atmosphere, with a view to ensuring that the Brotherhood pipeline is in proper technical order by 2024 at the latest;

Amendment 181 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Calls on the Commission to take account of the difference between biogenic and fossil methane emissions in the design and implementation of the methane strategy;

Amendment 182 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6 b. Urges that measures taken must not result in hampering EU competitiveness;

Amendment 183 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6 c. Considers that dairy products, as well as meat, and especially beef, constitutes an important part of a human diet. Therefore rejects attempts to lower its consumption by means other than by an own will of consumers;

Amendment 184 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6 c. Recognises the food security challenge associated with an increasing global population; Highlights that meeting this challenge will require the sustainable production of both plant- and animal-based food;

Amendment 185 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Notes that one-off and irreversible methane emissions in particular, such as from thawing Siberian permafrost, are of fundamental importance;

Amendment 186 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)

6d. Highlights the fact that the use of grasslands by farm animals is an integral feature of a closed methane cycle, which must be taken into account in the calculation of their methane emissions; states that ruminants account for a proportion of atmospheric methane, though only ruminants digesting grasses can preserve grasslands as habitats and CO2 sinks;

Amendment 187 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)

6 d. Calls on the Commission to explore the development of a methane efficiency index that compares kilos of methane generated per unit of output produced for different agricultural products;

Amendment 188 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)

6e. Points out that methane is relatively short-lived and, after about 12 years, decomposes into CO2 that was previously removed from the atmosphere through plant growth; states that, therefore, a scientific reassessment and adjustment of the emission targets for agriculture appear necessary;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Regrets the lack of a comprehensive EU monitoring framework for methane emissions in all methane emitting sectors; calls on the Commission~~, therefore,~~ to improve the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in ~~the agricultural~~all methane emitting sectors;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Stresses the need for the agricultural sector, with particular emphasis on the industrial livestock industry, to take responsibility for their contribution to the climate crisis by committing to concrete, sustained and binding measures to reduce their emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 21 #

Carmen AVRAM, Paolo DE CASTRO, Clara AGUILERA, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Ivo HRISTOV, Juozas OLEKAS, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Recalls that agriculture plays an important role in addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation; highlights that European agriculture is the only major system in the world that significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) since 1990 and that the emissions from EU agriculture are among the lowest worldwide; underlines that reducing European production to fight climate change runs the risk of exporting GHG emissions (“carbon leakage”) and accepting lower animal health and welfare standards, leading to a shift in production towards other parts of the world and to an abandonment of certain land upon which grazing is the only means of valorisation and which constitutes a rich source of biodiversity with environmental, social and economic repercussions on EU rural regions and landscapes;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Recalls the significant impact of the agricultural sector on methane emissions, accounting for 53% of all anthropogenic methane emissions in the EU; underlines that this makes agriculture the largest single contributing sector to methane emissions in the EU;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Notes that prior to the introduction of mechanisation based on steam engines and internal combustion engines, many more herbivores were kept in the territory of today's Member States without any scientifically proven negative impact on the environment or the climate;

Amendment 24 #

Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Jan HUITEMA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Alin MITUȚA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Highlights that anthropogenic emissions make up 59% of all methane emissions; notes that agriculture accounts for 53% of the anthropogenic emissions, while 26% originates from waste and 19% from energy;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Notes that methane and other emissions are decreasing in Europe, while most methane emissions occur outside Europe;

Amendment 26 #

Norbert LINS, Marlene MORTLER, Christine SCHNEIDER, Peter JAHR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Notes that biogenic methane is a short-lived gas that differs from carbon dioxide in its impact on global warming;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that methane in the agricultural sector has been reduced by 22% since 1990;

Amendment 28 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Takes note of the scientific data provided by International Energy Agency and the European Environment Agency included in the Communication of the European Commission on an EU Strategy to reduce methane emissions, according to which both world and EU agriculture contributes to the anthropogenic methane emissions between 23 – 31%; underlines, however, that EU’s GHG emissions from European agriculture (including livestock) registered a reduction of 22.2% between 1990-20181a in the EU-28, due to the reductions in agricultural emissions of methane by 21% (enteric fermentation by 22%, and manure management by 17%); notes in this regard that, since 2005, emissions from the European agriculture have not contributed to the increase of global warming1b; _________________ 1aEEA - https://www.eea.europa.eu/data- and-maps/data/data-viewers/greenhouse- gases-viewer 1bMyles Allen “Measuring and reducing methane emissions in the agricultural sector” (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs /2014_2019/plmrep/COMMITTEES/ENV I/DV/2021/05- 26/Allen_ENVI_2021_EN.pdf)

Amendment 29 #

Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Jan HUITEMA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Jérémy DECERLE, Alin MITUȚA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Welcomes the Commission’s communication on an EU strategy to reduce methane emissions as a milestone in the governance of non-CO2 greenhouse gases in the Union; Points out that methane emissions from agricultural production are part of a closed cycle that does not increase global stock of methane in the atmosphere as opposed to methane emissions from fossil fuels; therefore, consider that these two should not be accounted for in the same way;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Stresses the important role of the agricultural sector in offering many solutions for tackling climate change and supporting the EU strategy to reduce and valorise methane emissions;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Notes that a number of the measures proposed as part of the amendment to the Strategic Plan Regulation in the section relating to GAEC, as well as in the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Biodiversity 2030 Strategy, such as the expansion of areas of wetland or farmland not in economic use, would lead to an increase in the amount of methane released into the air;

Amendment 31 #

Norbert LINS, Marlene MORTLER, Christine SCHNEIDER, Peter JAHR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Regrets that unlike the waste and energy sectors whose methane emissions decreased slightly in the period of 2010 to 2018, emissions from the agricultural sector increased; emphasizes that this demonstrates the failure of existing regulation to effectively address methane emissions from agriculture;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Notes that innovative technologies in the area of animal feed are promising, but in some cases have not yet been authorised for use;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Notes that the GWP100 emission accounting method significantly misrepresents the impact of biogenic methane on global temperature1a; _________________ 1aAllen, M.R., Shine, K.P., Fuglestvedt, J.S. et al. A solution to the misrepresentations of CO2-equivalent emissions of short-lived climate pollutants under ambitious mitigation. npj Clim Atmos Sci 1, 16 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-018-0026- 8

Amendment 34 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA, Clara AGUILERA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1 c. Calls on the European Commission to clarify the share contribution of EU agriculture to the EU's anthropogenic methane emissions, to differentiate this share to the world’s agriculture one and to estimate the contribution of the imported agri-food products to the EU anthropogenic methane emissions, through the EDGAR- FOOD database;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1 c. Calls on Commission to adopt a model based on actual global warming impact rather than focusing on the counting of emission outputs, in line with the temperature based ambition within the Paris Agreement, and taking account of the difference between stock gas and flow gases;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1 c. Recommends that the section of the Strategic Plan Regulation relating to the GAEC, as well as the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Biodiversity 2030 Strategy, be reviewed with a view to eliminating proposals whose implementation would cause an increase in methane emissions to the air from wetlands and unmanaged farmland;

Amendment 37 #

Norbert LINS, Marlene MORTLER, Christine SCHNEIDER, Peter JAHR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1 c. Stresses that the livestock farming is the world’s largest user of agricultural land, through grazing and the use of feed crops and has huge impact on climate change, soil and water pollution and loss of biodiversity in the EU and globally;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Notes that methane sources are diffuse and very variable across Member States;

Amendment 39 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Clara AGUILERA, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1 d. Emphasises that a significant share of global methane emissions in the agri-food sector originates outside of the EU; emphasizes the need for the EU to take the lead in exchanges of best practices with its third countries' trading partners with the aim to reduce methane emissions from agriculture, including, for example, through forestry-based initiatives;

Amendment 4 #

Norbert LINS, Marlene MORTLER, Christine SCHNEIDER, Peter JAHR

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)

-1 a. Stresses that while methane emissions are falling in the EU they are rising globally; notes, therefore, that while we need to reduce our methane emissions, we cannot reduce our agricultural production, including livestock farming; stresses that such a reduction would be incompatible with the objective of ensuring European food security, and ineffective since we would continue to import the food we were no longer be able to produce in the EU;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1d. Notes that that represents a significant challenge as regards measurement, reporting and verification and must be taken into account when mitigation actions are disseminated and reported on;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1 d. Stresses that livestock sector accounts for around 16% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions, with methane holding the biggest share in the agricultural sector;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1 d. Notes that the global warming impact of biogenic methane is neutral if emissions are reduced by 0.33% annually1b; _________________ 1b John Lynch et al 2020. Demonstrating GWP*: a means of reporting warming- equivalent emissions that captures the contrasting impacts of short- and long- lived climate pollutants, Environmental Research Letters, Volume 15, Number 4 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/ 1748-9326/ab6d7e

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)

1 e. Stresses that methane emissions in agriculture are primarily driven by livestock numbers, particularly ruminants such as cattle (for dairy and meat), sheep and goats, which are mainly associated with microbial activity in the digestive tracts of animals and manure management; notes that large livestock farms with more than 50 livestock units account for about 70% of agricultural methane emissions and 40% of total anthropogenic methane emissions in the EU; stresses that this demonstrates a need for concrete and binding measures targeting the industrial livestock industry;

Amendment 44 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)

1 e. Calls for the definition of policies and measures to encourage and support improved climatic performance of agricultural and livestock production through reductions in methane emissions, in line with the principle of ensuring access for all population groups in Europe to healthy, safe and sufficient food;

Amendment 45 #

Norbert LINS, Marlene MORTLER, Christine SCHNEIDER, Peter JAHR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)

1 e. Acknowledges the need to establish an accurate baseline for agricultural emissions and the potential for a net global cooling effect due to reductions in methane emissions;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)

1e. Notes that methane is a short-lived greenhouse gas;

Amendment 47 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 f (new)

1 f. Calls for regulatory measures based on national and regional specificities and production systems for emissions from agriculture and related land use as part of the “Fit for 55” package to ensure ambitious reductions in all GHG emissions in these sectors in the EU and also to address embedded land use emissions from imported feed and food; calls for harmonized calculation methods for methane and then a regulatory framework that incentivizes progressive reductions in methane emissions to deliver on climate objectives; reiterates that especially the methane reduction calculation should consider innovative feed additives and nutrition management plans, as well as innovative husbandry practices;

Amendment 48 #

Norbert LINS, Marlene MORTLER, Christine SCHNEIDER, Peter JAHR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 f (new)

1 f. Calls for a shift away from intensive livestock farming practices associated with harmful environmental and animal welfare effects towards sustainable agriculture with reduced GHG emissions' footprints, including methane and nitrous oxide emissions, through promotion of shorter supply chains, plant-based diets and non- intensive farming practices;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 f (new)

1f. Notes that, because atmospheric methane is short-lived, constant methane emissions do not cause additional warming, but, rather, maintain the existing warming effect;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)

-1 a. Regrets the failure of the previous efforts to decrease methane emissions in the agriculture sector, which is responsible for 53% of the EU’s methane emissions; recalls that from 2010 to 2018, methane emissions in the agricultural sector increased with 0.62% instead of decreasing;

Amendment 50 #

Norbert LINS, Marlene MORTLER, Christine SCHNEIDER, Peter JAHR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 f (new)

1 f. Urges the Commission to put in place an incentivise based system that rewards mitigating actions that reduce methane and lead to a cooling effect;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 g (new)

1g. Notes that there is biogenic methane and fossil methane and that a distinction is made between them in the Paris Agreement;

Amendment 52 #

Norbert LINS, Marlene MORTLER, Christine SCHNEIDER, Peter JAHR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 h (new)

1h. Notes that, with regard to methane, the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report gives different values for the 100- year warming potential (GWP100) for biogenic methane (GWP100: 28) and fossil methane (GWP100: 30) and that the values are presented differently in the IPCC report;

Amendment 53 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the Commission to ensure positive synergies between climate regulation and the Industrial Emissions Directive in order to avoid double regulation; welcomes the announcement of the European Commission to revise the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) in order to reflect the increased carbon reduction target through increased incentives to reduce methane emissions, for example through specific dedicated eco-schemes and carbon farming initiatives under the new CAP;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the Commission to e~~nsure positive synergies between climate regulation and the Industrial Emissions Directive in order to avoid double regulation~~xpand the scope of the Industrial Emissions Directive by including effective measure and targets to drastically curb greenhouse gas emissions from all industrial agriculture sources, including cattle- rearing;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the Commission to ensure positive synergies between ~~climate regulation~~the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Industrial Emissions Directive in order to avoid double regulation;

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the Commission to ~~ensure positive synergies between climate regulation and the Industrial Emissions Directive in order to avoid double regulation~~open the Industrial Emissions Directive and NEC Directive in order to extend its scope to methane and better cover the agriculture sector;

Amendment 57 #

Clara AGUILERA, Cristina MAESTRE, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Stresses that the coherence and consistency between the Farm to Fork Strategy and National Strategic Plans in the new CAP are crucial in the overall strategy to reduce the methane emissions, thus aiming to incentivise farmers for applying farming practices that contribute to the EU 2030 climate targets and the climate neutrality objective which should be achieved well before 2050, in full respect of animal welfare and biodiversity conservation and restoration;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Notes that although agriculture offers the second-highest overall methane-emission reduction potential of any sector, its methane-emission sources are diffuse and therefore potentially difficult to monitor, report and verify;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Underlines that methane and ammonia emissions are related to livestock farming and manure management, and that the Methane Strategy should be seen as a powerful tool to set synergistic measures which will reduce both methane and ammonia together;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)

-1 b. Calls on the Commission to set up a target on methane reduction within the agriculture sector by 2030;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Notes that using of CO2 equivalent is an inappropriate measure for methane emissions;

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Notes that as methane is a comparatively short-lived greenhouse gas, and considering the very short window mankind still has to limit global warming to maximum 1,5 degrees, a drastic reduction of methane is a very effective way to mitigate the climate crisis; stresses that every opportunity and possibility of reducing methane should fully be used in order to try and prevent the most dramatic consequences of anthropogenic climate warming;

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2 c. Underlines that a drastic reduction in the production and consumption of animals is the most cost-effective, quick and easy climate measure available and a change we cannot afford to waste;

Amendment 63 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Clara AGUILERA, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. HStresses the importance of recognizing the progress made by the agri-food sector to offset emissions and restore soil fertility; highlights that further research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance; considers that there is great potential in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sectoralls, in this regard, on the European Commission to develop and constantly update, in line with the latest state-of-the-art technologies, an inventory of best practices for the farming sector and in cooperation with farmers, stakeholders, Member States and local, regional and national authorities; supports the stimulating uptake of regenerative agriculture practices, improving also the access to technologies, data, training and information, and diversifying farmers’ income through payments for ecosystem services, thereby increasing their resilience; considers that there is great potential in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector, while decreasing the dependence of imported plant proteins; underlines, in this regard, that the livestock sector not only has a great potential to help the EU successfully achieve its methane emissions' reduction targets, but also has a key role in preserving unique biodiversity functions;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that research and investment in ~~mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance; considers that there~~ technologies can contribute to reducing methane emissions from the agriculture sector; recalls that, as underlined in an IIASA study on methane1a, technical solutions only have limited impact for the agriculture sector and will not enable the EU to achieve neither the Paris Agre~~at potential in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for~~ement objectives, nor carbon neutrality by 2050 and must be complemented with a shift in livestock farming practices; considers that technical solutions, such as adapting the diet of ruminant and bovine species, ~~which could~~can help reduce methane emissions ~~without having negative effect~~from the agriculture sector but that they must be founded on fact-based evidence and peer- reviewed science, and should not negatively impact animal welfare nor incentivise large-scale industrial farming; _________________ 1a According to the Commission’s con ~~the livestock sector;~~sultant IIASA, the maximum technical potential –at any cost –could reduce EU methane emissions by only 62% from 2005 to 2050, compared to a 42% reduction in the baseline - REFERENCE NEEDED http://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/eprint/16324/1/H %25C3%25B6glund- Isaksson_2020_Environ._Res._Commun. _2_025004.pdf

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights the fact that research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies ~~is of paramount importance~~for investigating climate change causes and consequences are important in order to enable reason-based decisions to be made that take due account of health, environmental protection, economic prosperity and the safeguarding of individual fundamental rights; considers that there is ~~great~~ potential in adapting the diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector; points out that all new feed products should be assessed with regard to long-term animal welfare, meat quality and costs;

Amendment 66 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance; considers that there is great potential in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector; highlights the roll of the AKIS agricultural advisory services in advising farmers on access to information and technologies with a view to reducing agricultural methane emissions;

Amendment 67 #

Norbert LINS, Marlene MORTLER, Christine SCHNEIDER, Peter JAHR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance; considers that there is ~~great~~ potential in adapting the diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant ~~and bovine species, which could~~species; notes that the nutritional effects of feed additives must be taken into account and that, in addition to reduceing methane emissions ~~without having negative effects on the livestock sector~~, negative effects on animal health must be ruled out; states that feed additives can reduce methane emissions to some extent, but that breeding methods can make an important contribution;

Amendment 68 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance; considers that there is great potential in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector; highlights the need to screen all measures so as to establish whether they are compatible with the other objectives of a sustainable agricultural policy, such as, for instance, animal welfare;

Amendment 69 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies ~~is of paramount importance~~are useful; considers that there is ~~great~~a limited potential in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector. Is concerned that some of these inventions (e.g. feeding livestock with grain instead of grass) will only result in methane lock- ins with negative environmental (e.g. abandonment of pastures), social and economic consequences;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 70 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance; considers that there is great potential in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector; considers it necessary to step up research in this area so as to minimise the cost of the transition for farmers;

Amendment 71 #

Clara AGUILERA, Cristina MAESTRE, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance; considers that there is great potential in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector; emphasizes in addition the opportunities of measures related to farm management, such as optimal rearing of young livestock which has the potential to reduce methane emissions at farm level;

Amendment 72 #

Jan HUITEMA, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Emma WIESNER, Alin MITUȚA, Hilde VAUTMANS, Jérémy DECERLE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance; considers that there is great potential in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector; Welcomes the plans of the Commission to revise the Feed Additives Regulation to streamline the current costly and unflexible authorisation process;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance and can obtain bigger decreases; considers that there is great potential in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector, which is crucial if we are to maintain population levels in rural areas and ensure that those areas offer a vibrant and thriving living environment;

Amendment 74 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance; considers that there is great potential in adapting the diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, as well as in herd management, manure management, animal husbandry, herd health and animal welfare, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector;

Amendment 75 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance; considers that there is great potential in adapting the diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, while preserving environmental services connected with the valorisation of the grass in their feed, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector;

Amendment 76 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and t~~echnolo~~ransition strategies is of paramount importance; considers that there is great potential in adapting our diet ofs and developing ~~feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could~~alternative protein sources, substituting meat, dairy and other animal products, which will drastically reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on ~~the livestock sector~~human health, biodiversity and animal welfare;

Amendment 77 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance; considers that there is great potential in breeding, genetics and integrated manure management and also in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector;

Amendment 78 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that ~~research and investment in~~further investment and scientific research in practical conditions, mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance; considers that there is great potential in adapting diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions without having negative effects on the livestock sector;

Amendment 79 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that research and investment in mitigation measures and technologies is of paramount importance; considers that there is great potential in adapting the diet of and developing feed additives for ruminant and bovine species, which could reduce methane emissions while supporting our farmers without having negative effects on the livestock sector;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Regrets the lack of a~~Welcomes the Commission efforts to develop a more comprehensive EU monitoring framework for methane emissions~~; calls on the Commission, therefore, to improve the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in the agricultural sector~~ in the agriculture sector, which will be of interest to encourage individual action within national frameworks; recalls that the existing monitoring system already allows us to take action, as Tier 2 methodology is used for reporting and monitoring, e.g. to report under the NEC Directive;

Amendment 80 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 81 #

Clara AGUILERA, Cristina MAESTRE, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Notes that research, investment and support for farmers are essential for the development of innovative solutions which could be offered by the use of methane to decarbonise our energy through biogas and the creation of digestate to reduce the use of other inputs; stresses, therefore, the importance of a holistic approach in order to reap the full benefits of a genuine synergy between the various sectors; stresses, also, that such solutions represent an opportunity for diversification and real added value in economic terms for our farmers;

Amendment 82 #

Asger CHRISTENSEN, Emma WIESNER, Atidzhe ALIEVA-VELI, Jan HUITEMA, Ulrike MÜLLER, Elsi KATAINEN, Hilde VAUTMANS, Alin MITUȚA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Welcomes the study on the status of new genomic techniques (NGT) from the European Commission and strongly supports the findings that NGTs have the potential to contribute to a more sustainable food system; highlights also that the study brings forward opportunities and benefits for the livestock sector: calls for the adapting the legal framework for these biotechnologies to the latest scientific and technological progress, and consider that targeted research within the Horizon Europe programme and the ERI-funds is needed in the this regard;

Amendment 83 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Looks forward to the work of the International Methane Emissions Observatory in the hope that, with a view to achieving a more dynamic system that more accurately assesses the weight of methane emitted by ruminant livestock, which is clearly less than the other gases that cause global warming, it will revise methane's global warming potential (GWP), a measurement system which statically assesses methane emitted over 100 years and whose results overestimate the impact of short-lived gases like methane;

Amendment 84 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Clara AGUILERA, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Acknowledges that, according to the FAO, well management practices of livestock can lead to a 30%3a decrease in GHG emissions, including methane emissions, and that healthy animals require less natural resource inputs like feed and water as they move through the production system; calls on the European Commission and Member States to facilitate the uptake of agricultural technologies including precision farming, nitrification inhibitors and advanced animal nutrition to reduce the methane emissions from agriculture; _________________ 3a http://www.fao.org/3/ca7089en/ca7089en. pdf

Amendment 85 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Appreciates the potential of the Horizon Europe research programme to serve as one of the tools to support the implementation of a strategy to reduce methane emissions in the agricultural sector; stresses in particular, in this context, that orienting the competition's programme towards the theme of reducing methane emissions also requires equal access for all Member States to the results of EU-funded research and a geographical balance of project participation to be ensured;

Amendment 86 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Acknowledges the many negative impacts of industrial farming on the environment, climate, animal welfare and socio-economic aspects of the agriculture sector; calls for a shift from intensive, industrial animal farming towards an extensive farming based on grazing and home-grown fodder, and to limit livestock production to our EU carrying capacity;

Amendment 87 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Underlines that reducing the consumption of meat and dairy products will make a significant positive contribution to the climate, environment and public and animal health and welfare and should be incentivised as a key factor in the fight against climate change;

Amendment 88 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Stresses that if biogenic methane emissions are reduced through dietary supplements, digesters, and other mitigation techniques, there will be a net cooling effect on the climate that could offset other carbon emissions;

Amendment 89 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Underlines the importance of access to efficient production methods with low emissions per unit of product;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Regrets the lack of a comprehensive EU monitoring framework for methane emissions; calls on the Commission, therefore, to improve the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in the agricultural sector; supports the establishment of an international methane emissions observatory in which the Commission, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Energy Agency (IEA), would be responsible for collecting, reconciling, verifying and publishing data on anthropogenic methane emissions;

Amendment 90 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Clara AGUILERA, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Highlights that economic viability is critical in maintaining sustainable livestock farms and ensuring the development and implementation of future mitigation practices, as well as a secure and stable supply of food; stresses the need that future policy decisions have to ensure that the livestock activity can deliver and at the same time continue to be able to project itself; underlines that the sector must continue to constitute a real source of employment and the profession must remain attractive for the young generations;

Amendment 91 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Stresses the importance of promoting sustainable plant-based diets in line with objectives of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy by raising consumer awareness of the impacts of consumption patterns related to GHG emissions, including methane emissions, and providing information on diets that are better for human health, animal welfare and have a lower environmental footprint;

Amendment 92 #

Clara AGUILERA, Cristina MAESTRE, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Carmen AVRAM

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Highlights that historical reductions of agricultural methane emissions in the EU have been driven by reductions in ruminant livestock numbers; notes that neither livestock numbers nor methane emissions have decreased in the past decade;

Amendment 93 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Stresses that, rather than looking at individual links in isolation, the efficiency and emissions reductions of the livestock production value chain must be considered as a whole;

Amendment 94 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Calls on the Commission to focus investment efforts to fund the innovation of methane inhibitors including those for pasture based systems;

Amendment 95 #

Carmen AVRAM, Ivo HRISTOV, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Paolo DE CASTRO, Clara AGUILERA, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Adrian-Dragoş BENEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3 c. Emphasizes the importance of new animal feed strategies able, inter alia, through the supplementary feeding of red algae (Asparagopsis), to reduce methane emissions in the livestock sector; underlines the need for new scientific research and innovation in anaerobic digestion and composting as an effective solution to recycle organic waste materials (production of biomass and organic fertilizers) and prevent methane emissions;

Amendment 96 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3 c. Underlines the changing trends in eating habits among EU citizens, with growing number of people who have adopted vegetarian or vegan lifestyles in the EU; points out to the growing availability of environmentally friendly alternatives to meat and dairy products that are already on the market;

Amendment 97 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3 c. Stresses that current levels of meat and dairy production and consumption need to be significantly reduced;

Amendment 98 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3 c. Calls on the Commission to collaborate with third countries involved in similar research;

Amendment 99 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3 d. Calls on the Commission and Member States to stop funding promotion and marketing campaigns that support meat and dairy products in order to reduce methane emissions;

source: 693.670

2021/06/02 ITRE 146 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Massimiliano SALINI, Jerzy BUZEK, Henna VIRKKUNEN, Vasile BLAGA, Gheorghe FALCĂ, Sven SCHULZE, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Seán KELLY

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Whereas methane emissions are the second-largest cause of global warming, with approximately one third of the global anthropogenic methane emissions coming from the energy sector; whereas the energy transition towards reaching climate neutrality by 2050 will require a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG)emissions from the energy sector, including in methane emissions;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions; supports a clear pathway and framework to ~~address~~mitigate methane emissions in a ~~more~~ comprehensive fashion across Europe and internationally, by fostering synergies between sectors to strengthen the business case for capturing and avoiding methane emissions and to contribute to achieving the EU decarbonisation objectives;

Amendment 100 #

Pietro FIOCCHI, Margarita DE LA PISA CARRIÓN, Jessica STEGRUD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that research, development and innovation and the implementation of fit-for-purpose technologies and practices to improve MRV and mitigate methane emissions are at the backbone of effective action; supports the mobilisation of funding from Horizon Europe, including for establishing an international methane emissions observatory; highlights the fact that climate change can realistically only be reduced through better technological solutions as well as incentives for entrepreneurial ingenuity;

Amendment 101 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that research, development and innovation and the implementation of fit-for-purpose technologies and best available practices to improve MRV, LDAR , BRVF and mitigate methane emissions are at the backbone of effective action; supports the mobilisation of funding from Horizon Europe, including technology solutions for sustainable production of biomethane, avoiding trade- offs, and for establishing an international methane emissions observatory;

Amendment 102 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that research, development and innovation and the implementation of fit-for-purpose technologies and practices to improve MRV and mitigate methane emissions are at the backbone of effective action; supports the mobilisation of funding from Horizon Europe~~, including for establishing an international methane emissions observatory;~~.

Amendment 103 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that ~~research, development and innovation and the implementation of fit-for-purpose technologies and practices to improve MRV and mitigate methane emissions are at the backbone of effective action~~the rapid implementation of effective action to mitigate methane emissions in all sectors should be the backbone of the future framework legislation on methane; supports the mobilisation of funding from Horizon Europe, including for establishing an international methane emissions observatory, while calling for the full respect of the polluter-pays principle;

Amendment 104 #

Pietro FIOCCHI, Margarita DE LA PISA CARRIÓN, Jessica STEGRUD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that research, development and innovation ~~and the implementation of fit-for-purpose technologies and practices~~ to improve MRV and mitigate methane emissions are ~~at the backbone of~~necessary to ensure effective action; supports the mobilisation of funding from Horizon Europe, including for establishing an international methane emissions observatory;

Amendment 105 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Highlights the importance of seeking to reduce methane emissions by deploying market economy instruments rather than measures of interventionism. Without substantial economic growth in the EU, the continent will not be able to create the innovation that the EU and the world need in order to tackle climate change;

Amendment 106 #

Elena LIZZI, Isabella TOVAGLIERI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Calls on the Commission to find proper resources to establishing an international methane emissions observatory that does not affect the funds of Horizon Europe.

Amendment 107 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Martin HOJSÍK, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Klemen GROŠELJ, Christophe GRUDLER, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Agre~~Stresses thate imp~~roved top-down data from satellites in the framework of the Copernicus programme, as well as~~ortance of the Copernicus programme and its Atmosphere Monitoring Service in detecting and monitoring global super emitters as well as smaller scale sources; underlines that aerial monitoring~~, wi~~ equally assists in targeting leak detection; strongly supports the sharing of information and technologies among stakeholders on EU and global level in order to catalyse abatement efforts; believes that independent, comparable, verifiable and transparent emissions data are key to gain knowledge about the size of the emission problem and to combat under-estimation of the size and amount of leaks;

Amendment 108 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Ivars IJABS, Morten PETERSEN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Agrees that improved top-down data from satellites in the framework of the Copernicus programme, as well as aerial monitoring, will assist in targeting leak detection; strongly supports the sharing of information and technologies among stakeholders in order to catalyse abatement efforts; believes that independent, comparable, verifiable and transparent emissions data are key to gain knowledge about the size of the emission problem and to combat under-estimation of the size and amount of leaks;

Amendment 109 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Agrees that improved top-down data from satellites in the framework of the Copernicus programme, as well as aerial monitoring, will ~~assist~~be key in targeting ~~leak detection~~and providing independent leak detection as a base for repair measures and in verifying and addressing methane emissions from imported fossil fuels; strongly supports the sharing of information and technologies among stakeholders internationally and with the public in order to catalyse abatement efforts;

Amendment 11 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Welcom~~Acknowledges the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions; supports a clear pathway and framework to address methane emissions in a more comprehensive fashion across Europe, by fostering synergies between sectors to strengthen the business case for capturing methane emissions presented by the Commission; stresses the need to publicly plan binding methane emissions reduction targets, through a combination of mandatory measures targeted at agriculture, fossil fuel production and the waste industry;

Amendment 110 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Agrees that improved top-down data from satellites in the framework of the Copernicus programme, as well as aerial monitoring, will assist in targeting ~~leak detec~~venting, flaring and leak detection; Highlights that satellite data allows independent verification of a company’s footprint and facilitates engagement on a mitigation; strongly supports the sharing of information and technologies among stakeholders in order to catalyse abatement efforts;

Amendment 111 #

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Massimiliano SALINI, Jerzy BUZEK, Henna VIRKKUNEN, Vasile BLAGA, Gheorghe FALCĂ, Sven SCHULZE, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Seán KELLY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Calls the Commission to continue a close dialogue with regulators, as outlined in ACER’s Bridge beyond 2025 and the Commission’ methane strategy.

Amendment 112 #

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Massimiliano SALINI, Jerzy BUZEK, Henna VIRKKUNEN, Vasile BLAGA, Gheorghe FALCĂ, Sven SCHULZE, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Seán KELLY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for a thorough assessment of the cost efficiency of the actions proposed in the energy sector, which should consider local conditions and the specific aspects of the various parts of the value chain and provide flexibility to the industry for their implementation; Calls on the Commission to consider the existing best practices in relation to LDAR as a starting point, allowing for flexible approaches across countries and within the value chain to take into consideration local conditions in order to ensure tailored action across the Union;

Amendment 113 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Christophe GRUDLER, Valérie HAYER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for a thorough assessment of the cost efficiency of the actions proposed in the energy sector, which should consider local conditions and the specific aspects of the various parts of the value chain and provide flexibility to the industry for their implementaNotes that the UNECE (2021) monetized global benefits for all market and non-market impacts to be approximately $ 4 300 per tonne of methane reduced and that approximately 1 430 annual premature deaths could be prevented per tonne reduced; believes, therefore, that an impact assessment accompanying the legislative proposal should consider costs of the actions proposed as well as costs of inaction or delayed action;

Amendment 114 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

Amendment 115 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Martin HOJSÍK, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Klemen GROŠELJ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for a thorough assessment of the cost efficiency of the actions proposed in the energy sector, which should consider local conditions and the specific aspects of the ~~various~~most involved and affected parts of the value chain and provide flexibility ~~to the industry for their~~ and graduality to the industry, especially for small and medium enterprises, for their progressive implementation;

Amendment 116 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls ~~for a thorough assessment of~~to put environmental benefits as a priority while assessing the cost efficiency of the actions proposed in the energy sector, which should consider local conditions and the specific aspects of the various parts of the value chain and provide necessary flexibility ~~to the industry for their implementation~~without undermining GHG reduction targets;

Amendment 117 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

Amendment 118 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

Amendment 119 #

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Massimiliano SALINI, Jerzy BUZEK, Henna VIRKKUNEN, Vasile BLAGA, Gheorghe FALCĂ, Sven SCHULZE, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Supports the design and deployment of appropriate and cost- effective methane mitigation tools that take into account the necessary flexibility for the industry to implement them at the lowest cost and in the shortest time.

Amendment 12 #

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Massimiliano SALINI, Jerzy BUZEK, Henna VIRKKUNEN, Vasile BLAGA, Gheorghe FALCĂ, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions; ~~support~~considers a clear pathway and framework to address methane emissions in a ~~more comprehensive fashion~~progressive way across Europe, by fostering synergies between sectors to strengthen the business case for capturing methane emissions;

Amendment 120 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6 b. Underlines that investments undertaken by infrastructure operators should be recognised within the scope of regulated activities, in order to allow the recovery of costs associated to the reduction of methane emissions, as a signal of the importance of safety and also sustainable activities, which should be incentivised by regulatory authorities; Draws attention to the case of non- regulated operators, which efforts and investments should be incentivised at national and European level;

Amendment 121 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Calls on the Commission to consider a target on renewable and decarbonised g~~Reiterates its support for the development of a circular economy; calls on the Commission and the Member States to fully consider circularity first, which means less waste, reducing the consumption of resources and energy, and implementing long-term waste prevention solutions, when promoting the development of biogas and biomethane; considers that the utilisation of organic municipal waste, sewage sludge or agricultural wastes ~~for 2030, as this would facilitate the development of biomethane and ens~~and residues can be a driver of the circular economy if stringent sustainability criteria are applied, so that only genuine waste and residues, for which no more sustainable alternative use exists, are considered as potential sources of feed for the biogas plants; calls for the development of on-farm, small biogas plants, fed with agricultural waste only; highlights further that the source ~~the deployment of the most cost-efficient solutions across the Member States.~~ separation and separate collection of bio- waste, effective by 31 December 2023, must go together with a feasible biological treatment (composting or anaerobic digestion) option; in that regard, acknowledges the potential of anaerobic digestion from bio-degradable waste which allows the production of biomethane; recalls that the final step after anaerobic digestion should be composting as a way to prevent fugitive emissions of methane and create a quality soil amendment;

Amendment 122 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Calls on the Commission to consider a target on renewable and decarbonised gases for 2030, as this would facilitate the development of biomethane~~Welcomes the review of the Third Energy Package for gas to facilitate the adoption of renewable gases and decarbonise this sector; welcomes the new Energy Sector Integration Strategy and its proposals to achieve a more circular energy system by the sustainable use of unavoidable waste and residues for biogas and biomethane production; calls on the Commission to consider in the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive measures to strengthen the sustainability criteria and to facilitate the development of sustainable biogas and biomethane, while helping to reduce methane emissions, and ensure the deployment of the most cost- efficient solutions across the Member States., exploiting synergies between sectors and avoiding perverse incentives that could lead to an overall increase in emissions;

Amendment 123 #

Martin HOJSÍK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Commission to consider a target on renewable and decarbonised gases for 2030, as this would facilitate the development of biomethane and ensure the deployment of the most cost-efficient solutions across the Member States.Reiterates its support for the development of a decarbonised and circular energy system; highlights that the source separation and separate collection of bio-waste must go together with a feasible recovery solution; acknowledges the potential of anaerobic digestion from bio-waste which allows the production of biomethane; calls, however, on the Commission and Member States to take cautious approach in order to prevent potential harmful side effects linked to large scale production of biomethane;

Amendment 124 #

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Massimiliano SALINI, Jerzy BUZEK, Henna VIRKKUNEN, Vasile BLAGA, Gheorghe FALCĂ, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Seán KELLY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Commission to consider a target on renewable and decarbonised gases for 2030, as this would facilitate the development of biomethane and ensure the deployment of the most cost-efficient solutions across the Member States. Calls also for the revision of the gas market regulatory framework as soon as possible in 2021 to facilitate and incentivise the uptake of renewable and decarbonised gases;

Amendment 125 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Commission to consider a target on renewable ~~and decarbonised gases for 2030, as this would facilitate the development of biomethane and ensure the deployment of the most cost-efficient solutions across the Member States.~~gas for 2030;

Amendment 126 #

Izabela-Helena KLOC, Pietro FIOCCHI, Evžen TOŠENOVSKÝ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

Amendment 127 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Commission to consider a ~~target on renewable and decarbonised gases for 2030, as this would~~set of policy instruments to facilitate the development of biomethane and ensure the deployment of the most cost-efficient solutions across the Member States in line with the principle of subsidiarity.

Amendment 128 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Klemen GROŠELJ, Christophe GRUDLER, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Commission to consider a consumption target on renewable ~~and decarbonised~~ gases for 2030, as this would facilitate the development of biomethane and ensure the deployment of the most cost-efficient solutions across the Member States.;

Amendment 129 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Welcomes the Commission’s announcement to apply the MRV framework also to the coal sector and closed as well as abandoned sites; urges the Commission to prepare a legislative requirement to cap and fill unused oil and gas wells and to mitigate the methane emissions from coal mines by 2025 at the latest; reminds that methane super- emitting sites in the EU are abandoned coal mines ,calls therefore for an extensive search for the responsible owners and a funding mechanism to cap and/or fill sites with no assignable ownership; suggests that resources from the Just Transition Fund could be used as these sites usually lie in coal regions and technological clean-up provides local employment.

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Points out that modelled pathways that limit global warming to1.5°C with no or limited overshoot from both the IPCC 1.5°C SR and the 2021 UNEP Methane Global Assessment involve deep reductions in emissions of methane up to 45% by 2030 relative to 2020; reminds that, according to UNEP, reducing human-caused methane emissions by as much as 45 % will avoid nearly 0.3°C of global warming by the 2040s and complement all long-term climate change mitigation efforts; emphasises that cutting methane emissions by 45% by 2030 would mean for the EU-27 that each year would see: a) ~23,000avoided premature deaths from ozone, b) 1.4 million tons of avoided crop losses worth ~€240 million (based on 2018 global market prices) and c) avoided lost work hours from heat annually in 2030 is 270 million hours, equivalent to 135,000 full-time jobs per year;

Amendment 130 #

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Massimiliano SALINI, Jerzy BUZEK, Henna VIRKKUNEN, Vasile BLAGA, Gheorghe FALCĂ, Sven SCHULZE, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Stresses that existing CCS and CCUS technologies have proven to be neither scalable nor100% efficient; underlines that relying on fossil gas will certainly lock the Union in a situation of dependency from external imports, unsustainable resource exploitation and continue GHG emissions due to the methane emissions along the entire value chain, such as leaks or gas flaring; stresses that the potential abatement of fossil CO2 emissions through CCS and CCUS deployment in the power sector remains therefore limited and should not be pursued;

Amendment 131 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Calls on the Commission to continue its active involvement in international initiatives, fostering cooperation with third countries to address methane emission reductions by disseminating best practices for cost- effective methane emission reductions across value chain segments and supports the EU’s diplomatic outreach campaign to fossil fuel producer countries and companies to become active in the OGMP.

Amendment 132 #

Seán KELLY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Reiterates its support for the development of a circular and decarbonised energy system. Highlights that the source separation and separate collection of bio-waste, effective by 31 December 2023, must go together with a feasible recovery solution. In that regard, acknowledges the potential of anaerobic digestion from bio-degradable waste which allows the production of biomethane.

Amendment 133 #

Izabela-Helena KLOC, Pietro FIOCCHI, Evžen TOŠENOVSKÝ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Draws attention that IAE methane tracker is based on old and outdated assumptions and data resulting in erroneous results when applied to the EU performance and therefore currently cannot be a basis for the EU policy making; calls for a dialogue with IAE in order to eliminate wide divergence in estimated emissions at the global, regional and country levels.

Amendment 134 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Ivars IJABS, Christophe GRUDLER, Morten PETERSEN, Valérie HAYER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Recalls that methane emissions from the waste sector comes partly from leaks out of biogas plants; calls on the Commission to publish guidelines on the best methods to build and operate biogas plants to address leaks due to poor maintenance, operation and design;

Amendment 135 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Recalls the importance of addressing cybersecurity risks in the energy sector to ensure the resilience of the energy system, including the reduction of leaks; Calls on the Commission to assess whether further actions are needed to prevent cyber-attacks;

Amendment 136 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Klemen GROŠELJ, Christophe GRUDLER, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Stresses that according to the EU’s long-term decarbonisation strategy, by 2050, the EU's annual consumption of biogases (biogas and biomethane) is projected to grow to between 54 and 72 Mtoe, from around 17 Mtoe in 2017;

Amendment 137 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Klemen GROŠELJ, Christophe GRUDLER, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7 b. Considers that whilst environmentally safe carbon capture storage and utilisation (CCS/U)could play a role in making heavy industry climate- neutral where no direct emission reduction options are available, the uncertainties related to the costs and technical feasibility of higher CO2 capture rates (> 95%) and the application of capture throughout the whole fuel supply chain make it necessary to plan for energy systems without CCS and CCUS technologies;

Amendment 138 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7 b. Considers it important to promote biogas production in order to reduce methane emissions; supports solutions for the industrial production of biogas from non-recyclable waste, in particular agricultural waste, for the purposes of clean transport and the production of bio- based materials and biochemical intermediates in biorefineries.

Amendment 139 #

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Massimiliano SALINI, Jerzy BUZEK, Henna VIRKKUNEN, Vasile BLAGA, Gheorghe FALCĂ, Sven SCHULZE, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7 b. Calls for a reinforcement of research on measurement and possible uses of methane emissions in coalmines, promoting good practices and disseminating best available technologies of regulatory and fiscal frameworks to foster also the development of commercial collection facilitating the utilization of methane from abandoned sites.

Amendment 14 #

Pietro FIOCCHI, Margarita DE LA PISA CARRIÓN, Jessica STEGRUD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Emphasises the importance of a global approach instead of only focusing on reduction within the EU, since a much greater effect, could be achieved through the transfer of climate protection technologies to emerging economies, with a substantially higher cost-benefit-ratio. Modernisation and replacement of wasteful plants, infrastructure and technologies in emerging countries, would reduce methane emissions globally and by a much greater margin.

Amendment 140 #

Seán KELLY

7 b. Recalls that methane emissions from the waste sector comes partly from leaks out of biogas plants. Calls on the Commission to publish guidelines on the best methods to build and operate biogas plants to address leaks due to poor maintenance, operation and design.

Amendment 141 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7 b. Stresses that when establishing the process and rules to address methane emissions, greenwashing measures should be avoided, especially with the use of offsets as a tool for compensating methane emissions;

Amendment 142 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7 c. Highlights that sustainable biogas and biomethane production provides a valuable source of employment and income for rural communities, brings benefits from proper waste management and reduces methane emissions from waste and residues;

Amendment 143 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7 c. Highlights that contracts for difference for renewable energy (‘CfD’) and carbon contracts for difference (ʻCCfDʼ) should strictly be reserved to renewable gas and not open to decarbonised gas;

Amendment 144 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)

7 d. Recalls that the Union is the world's biggest importer of natural gas, with threequarters of the gas consumed in the Union being imported; stress that therefore the largest share of methane emissions footprint from the Union’s gas consumption is coming from upstream emissions in third countries supplying gas to the Union;

Amendment 145 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 e (new)

7 e. Stresses that a proper carbon border adjustment could incentivise third countries to lower their methane emissions by ensuring proper taxation of natural gas imports and of electricity generated from coal and gas;

Amendment 146 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 f (new)

7 f. Welcomes President Joe Biden's decision to halt oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; strongly condemns Total's Arctic LNG 2 project, which aims to create a huge liquefaction plant to export Russian natural gas towards Europe; urges the Member States, and in particular France, not to support this project financially; demands a ban on the development of any new oil and gas project in the Arctic;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Highlights, in this context, that methane has various roles to play as a fossil fuel, a biofuel and is also a natural product resulting from natural decomposition of biological material and is also decomposed in the atmosphere. While anthropogenic emissions of methane can certainly be reduced, methane has also a natural cycle which is not affected by political decisions.

Amendment 16 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Whereas methane emissions are the second largest cause of global warming and therefore reducing methane emissions will be critical for avoiding the worst effects of climate change; whereas reducing methane emissions from oil and gas operations is amongst the lowest of low-hanging fruit for mitigating climate change;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Whereas methane is a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG), and the second largest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide; it also contributes to tropospheric ozone formation, a potent local air pollutant that causes serious health problems.

Amendment 18 #

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Massimiliano SALINI, Jerzy BUZEK, Henna VIRKKUNEN, Vasile BLAGA, Gheorghe FALCĂ, Sven SCHULZE, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Seán KELLY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Agrees that an increased ambition of 55% GHG emission reduction by 2030 needs additional efforts to address all greenhouse gases; underlines that these efforts will mean that more investments are necessary.

Amendment 19 #

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Massimiliano SALINI, Jerzy BUZEK, Vasile BLAGA, Gheorghe FALCĂ, Sven SCHULZE, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Notes that almost 20 percent of EU methane emissions derive from the energy sector, including oil and gas extraction, production, processing, transport, storage, transmission and distribution; further notes that EU's fossil gas imports drive methane emissions in upstream sectors outside the EU; believes that the most effective pathway to reduce these emissions is through the rapid reduction of EU fossil gas consumption and, therefore, imports; acknowledges that fossil gas, almost entirely consisting of methane, has no long-term role in the Union’s energy future; highlights the need to phase out as soon as possible but not later than 2030 the use of coal and not later than 2035 the use of fossil gas in order to meet the climate objectives set out in the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)

-1 a. Whereas the intensity of methane emissions varies widely between oil and gas producing countries; whereas oil and gas will continue to be part of the energy mix, in particular for the regions dependent on coal; taking into account the EU’s dependency on third countries for its energy supply;

Amendment 20 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Underlines furthermore, that even if methane is a potent greenhouse gas, its half-life in the atmosphere is merely about 10 years. Short term measures considering cuts in methane emissions will therefore have a limited importance for the green house effect in a long term perspective.

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Whereas the concentration of methane in the atmosphere is currently approximately two and a half times higher than pre-industrial levels and is constantly increasing;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Whereas 70 % of the primary energy used in the EU in 2017 came from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal);

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1 c. Recalls the 2016 declaration by the Commission on the Review of Methane Emissions as part of the adoption of Directive (EU) 2016/2284 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants (NEC)1a; deplores that since then the Commission has not lived up to their declaration by coming back to the EU legislators with measures for effectively reducing methane emissions in order to achieve the objectives set out in Article 1 paragraph 2 of the NEC Directive, including enhanced synergies between the Union's air quality policy and other relevant Union policies, in particular climate and energy policies; in that context, deeply regrets, the time wasted by the Commission to establish a binding MRV-LDAR system and the delay of action against methane emissions on the pretext of missing data; _________________ 1aDirective (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, amending Directive 2003/35/EC and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC, OJ L 344, 17.12.2016, p. 1– 31.

Amendment 24 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1 c. Whereas achieving climate neutrality requires moving away from a system based largely on fossil fuels, and towards a highly energy-efficient climate- neutral and renewable- based system;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1 c. Whereas recent studies1a estimate that global anthropogenic fossil methane emissions are underestimated by about 25 to 40 %; _________________ 1a https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586- 020-1991-8

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1 d. Stresses that recent studies highlight that human-caused emissions of methane from the extraction and use of fossil fuels may have been severely underestimated, with methane emissions from fossil fuels being 25-40% higher than earlier estimates;1a _________________ 1aHmiel, B., Petrenko, V.V., Dyonisius, M.N. et al. Preindustrial 14CH4 indicates greater anthropogenic fossil CH4 emissions. Nature 578, 409–412 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-1991- 8

Amendment 27 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1 d. Acknowledges the conclusion of the International Energy Agency’s “Net Zero by 2050” report that a 75 percent reduction in methane emissions from fossil fuel supply over the next ten years is required to keep global temperature rise to 1.5°C;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1 d. Whereas, the International Energy Agency, indicates in its Net Zero by 2050 report that, methane emissions from fossil fuels should be reduced by 75% between 2020 to 2030 in the Net-Zero Emissions Scenario;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)

1 e. Highlights that recent studies stress that methane emissions from coal mines could be more than double previous estimates, making coal mining a bigger emitter than oil and gas sectors;1a recalls that old coal mine continue to steep methane long after they have been abandoned and that, to date, attempts to curb methane emissions from mines have been limited; . _________________ 1aNazar Kholod, Meredydd Evansa, Raymond C.Pilcher, Volha Roshchanka, Felicia Ruizc, Michael Cotée Ron Collings,"Global methane emissions from coal mining to continue growing even with declining coal production", Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 256, 20 May 2020, 120489

Amendment 3 #

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Massimiliano SALINI, Jerzy BUZEK, Henna VIRKKUNEN, Vasile BLAGA, Gheorghe FALCĂ, Sven SCHULZE, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Seán KELLY

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)

-1 b. Whereas the fact that methane emissions come from a wide range of sectors, like agriculture, waste and energy, and that, once in the atmosphere, methane blends well with other gases, makes it difficult to measure and report it, which leads to a lack of accurate data that gives methane emissions a relatively high uncertainty compared to CO2;

Amendment 30 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)

1 e. Calls on the Commission to set a clear date, which is by all means not later than 2035 for the mandatory phase-out of fossil gas in its coming 2021 legislation, requiring Member States to adopt sectoral strategies for the planned phase out of fossil gas as part of their national energy and climate plans;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)

1 e. Whereas the EU Climate Law sets the GHG emissions reduction objective of at least 55 %by 2030 and the goal of a climate-neutral economy by 2050 at the latest, in line with the Paris Agreement; while Parliament has endorsed the goal of reducing GHG gas emissions by 60 % by 2030;

Amendment 32 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 f (new)

1 f. Recalls that according to the IEA methane leaked from global operational coal mines amounted to 40 million tonnes, which is broadly similar in CO2- equivalent to the current level of total annual emissions from international aviation and shipping combined;1a _________________ 1ahttps://www.iea.org/reports/world- energy-outlook-2019

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 f (new)

1 f. Whereas the impact assessment of the 2030 climate target plan (SWD (2020) 176 final) indicates that the target of at least 55% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 requires to tackle methane emissions;

Amendment 34 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 g (new)

1 g. Recalls that according to the IEA global oil and gas operations emitted just over 70 million tonnes of methane to the atmosphere in2020, a level comparable to the total CO2 emissions from the EU energy sector; underlines that whilst this is about 10% lower than estimated for 2019, much of this decline is due to the drop in oil (responsible for 40% of these emissions)and natural gas (responsible for 60% of these emissions) production due to theCovid-19 pandemic; stresses therefore the immediate benefit for climate action of immediately start phasing out fossil fuels;1a _________________ 1ahttps://www.iea.org/reports/methane- tracker- 2021?utm_content=bufferf3754&utm_me dium=social&utm_source=twitter- ieabirol&utm_campaign=buffer

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 g (new)

1 g. Whereas a large number of the most cost-effective methane emission savings can be achieved in the energy sector; whereas International Energy Agency’s Methane Tracker indicates that around 40% of energy related methane emissions can be abated at no-net cost.

Amendment 36 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 h (new)

1 h. Whereas EU is the largest importer of oil and gas; whereas the EU imports up to 85% of gas, and the methane footprint of gas produced in supplier countries is estimated to be between three and eight times larger than the methane emissions generated within the EU;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 h (new)

1 h. Stresses that according to the IEA about 10% of methane leakage from the gas sector in 2020 could be avoided at no net cost, as the value of the methane captured is sufficient to cover the cost of avoiding this leakage;1a _________________ 1ahttps://www.iea.org/reports/methane- tracker- 2021?utm_content=bufferf3754&utm_me dium=social&utm_source=twitter- ieabirol&utm_campaign=buffer

Amendment 38 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 i (new)

1 i. Underlines that a recent report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)estimates that rapid action on methane emissions could take 0.3°C off global temperature by 2045; stresses that such action would be critical in meeting the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C by the end of the century;1a _________________ 1a https://www.ccacoalition.org/en/resources /global-methane-assessment-full-report

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 i (new)

1 i. Whereas the fossil fuels phase-out will contribute to mitigate methane emissions;

Amendment 4 #

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Massimiliano SALINI, Jerzy BUZEK, Henna VIRKKUNEN, Vasile BLAGA, Gheorghe FALCĂ, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 c (new)

-1 c. Whereas R&I, development, improvement and implementation of fit- for-purpose and appropriately targeted technologies and practices to improve MRV and to mitigate emissions are at the backbone of effective reduction of methane emissions;

Amendment 40 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 j (new)

1 j. Highlights that according to the UNEP report methane emissions could be reduced by 45% by the end of the century; stresses that the UNEP report considers such rapid and significant reduction in methane emissions to be possible using existing technologies and at a very low cost;1a _________________ 1a https://www.ccacoalition.org/en/resources /global-methane-assessment-full-report

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 j (new)

1 j. Whereas fugitive emissions from leaking equipment, infrastructure or closed and abandoned sites as well as emissions from venting and incomplete combustion of methane represent the majority of methane emissions in the energy sector;

Amendment 42 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 k (new)

1 k. Whereas there is EU regulation that helps providing information on methane emissions, including Regulation 2006/166 on the E-PRTR and Directive 2010/75 on industrial emissions, but there is currently no policy in the EU aimed specifically reducing methane emissions;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 k (new)

1 k. Underlines that according to the UNEP report these readily available solutions could reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, mainly by fixing methane leaks and vents in the fossil fuel sector and reducing venting;1a _________________ 1a https://www.ccacoalition.org/en/resources /global-methane-assessment-full-report

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 l (new)

1 l. Recalls that according to the UNEP report a 45% reduction of methane emissions would each year prevent 255 000 premature deaths, 775 000 asthma- related hospital visits, 73 billion hours of lost labour from extreme heat and 26 million tonnes of crop losses globally;1a _________________ 1a https://www.ccacoalition.org/en/resources /global-methane-assessment-full-report

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 m (new)

1 m. Calls on the Commission to put forward, by December 2021 at the latest, a Union strategic plan for methane in line with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, which shall include a2030 reduction target and accompanying binding measures to rapidly reduce methane emissions from all sources, including biogenic sources, so as to stay in line with the Union's 2030 climate target and the achievement of the climate- neutrality objectives by 2050 at the latest;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 n (new)

1 n. Calls on the Commission to set up a specific Union methane budget in a report to the Parliament and Council which sets the total amount of methane that could be emitted up to 2050 at the latest without jeopardising the Union's commitments under the Paris Agreement;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 48 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Morten PETERSEN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Highlights the ~~major role of natural gas in meeting today’s global energy demand and stresses that the part it plays~~risk of methane leaks all across the complex supply chains of fossil gas, coal and oil; recalls that, according to isotope measurements global anthropogenic fossil methane emissions are currently underestimated by 25%- 40%; calls for a stop to EU support for expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, including in the enRecovergy ~~transition will be influenced by the extent to which methane emissions are further reduced~~and Resilience Fund; underscores that, according to the IEA last report on “Net Zero by 2050”, ‘[t]here is no need for investment in new fossil fuel supply in [the IEA] net zero pathway’; insists that the move away from fossil fuels, including in the EU must be undertaken with urgency and without exception;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Highlights the major role of natural gas in meeting today’s global energy demand and stresses that the part it plays in the energy transition will be influenced by the extent to which methane emissions are further reducedBelieves that fossil gas, consisting mostly of methane, has no long-term role in EU’s energy future and needs to be phased out as soon as possible in tandem with a swift move to a fully renewable energy system in order to reach climate neutrality by 2050; believes that the Member States should to this aim adopt fossil-gas phase-out plans with clear timeframes and intermediate targets, linked to the review and update of National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP); underlines that according to IEA´s Net Zero by 2050 report and pathway ‘there is no need for investment in new fossil fuel supply’;

Amendment 5 #

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Massimiliano SALINI, Jerzy BUZEK, Vasile BLAGA, Gheorghe FALCĂ, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 d (new)

-1 d. Acknowledges the work done so far by the gas industry to reduce methane emissions through voluntary initiatives, such as the OGCI, the MGP and the OGMP 2.0, and underlines the commitment shown to undertake even stronger steps to further minimise methane emissions along the entire gas value chain;

Amendment 50 #

Pietro FIOCCHI, Margarita DE LA PISA CARRIÓN, Jessica STEGRUD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Highlights the major role of natural gas in meeting today’s global energy demand and stresses that the part it plays in the energy transition will be influenced by the extent to which methane emissions are further reduced; highlights that gas is relatively cheap and produces only about half as much carbon dioxide compared to coal combustion and is therefore of continuous importance as a transitional energy source with a gigantic potential to improve the overall global climate situation;

Amendment 51 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Klemen GROŠELJ, Christophe GRUDLER, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Highlights the major~~Notes the role of natural gas as a transitional solution in meeting today’s global energy demand ~~and~~; stresses that ~~the part it plays in the energy transition will be influenced by the extent to which methane emissions are further reduced~~natural gas together with coal and oil are responsible for nearly all methane emissions in energy sector; highlights the major role that renewable gas has in achieving the goals for renewable energy overall and in the transport sector in particular;

Amendment 52 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Highlights the ~~major role of natural gas in meeting today’s global energy demand~~necessity to decarbonise the gas sector to achieve the climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest and stresses that the part itof the gas sector plays in the energy transition will ~~be influenced by the extent to which methane emissions are further reduced~~also depend on successful reduction of related methane emissions;

Amendment 53 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Ivars IJABS, Christophe GRUDLER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Stresses that methane monitoring and mitigation measures should accompany the phase-out of fossil fuels to reduce the climate impact but should not be utilised to justify prolonged use in the energy sector; notes that even though it can be improved, the EU already has sufficient data to start acting immediately on taking measures to reduce methane emissions;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Calls for the inclusion of methane emission reduction measures for abandoned mines and wells, and all future abandoned infrastructure; highlights in this respect, the importance of adequate decommissioning of unused gas and oil infrastructure;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Is convinced that phasing out natural gas is key to the EU’s energy transition, as only renewable energy can sustainably contribute to achieving climate neutrality in the long term and avoid lock-in effects and stranded assets;

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. A transition from fossil coal to fossil methane implies a more flexible energy system and lower emissions of carbon dioxide and reduced pollution.

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Notes with interest that the Commission itself in its October 2020 "Communication on an EU Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions" emphasized the negative impact of routine venting and flaring; stresses that a ban on venting and flaring can prevent air pollution, contribute to decelerate global warming, and can prevent companies from wasting resources; observes that Norway has introduced a ban on venting and flaring;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Stresses the importance of phasing out natural gas as soon as possible and by 2035 at the latest; urges the Commission and the Member States to immediately start planning that transition carefully, so that the production, exploitation and distribution of natural gas starts decreasing swiftly, predictably and irreversibly and so that the prolongation of the lifetime of fossil-based production facilities is avoided;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. As a net importer of methane gas, the European Union should encourage diversity of supply, in order not to be exceedingly dependent of a certain supplier.

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions; ~~supports a clear pathway and framework to address methane emissions in a more comprehensive fash~~notes that methane is the second biggest contributor to the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions; recalls that the IPCC 1.5°C Special Report (SR) concluded that ‘[t]hough CO2 dominates long-term warming, the reduction of warming short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs), such as methane and black carbon, can in the short term contribute significantly to limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels'; highlights the importance of immediate and rapid reductions in methane emissions this decade as one of the most effective measures for EU climate action; notes that methane emission reductions complement the necessary reductions in carbon dioxide emissions a~~cross Europe, by fostering synergies between sectors to strengthen the business case for capturing methane emissions;~~ nd that 15% of the required emissions cuts by the Paris Agreement could already be eliminated with low-cost and technically feasible methane mitigation; highlights that methane reduction brings enormous benefits not only in reduced climate impacts but also from improved air quality; supports a clear legislative framework to address methane emissions in a more comprehensive fashion across all sectors, including agriculture, waste, energy and the petrochemical sector, by establishing binding Union and national methane emissions reduction targets;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2 c. Calls on the Commission to ensure that Member States by 2023, through the review of National Energy and Climate Plans, adopt natural gas phase-out plans with intermediate targets setting out an immediate and evenly paced pathway toward irreversibly reducing natural gas consumption;

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2 d. Highlights that the rapid and predictable phasing out of natural gas requires democratic public planning, associating producers, workers and their trade unions, scientists and non- governmental organisations (NGOs); stresses the importance of preserving and tapping into the potential of workers with technical skills employed in existing industries, and recalls the right of workers to be trained and upskilled during working hours with their wages guaranteed; underlines the need to ensure the reemployment, either in existing industries or through the creation of new environmentally-sound activities, of the gas industry workers;

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)

2 e. Recalls that the existing EU natural gas infrastructure is fully capable of meeting various future gas demand scenarios, even in the event of extreme supply disruptions; considers therefore that additional investment in natural gas transport infrastructure is not necessary to remain in line with a+1.5°C scenario or to ensure security of energy supply within the EU; stresses that any new gas infrastructure risks becoming stranded assets supported by EU public funds; recalls that since 2013, the EU has already spent almost €440million on fossil gas infrastructure projects that have become stranded assets or are at risk of becoming so;

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 f (new)

2 f. Demands that all existing and new natural gas and fossil fuel infrastructure, including pipelines, grids, LNG terminals, fossil-based hydrogen production and natural-gas power plants, be ineligible for State aid, EU funding and loans;

Amendment 64 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Klemen GROŠELJ, Christophe GRUDLER, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the preparation of EU legislation ~~for the energy sector with binding~~on methane emissions; insists that this 2021 legislative proposal should cover all methane emitting sectors and include -amongst other provisions- a mandatory 2030 overall methane emissions target as well as binding obligations rules on monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) ~~and~~, leak detection and repair~~, and the consideration of rules on routine venting and flaring~~ (LDAR) and an immediate ban on routine venting and flaring; in this context, requests on the Commission to extend these obligations on MRV, LDAR and routine venting and flaring to all actors of the oil and gas value chain to cover all oil and gas consumed in the EU, including actors from outside of the EU; calls for these obligations to be implemented as soon as possible but not later than1 January 2023;

Amendment 65 #

Cristian-Silviu BUŞOI, Massimiliano SALINI, Jerzy BUZEK, Henna VIRKKUNEN, Vasile BLAGA, Gheorghe FALCĂ, Sven SCHULZE, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Seán KELLY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the preparation of legislation for the energy sector with binding rules on monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) and leak detection and repair, and the consideration of rules on routine venting and flaring; Underlines that a well-structured, fit for purpose MRV system, as adequately outlined by the strategy, will be core for more accurate detecting and quantifying methane emissions along the value chains and will allow better evaluation of the results of mitigation measures in place;

Amendment 66 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the preparation of legislation for the energy sector with binding rules on monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) and leak detection and repair~~, and the consideration of rules on routine venting and flaring;~~ (LDAR) to be applied across the full supply chain of oil, coal and natural gas, and the consideration of rules on routine venting and flaring; stresses that EU should take lead in international cooperation in gathering data, reporting, promoting policies and technological solutions on further reducing and eliminating methane emissions;

Amendment 67 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the preparation of legislation for the energy sector with binding rules on monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) ~~and leak detection and repair, and the consideration of~~for all energy-related methane emissions, including imports, building on the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0) methodology, the mandatory and leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs, and the rules on baning routine venting and flaring in the energy sector covering the full supply chain, up to the point of production;

Amendment 68 #

Izabela-Helena KLOC, Pietro FIOCCHI, Evžen TOŠENOVSKÝ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the preparation of legislation for the energy sector with ~~binding rules~~cost effective standards in the area onf monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) and leak detection and repair, and the consideration of rules on routine venting and flaring; notes that rules on MRV should be prepared separately for each sector while taking into account its specifics;

Amendment 69 #

Pietro FIOCCHI, Margarita DE LA PISA CARRIÓN, Jessica STEGRUD

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the preparation of legislation for the energy sector with ~~binding~~ rules on monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) and leak detection and repair, and the consideration of rules on routine venting and flaring; urges however, to prevent over-information as well as unnecessary reporting, in order to limit bureaucracy and administration costs to a minimum;

Amendment 7 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Christophe GRUDLER, Valérie HAYER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the EU strategy to reduce methane (CH4) emissions as it is the second biggest contributor to the climate change after CO2; underlines that according to the UNEP´s Global Methane Assessment (2021) “reducing human- caused methane emissions is one of the most cost-effective strategies to rapidly reduce the rate of warming and contribute significantly to global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C”; supports a clear pathway and legislative framework to ~~address~~cut methane emissions in a more comprehensive fashion and across ~~Europe, by fostering synergies between sectors to strengthen the business c~~all sectors, including energy, waste and agriculture as more than half of global methane emissions stem from human activities in these sectors with fossil fuels accounting for 35% of human-caused emissions, waste for 20% and agriculture for 40%; whereas in the EU the biggest sources of anthropogenic methane emissions are gas & oil sector (16 %), waste ~~for captur~~sector (28 %) and agriculture (54%); Believes that the legal framework should include binding methane emissions; reduction targets;

Amendment 70 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Ivars IJABS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 71 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 72 #

Izabela-Helena KLOC, Pietro FIOCCHI, Evžen TOŠENOVSKÝ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. On MRV, calls for granular data with independent third-party verification; highlights that self-reported emission estimations are neither accurate, nor transparent, or verifiable; stresses that third-party verifiers need detailed methane emissions information at the facility level and that aggregate emissions at the country or asset level is insufficient; calls on the Commission to combine an independent third-party verification framework with other monitoring methods to ensure an accurate verification of emissions data across the whole fossil gas, coal and oil supply chain; stresses that the independent third- party verifiers should check the reported emissions, other emissions estimates, and the methodologies used; insists that the reported data must be made public, where in cases of business-sensitive information, this transparency could be limited to competent authorities;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Emphasize the need to place cost- efficiency at the centre of the proposed actions; notes that costs associated with implementing technologies and meeting high standards must not result in growing operation costs for energy companies and being passed to end users; warns that increased costs for consumers might serve as a deterrent in choice of low-emission fuels and therefore hamper necessary coal-to-gas fuel switch in areas particularly affected by fine-particle air pollution and weaken energy-poverty alleviation measures;

Amendment 74 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Christophe GRUDLER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Urges the Commission to prohibit, by 2022 at the latest, gas suppliers from placing on the internal market fossil gas, including energy derived therefrom, where venting and flaring occurs during production and procession unless evidence is provided that the limited use of flaring is for a legitimate purpose and the result of a lack of viable technical alternative;

Amendment 75 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Notes that some non-EU countries have already introduced a ban on venting and flaring; calls, therefore, on the Commission to introduce an immediate ban on venting and flaring in the upcoming legislative proposal on methane emissions, to be applied across the full supply chain of oil, coal and fossil gas;

Amendment 76 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Welcomes the consideration of legislation on targets and standards to reduce methane emissions from fossil fuels consumed, including imports;

Amendment 77 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Demands that the Commission prohibit, by 2022 at the latest, gas suppliers from placing fossil gas on the internal market without undertaking systemic and mandatory methane monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV), including mandatory and periodic leakage detection and repair (LDAR) supported by verified evidence of reductions; stresses that reporting should be based on a comprehensive equipment survey and application of the most up-to- date emission factors before switching to actual measurement data by 2024;

Amendment 78 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Christophe GRUDLER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. On LDAR, calls for mandatory monthly survey using instrument based detection technology such as Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) camera, continuous emissions monitoring, or other advanced technologies and for a mandatory deadline for the repair of identified leaks within five days unless, in the instance it is proven that specific equipment requires a facility shutdown and alternative mitigation measures have been adopted, one year; stresses that repaired equipment must be resurveyed within two weeks at the latest;

Amendment 79 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Calls on the Commission to apply the same obligations on MRV, LDAR and venting and flaring on all actors of the oil, coal and fossil gas value chain for oil and gas consumed in the EU, including actors from outside of the EU and during the production; believes that a credible system has to be put in place to ensure compliance of imports with the EU requirements;

Amendment 8 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Klemen GROŠELJ, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the EU strategy to reduce methane (CH4) emissions; as it is the second biggest contributor to the climate change after CO2; underlines that according to the UNEP´s Global Methane Assessment (2021) "reducing human- caused methane emissions is one of the most cost-effective strategies to rapidly reduce the rate of warming and contribute significantly to global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C"; notes that energy sector alone is responsible for around 1/5 of EU methane emissions, supports a clear pathway and framework to address methane emissions in a more comprehensive fashion across Europe, by fostering synergies between sectors to strengthen the business case for capturing methane ~~emiss~~, which has commercial value and could be monetised directly; stresses the importance of further development and deployment of emission reducing technologies and innovations;

Amendment 80 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Furthermore, considers that a mandatory framework for an accurate MRV system must rely on detailed reports, a detailed study of equipment, and the application of the most updated emission factors throughout the oil, gas and coal supply chain; Calls for a requirement for direct measurements by [2024];

Amendment 81 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Christophe GRUDLER

3 c. Asks for an immediate ban on venting and flaring, also covering equipment designed to vent, to be applied across the full supply chain of gas, oil, coal and liquefied gas; insists that this ban must also apply to imports and that the Commission should therefore develop a strong independent methodology to assess the compliance of imports with the EU requirements and include in its coming methane legislation measures to block the placement on the EU market of oil and fossil gas from companies not complying with EU requirements, in particular on the ban of flaring and venting;

Amendment 82 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3 c. Underlines that methane can warm the planet more than 80 times as much as carbon dioxide over a 20 year period, and the importance of tackling its emissions in addition to other GHGs; Believes therefore, that the CBAM would be more effective in contributing to the EU´s climate goals, stopping GHG border leakage and ensuring level playing field between the EU and third countries if it captures also leakage of other GHG such as methane;

Amendment 83 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3 c. Stresses that that the reporting data on methane emissions should be public or, in the case of sensitive information, available to competent authorities and independent verifiers; Calls on the Commission to develop a third-party verification system to assess and verify the emissions data across the whole supply chain;

Amendment 84 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3 c. Calls on the Commission to establish minimum LDAR requirements, drawing upon industry-wide source-by- source best practice;

Amendment 85 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Ivars IJABS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3 d. Stresses that over 80% of the gas and 90% of the oil consumed in Europe is imported and most methane emissions due to EU fossil fuels consumption are therefore happening outside the EU; calls on the Commission to make all fossil fuel imports into the EU conditional on the basis of their compliance with EU regulations on MRV, LDAR, and the ban on venting and flaring on the whole fossil fuels supply chain up to and including production; insists on establishing and implementing as soon as possible a certification system based on a mandatory performance standard that caps methane emissions along the entire supply chain for both domestic and imported fossil fuels sold, manufactured and consumed in the EU, with the ultimate goal of banning the consumption of oil, coal and fossil gas from companies not adhering to high performance standards; urges in particular the Commission and the Member States to immediately ban the placement of fracked oil and gas on the EU market considering the elevated health, environmental and climate risk due to high methane emissions and other pollutants inherently linked to the technique of hydraulic fracturing;

Amendment 86 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3 d. Supports establishment of an independently audited and globally applicable certification system that would provide a credible assessment of the methane emissions performance of all fossil gas production around the world. Believes that the certification should be audited and verified by an independent third party and based on uniform approach for measurement based on detailed information at facility, asset and country level; Believes that the performance assessment could be used for an establishment of a grading system to serve to inform buyers and regulators;

Amendment 87 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3 d. Calls for implementing a compulsory framework on LDAR across the whole supply chain, imports included, of fossil gas, oil, and coal, as well as biogas and biomethane, with the aim to ensure that all methane leaks are covered, level playing field accomplished, the reduction of methane-intensive imports promoted and carbon leakage avoided; Underscores that the LDAR technologies and requirements are already available; calls for implementation the LDAR legislation no later than [one] year;

Amendment 88 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3 d. Considers that data on methane emissions and LDAR should be publicly available as open source datafiles, in a mandated format to ensure straightforward comparison;

Amendment 89 #

Izabela-Helena KLOC, Pietro FIOCCHI, Evžen TOŠENOVSKÝ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)

3 e. Notes that methane adds significantly to the climate impact of coal; recalls that -according to the International Energy Agency (IEA)-, coal mine methane contributes as much to climate change as shipping and aviation combined with Poland’s coal mines leaking more methane per ton of coal mined than most coal countries, third only to Kazakhstan and Russia (IEA, 2019); stresses that monitoring and mitigation measures for methane should accompany the 2030 phase-out of coal to reduce its climate impact; requests the Commission and the Member States to immediately ban routine venting and flaring at demethanisation stations, while applying the polluter-pays principle; recognizes that particularly Ventilation Air Methane capture, due to low and variable concentration, may be more challenging but understands technology to capture such emissions already exists; calls on the Commission and the relevant Member States to oblige operating coal mines and/or member states to present a clear schedule for methane abatement;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions; supports a clear pathway and framework to address methane emissions in a more comprehensive fashion across Europe, by fostering synergies between sectors to strengthen the business case for capturing methane emissions; acknowledges the need for the alignment of EU reporting procedures, stresses however that this should not lead to duplication of national and EU-level reporting obligations;

Amendment 90 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)

3 e. Urges the Commission to immediately prohibit fracking within EU borders and ban the importation of gas produced through fracking, including NGL and NGL products produced from fracked gas;

Amendment 91 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)

3 e. Requests that once leaks are fixed within a strictly defined timeframe, the leaks should be re-surveyed to check if the repair was done correctly;

Amendment 92 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 f (new)

3 f. Calls on the Commission to develop a specific program to address methane emissions from abandoned and closed coal mines; appeals to the Commission to require member states to address the ownership of abandoned sites to support coal mine methane mitigation measures; requests the Commission to require member states to employ robust MRV programmes at closed and abandoned sites that could help to monitor methane abatement processes and help quantify emissions from abandoned sites that have not been previously measured; insists that the planned MRV should impose installation of methane measurement apparatus on all closed and abandoned ventilation shafts; calls on the Commission to require member states to report emissions from closed and abandoned sites and to remove reporting thresholds that could potentially be used to encourage underreporting; supports the Commission in providing financial incentives for capping, filling and repurposing former coal mines to address their methane emissions and to support the just transition of coal regions in developing alternative activities, which are in line with the polluter-pays principle, a climate-neutral and environmentally-friendly transition;

Amendment 93 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 f (new)

3 f. Calls on the Commission to ban routine venting and flaring (BRVF) in the energy sector covering the full supply chain, excluding safety reasons, up to the point of production by at the latest [2023]; Commission should also develop a framework for assessing fossil gas imports and their compliance with the BRVF;

Amendment 94 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 f (new)

3 f. Calls on the Commission to introduce, by 2025 at the latest, a mandatory methane performance standards that caps emissions at 0.2% along the entire supply chain for both domestic and imported gas sold and consumed in the EU;

Amendment 95 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 g (new)

3 g. Notes that fossil gas and oil are used in the energy and petrochemical sectors and thus both sectors contribute to the methane emitted at fossil gas and oil well pads and processing plants; notes that, according to the International Energy Agency, petrochemicals account for 8% and 14% of total primary demand for fossil gas and oil, respectively, and will soon become the world’s biggest driver of oil demand – ahead of trucks, aviation and shipping1b; calls on the Commission to ensure that compulsory MRV, LDAR obligations, and measures on eliminating routine venting and flaring apply equally to fossil gas and oil used in the petrochemical sector; asks to ban methane-intensive Natural Gas Liquids/naphtha (e.g. ethane, propane), petrochemicals (e.g. ethylene, propylene) and plastic resins (e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene), such as from production sites and facilities where routine venting or flaring occur and no LDAR program is in place, which would also be in line with the objectives in the Plastics Strategy and the new Circular Economy Action Plan to create a circular economy for plastics; _________________ 1bInternational Energy Agency (2018). The Future of Petrochemicals: Towards More Sustainable Plastics and Fertilizers. Pages 11 and 27.

Amendment 96 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 g (new)

3 g. Urges the Commission to ensure that abandoned wells, where ownership can be documented, are capped or filled to stop methane leakage and ensure proper application of the polluter pays principle; considers that for wells where ownership is not known a fund programme, paid by direct taxes on revenue from fossil-fuel companies, should ensure these abandoned wells are properly capped and leaks stopped;

Amendment 97 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 g (new)

3 g. Calls on the Commission to adopt specific measures to address super- emitters;

Amendment 98 #

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Alicia HOMS GINEL, Lina GÁLVEZ, Patrizia TOIA, Carlos ZORRINHO, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Niels FUGLSANG, Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Łukasz KOHUT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 h (new)

3 h. Welcomes the Commission initiatives to eliminate methane emissions from active or unused coalmines and abandoned oil and gas wells in the EU; measures on MRV and mitigation of methane emissions should ensure finding, sealing, and monitoring of abandoned wells, as well as capping of wells without legal ownership: this should not induce promotion of benefits or neglection of responsibilities of the owners responsible for its sealing;

Amendment 99 #

Mauri PEKKARINEN, Martin HOJSÍK, Dragoş PÎSLARU, Klemen GROŠELJ, Iskra MIHAYLOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that research, development and innovation and the implementation of fit-for-purpose technologies and practices to improve MRV and mitigate methane emissions are ~~at the backbone of effective action~~crucial complimentary measures which will facilitate achieving 2030 and 2050 climate neutrality goals; supports the mobilisation of funding from Horizon Europe, including for establishing an international methane emissions observatory; underlines that the costs of pollution should not be passed on the citizens in line with the polluter pays principle;

source: 693.681

2021/06/29 ENVI 380 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1

— having regard to Articles 192 ~~and 194~~ of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)

— having regard to Regulation (EU) No. XX/XXX establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 (European Climate Law),

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Welcom~~Notes the cross-sectoral approach ~~outlined~~ in the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions ~~and fully supports a fair framework covering the agriculture, waste and energy sectors~~;

Amendment 101 #

Sara CERDAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the cross-sectoral approach outlined in the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions and fully supports a fair framework covering the agriculture and livestock, waste and energy sectors;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the cross-sectoral approach outlined in the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions and fully supports a fair framework covering the energy, agriculture~~, waste and energy~~ and waste sectors;

Amendment 103 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES, Jan HUITEMA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the cross-sectoral approach outlined in the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions and fully supports a fair framework covering the ~~agriculture,~~ waste and energy sectors;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that the UNEP´s Global Methane Assessment (2021) monetized global benefits for all market and non- market impacts to be approximately $ 4 300 per tonne of methane reduced and that approximately 1 430 annual premature deaths could be prevented per tonne reduced; believes, therefore, that an impact assessment accompanying the legislative proposal should consider costs of the actions proposed as well as costs of inaction or delayed action;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Highlights the importance of immediate and rapid reductions in methane emissions this decade as one of the most effective measures for EU climate action; notes that methane emission reductions complement the necessary reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and that 15% of the emissions cuts required by the Paris Agreement could already be eliminated with low-cost and technically feasible methane mitigation;

Amendment 106 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Believes that quality of life and environmental indicators, not GDP, should be our measure of progress and success, by sharing income, resources and opportunities more fairly and investing in universal public goods; calls on the Commission to develop and use alternative indicators to GDP;

Amendment 107 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Points out that modelled pathways that limit global warming to 1.5°C with no or limited overshoot from both the IPCC 1.5°C SR and the 2021 UNEP Methane Global Assessment involve deep reductions in emissions of methane up to 45% by 2030 relative to 2020; reminds that, according to UNEP, reducing human-caused methane emissions by as much as 45 % will avoid nearly 0.3°C of global warming by the 2040s and complement all long-term climate change mitigation efforts; emphasises that cutting methane emissions by 45% by 2030 would mean that the EU-27 would each year see: a) ~23,000 avoided premature deaths from ozone, b) 1.4 million tons of avoided crop losses worth ~€240 million (based on 2018 global market prices) and c) 270 million avoided lost work hours from heat, equivalent to 135,000 full-time jobs per year;

Amendment 108 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Considers there to be a need at EU level for a framework dedicated specifically to regulating methane emissions across all sectors;

Amendment 109 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Considers it of utmost importance that all methane emitting sectors reduce their emissions; acknowledges the need to ensure a just transition for sectors wherein methane emission reductions may have socio-economic impacts;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)

— having regard to the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) report of 6 May 2021 entitled “Global Methane Assessment: Benefits and Costs of Mitigating Methane Emissions”,

Amendment 110 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1d. Stresses that it is insufficient to rely on methane-abating technologies that lock-in or support business-as-usual scenarios in the energy, waste and agricultural sectors; reiterates its call for far-reaching reform of its agricultural, energy and other policies;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Underlines the importance of improv~~Recalls the 2016 declaration by the Commission on the Review of Methane Emissions as part of the adoption of Directive (EU) 2016/2284 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants (NEC)1b; deplores that since then the Commission has not lived up to their declaration, failing to come back to the EU legislators with measures for effectively reducing methane emissions in order to achieve the objectives set out in Article 1, paragraph 2 of the NEC Directive, including enhanced synergies between the Union's air quality policy and other relevant Union policies, in particular climate and energy policies; regrets the absence of any methane reduction emission objective in the Zero Pollution Action Plan; deeply regrets the time wasted by the Commission to establish a binding measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) a~~s well as~~nd leak detection and repair (LDAR) s~~tandards;~~ ystem and the delay of action against methane emissions on the pretext of missing data; _________________ 1bDirective (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, amending Directive 2003/35/EC and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC, OJ L 344, 17.12.2016, p. 1– 31.

Amendment 112 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines th~~e importance of improving measurement, rep~~at harmonised monitorting ~~and verification (MRV) as well as leak detection and repair (LDAR) standards~~of methane emissions is necessary before creating a single legal framework;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of ~~improving measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) as well as leak detection and repair (LDAR) standards~~adopting strong mandatory rules on monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) in all the energy-related methane emissions including imports as well in the agriculture and waste sector and mandatory leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs, covering the full supply chain, up to the point of production, in all sectors (energy, agriculture and waste);

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of improving standards and methodologies for the measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) ~~as well as leak detection and repair (LDAR) standards~~of methane emissions; calls on the Commission to seek effective tools to improve the quality of measurement and reporting of these emissions in all sectors concerned;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of improving measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) as well as leak detection and repair (LDAR) standards; stresses, however, that lack of data should not prevent swift and effective action on anthropogenic methane emissions, especially measures targeting the agricultural sector;

Amendment 116 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Pascal CANFIN, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of improving measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) as well as leak detection and repair (LDAR) standards on the basis of the existing standards in the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED);

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the importance of improving measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) as well as leak detection and repair (LDAR) standards in all sectors;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)

— having regard to the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) report of 6 May 2021 entitled 'Global Methane Assessment: Benefits and Costs of Mitigating Methane Emissions';

Amendment 120 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Pascal CANFIN, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Ondřej KNOTEK, Frédérique RIES, Jan HUITEMA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Underscores the need to revise EU climate and environmental legislation in a coherent manner; takes the view that the binding emissions reduction targets for Member States in the Effort Sharing Regulation5 should remain the main legislative tool to reduce methane emissions, while the Industrial Emissions Directive6in light of the urgency to mitigate methane emissions, calls on the Commission to propose and other legislation could serve as a complementary tool; _________________ 5Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meetverarching legislative framework setting 2030 binding European and national methane reduction targets of at least 45% compared to today’s emissions covering all the relevant emitting sectors, com~~mit~~plement~~s under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013. OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26. 6 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on i~~ed with an extended NEC Directive, the inclusion of methane in the Industrial eEmissions ~~(integrated pollution prevention and control). OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17.~~Directive, and new energy and petrochemical specific legislation and revised water and waste legislation;

Amendment 121 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Underscores the need to revise EU climate and environmental legislation in a coherent manner to reflect enhanced ambition in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement; takes the view that, in light of the urgency to mitigate methane emissions, there is a need for adopting an overarching legislative framework setting binding European and national methane reduction targets in all the relevant emitting sectors; takes the view that the binding emissions reduction targets for Member States in the Effort Sharing Regulation5 should remain one of the main legislative tools to reduce methane emissions, ~~while~~as well as the Common Agricultural Policy, the Industrial Emissions Directive6 and othe~~r legislation could serve as a complementary tool;~~ National Emission reduction Commitments (NEC) Directive; welcomes the proposal in the Strategy to review the NEC Directive and to explore the possible inclusion of methane among the regulated pollutants, urges the Commission to complete this review as soon as possible and much earlier than 2025. _________________ 5Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013. OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26. 6 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control). OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17.

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Underscores the need to revise EU climate and environmental legislation in a coherent manner; takes the view that the binding emissions reduction targets for Member States in the Effort Sharing Regulation5 should remain the main legislative tool to reduce methane emissions as part of overall greenhouse gas reductions, while the Industrial Emissions Directive6 and other legislation cshould serve as a complementary tool; taking into account the need to avoid unnecessary overlaps between the legislations; calls on the Commission to assess the consistency of the National Emission Reduction Commitments Directive with meeting the EU´s air quality objectives as well as the Union's 2030 climate goals and its objective of climate neutrality in 2050 at the latest, as enshrined in the European Climate Law, and to revise it accordingly as soon as possible; _________________ 5Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013. OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26. 6 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control). OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17.

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Underscores the need to revise EU climate and environmental legislation in a coherent manner; takes the view that the binding emissions reduction targets for Member States in the Effort Sharing Regulation5 should remain the main legislative tool to reduce methane emissions, while the Industrial Emissions Directive6 and other legislation could serve as a complementary tool; takes the view that the requirements of the Effort Sharing Regulation as regards methane emissions must be designed with full regard for the higher short term climate impact of methane and the potential of a reduction of methane in the atmosphere to contribute to climate neutrality by 2050; _________________ 5Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013. OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26. 6 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control). OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17.

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Underscores the need to revise EU climate and environmental legislation in a coherent manner; ~~tak~~notes th~~e view that~~at alongside the binding emissions reduction targets for Member States in the Effort Sharing Regulation5 should remain the main legislative tool to reduce methane emissions, while the Industrial Emissions Directive6 and other legislation could serve as a complementary tool; _________________ 5Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament , the Industrial Emissions Directive should be revised to better address methane emissions; urges the Commission to expand of the ~~Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement~~scope of the Industrial Emissions Directive by including effective measures and ~~ame~~binding Regulation (EU) No 525/2013. OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26. 6 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control). OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17.targets to drastically curb greenhouse gas emissions from all industrial and agriculture sources, including cattle- rearing;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Underscores the need to revise EU climate and environmental legislation in a coherent manner; ~~tak~~stresses the ~~view that the~~importance of binding emissions reduction targets for Member States in the Effort Sharing Regulation5 ~~should remain the main legislative tool to reduce methane emissions, while~~, but also considers that this legislative instrument should be complemented by other instruments targeting methane-emitting sectors, and welcomes in this respect the Commission's consideration of strengthening the role of the Industrial Emissions Directive6 and other legislation ~~could serve as a complementary tool~~in the prevention and management of methane emissions; _________________ 5Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013. OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26. 6 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control). OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17.

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Underscores the need to revise EU climate and environmental legislation in a coherent manner that prevents double regulation and unnecessary administrative burdens; takes the view that the binding emissions reduction targets for Member States in the Effort Sharing Regulation5 should remain the main legislative tool to reduce methane emissions, while the Industrial Emissions Directive6 and other legislation could serve as a complementary tool; _________________ 5Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013. OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26. 6 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control). OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17.

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

Amendment 128 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Pascal CANFIN, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Underscores that the no-regret measures to minimise emissions from the agriculture, waste and energy sectors are: a dramatic reduction of meat and dairy production, the end of industrial animal farming and over-fertilisation, the reduction of waste, the phase-out of fossil fuel use, and a circular economy with massively reduced virgin plastic production;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Recalls that methane is a potent local air pollutant, which in itself causes serious health problems as it contributes to tropospheric ozone formation; welcomes therefore the planned revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and calls on the Commission to include methane in its list of polluting substances set out in Annex II;

Amendment 13 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)

— having regard to the International Energy Agency report of 18 May 2021 entitled “Net Zero by 2050 - A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector”,

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Highlights that despite the fact that 40% of fossil, oil and gas related methane emissions can be abated at no net costs1a, the industry has so far failed to make needed structural changes voluntarily; _________________ 1a International Energy Agency, 2021

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses the importance of developing an inventory of best practices and available technologies to promote the wider uptake of innovative mitigating actions; considers that the best available technologies to reduce methane emissions should become part of the Best Available Techniques conclusions of the BREFs;

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses the importance of developing an inventory of best practices and available technologies to promote the wider uptake of innovative mitigating actions; underlines that all measures and technologies need to be in line with the animal welfare and environmental objectives and the ‘do no harm’ principle of the Green Deal;

Amendment 133 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Jan HUITEMA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses the importance of developing an inventory of best practices and available technologies to promote the wider uptake of innovative mitigating actions, while taking into account the fact that not all companies have equal access to these practices and technologies;

Amendment 134 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses the importance of developing an inventory at EU-level of best practices and available technologies ~~to promote the wider~~for methane mitigation to promote the wider and more accelerated uptake of innovative mitigating actions;

Amendment 135 #

4. Stresses the importance of developing an inventory of best practices and available technologies to promote the wider uptake of innovative mitigating actions across the EU and all relevant sectors;

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses the importance of developing an inventory of best practices and available technologies to promote the wider uptake of scientifically peer- reviewed innovative mitigating actions;

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses the importance of developing an inventory of best practices and available technologies to promote the wider uptake of innovative mitigating actions and abatement options;

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls for the effective use of instruments supporting the development of innovation in the EU, such as Horizon Europe, taking into account the needs of different sectors and Member States;

Amendment 139 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Points out the potential of the Copernicus programme, which is intended to monitor CO2 emissions from 2025 and which could also be used to monitor methane emissions from various sources;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 c (new)

— having regard to Regulation (EU) No. [XX/XXX] establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 (European Climate Law),

Amendment 140 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that the upcoming methane regulatory measures should strive to achieve emissions reductions as cost- effectively as possible and provide flexibility for companies to achieve performance standards in an opDraws attention to the fact that the 2021 UNEP Methane Global Assessment states that 60% of targeted measures in the energy, waste and agriculture sectors are low cost and 50% have negative costs, meaning that companies can make money from taking action; stresses therefore the potentimal~~, technologically neutral manner, and at the lowest possible cost~~ for the EU to adopt ambitious regulatory measures to reduce methane emissions in a cost-effective way;

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that the upcoming methane regulatory measures should strive to achieve emissions reductions as cost- effectively as possible and provide ~~flexibility for companies to achieve performance standards in an optimal, technologically neutral manner, and at the lowest possible cost~~incentives and support to companies while fully respecting the polluter pays principle; underlines that according to the UNEP´s Global Methane Assessment (2021) approximately 60% of available targeted measures are low cost and 50% have negative costs, meaning that they pay for themselves quickly by saving companies money;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that the upcoming methane regulatory measures should strive to achieve emissions reductions as ~~cost- effectively as possible and provide flexibility for companies to achieve performance standards in an optimal, technologically neutral manner, and at the lowest~~swiftly and effectively as possible ~~cost~~;

Amendment 143 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that the upcoming methane regulatory measures should strive to achieve significant emissions reductions as ~~cost-~~ effectively as possible ~~and~~; considers it inappropriate and ineffective to provide flexibility for companies to achieve performance standards ~~in an optimal, technologically neutral manner, and at the lowest possible cost~~, as this could risk undermining the regulatory measures;

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that the upcoming methane regulatory measures should strive to achieve emissions reductions as cost- effectively as possible and provide flexibility for companies to achieve performance standards in an optimal, technologically neutral manner, and at the lowest possible cost; stresses that this flexibility must not mean the transfer of methane emissions to other sectors or activities;

Amendment 145 #

Marlene MORTLER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that the upcoming methane regulatory measures should strive to achieve emissions reductions as cost- effectively and efficiently as possible and provide flexibility for companies to achieve performance standards in an optimal, technologically neutral manner, and at the lowest possible cost;

Amendment 146 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses that the upcoming methane regulatory measures, including the legislative proposal, should achieve significant direct methane emissions reductions across all sectors;

Amendment 147 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Recognises the importance of~~Notes that voluntary industry initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions ~~and~~exist, but considers that ~~any~~these initiatives are not enough to achieve the swift and ambitious methane mitigation levels needed to meet the 1.5°C scenario; calls on the Commission to rather propose regulatory initiatives ~~should~~, which might build upon best practices from existing voluntary actions ~~and must be duly preceded by thorough impact assessments~~; believes that thorough impact assessments preceding such regulatory measures must take into account the economic, social and environmental costs of both action and non-action;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Recognises the importance of voluntary industry initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions ~~and consider~~, but underlines that there are limits to what can be achieved through voluntary action alone and that regulatory measures are urgently needed to step up the reductions of methane emissions; believes that any regulatory initiatives should ~~build up~~take into consideration best practices from existing voluntary actions and ~~must be duly preceded by thorough impact assessments~~that impact assessments accompanying the legislative proposals must also take into consideration costs of inaction or delayed action;

Amendment 149 #

Ondřej KNOTEK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Recognises the importance of and the need to support voluntary industry initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions and considers that any regulatory initiatives should build upon best practices from existing voluntary actions and must be duly preceded by thorough impact assessments and involve all the stakeholders in order to ensure the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed regulatory initiatives;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 c (new)

— having regard to the International Energy Agency report of 18 May 2021 entitled 'Net Zero by 2050 - A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector',

Amendment 150 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Recognises the importance of voluntary industry initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions ~~and consid~~; stresses howevers that ~~any regulatory initiatives should build upon best practices from existing voluntary actions and must be duly~~if industry overall fails to improve performance coming at no net cost, the regulatory measures should be introduced without delay, preceded by a thorough impact assessments which duly assesses also the cost of inaction and effectively applies the "do no significant harm" principle;

Amendment 151 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Recognises the importance of~~Considers voluntary industry initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions ~~and~~to be highly problematic based on the urgent need for such reductions; considers that ~~any~~ regulatory ~~initiatives should build upon best practices from existing voluntary actions and must be duly preced~~measures must be assessed, introduced and implemented byin th~~orough impact assessments~~eir own right based on the latest available science;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Recognises the importance of regulatory measures, underlines that voluntary industry initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions ~~and considers that any regulatory initiatives should build upon best practices from existing voluntary action~~or other greenhouse gases have not yielded significant results and ~~mus~~that bwe ~~duly preceded by thorough impact assessments~~have no more time to waste;

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Recognises the importance of voluntary industry initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions and considers that any regulatory initiatives should build upon best practices from existing voluntary actions and must be duly preceded by thorough impact assessments and the taking into account of the differences between sectors and sub-sectors;

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Recognises the importance of voluntary industry initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions and considers that any regulatory initiatives should ~~build upon~~make use of the best practices from existing voluntary actions, but not be limited to them, and must be duly preceded by thorough impact assessments;

Amendment 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Recognises the importance of voluntary industry initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions and considers that any regulatory initiatives should build upon best practices from existing ~~voluntary~~ actions and must be duly preceded by thorough impact assessments;

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the Commission to analyse the implications for policies and measures of using a 20-year time horizon for global warming potentials, as a complement to the 100-year timeframe currently used in accordance with the current UNFCCC greenhouse gas inventories guidelines; notes that more transparency about the short-term global warming implication of methane emissions would help better inform EU climate policies; stresses that the use of such complementary metric should by no means be used to delay necessary action to also drastically and rapidly reduce CO2 emissions;

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses the need for effective climate measures to reduce methane emissions; emphasises that this implies binding measures, regulations and emissions reduction targets for the energy, waste and agricultural sectors; emphasizes that voluntary and market- based measures will be utterly insufficient to tackle the climate crisis;

Amendment 158 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support a proposal for an international agreement on methane as soon as possible to realize the potential benefit from methane mitigation, ensuring coordinated actions to reduce methane emissions;

Amendment 159 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Points to the lack of global leadership on mitigation of methane emissions, with very little action being taken on methane internationally; calls on the Commission to make methane emissions a top priority in its climate diplomacy;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4

~~— having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal1, _________________ 1~~deleted Texts Adopted, P9_TA(2020)0005.

Amendment 160 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Considers that all impact assessments for upcoming EU measures on methane must take into account the impacts of action and inaction in terms of immediate and long-term impacts, including on future generations;

Amendment 161 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the Commission to adopt binding, specific and ambitious methane emission reduction targets that will lead to reductions of these emissions across all key sectors;

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls upon the Commission to go further than voluntary industry initiatives and to incentivize early adoption of advanced technology through EU legislation;

Amendment 163 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Reiterates that reducing methane emissions is one of the most effective ways to reduce the rate of global warming during the next 20 years if action is taken quickly; emphasises that impact assessments should never be a cause of delay of the implementation of much needed measures to reduce GHG emissions; stresses that additional impact assessments should be avoided where possible and that impact assessments should include the cost of non-action in terms of immediate and long-term impact on the climate, environment, biodiversity, human and animal health and wellbeing, and general sustainability;

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Calls on the Commission to highlight the importance of reduced methane emissions globally to reach the aims of the Paris Agreement, including at COP26, and ensure that the higher short term impact of methane emissions is fully reflected in Nationally Determined Contributions;

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Calls on the Commission to include methane in the zero-pollution monitoring framework;

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Welcomes the Strategy’s objective to promote biogas production as a tool to generate additional revenues streams in rural areas and enhance the transition to circular bio economy; stresses the need to create enabling policy framework to enhance the synergies between agricultural residues and renewable biogas production and improve the uptake of biogas digestate as a valuable organic input source for soils;

Amendment 167 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Urges the Commission to revise the National Emissions Reduction Commitments Directive to include methane among the regulated pollutants;

Amendment 168 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

Energy and Petrochemicals

Amendment 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

Energy and Petrochemicals

Amendment 17 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)

— having regards to the report of Climate and Clean Air Coalition (UN) 2021, about Global Methane Assessment-Benefits and Cost of Mitigating Methane Emissions;

Amendment 170 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes th~~e upcoming~~at the Commission is working on a legislative proposal on compulsory MRV for all energy-related methane emissions; insists that the legislative proposal introduces measures for methane emissions for all energy categories, including coal; calls on the Commission to also include the petrochemicals sector in its proposal; calls on the Commission to prohibit fossil gas, oil and coal suppliers from placing fossil gas, oil and coal, as well as fossil gas, oil and coal products, including energy and fuels derived therefrom, on the EU market without mandatory methane MRV or any comparably effective measure put in place, including abandoned coal mines where ownership is known; emphasises verification should be fully independent; stresses that this MRV should be based on a comprehensive equipment survey and application of the most up-to-date emission factors, with a directive to move to actual measurement data within two years;

Amendment 171 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the upcoming legislative proposal on compulsory MRV for all energy-related methane emissions; and calls for the implementation of a compulsory and continuous MRV framework and LDAR system across the whole supply chain, of fossil gas, oil, coal, biogas, including imports from third countries with a third-party verifier system combined with other monitoring methods, to promote the detection, repair and control for all the methane leaks and the reduction of methane-intensive imports, based on quarterly surveys with state-of-the-art technologies, and with clear deadlines for repairs and resurvey;

Amendment 172 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Jan HUITEMA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the upCommission commi~~ng legislative proposal on~~tment to come forward with a legislative proposal on compulsory MRV and LDAR; believes that such legislative proposal should not be limited to compulsory MRV and LDAR for all energy-related methane emissions as anticipated by the Commission, but should apply to all methane emitting sectors and contain binding targets as well as other regulatory measures in order to rapidly reduce all methane emissions;

Amendment 173 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the upcoming legislative proposal on compulsory MRV and LDAR for all energy-related methane emissions; believes in this context that specific attention should be paid to principles of accuracy, regularity and independence; believes, furthermore, that leak detection should be followed by a sound recordkeeping and a requirement to repair potential leaks within a clear time frame;

Amendment 174 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the upcoming legislative proposal on compulsory MRV for all energy-related methane emissions including the so-called renewable energies (biogas, biofuels); recalls that additional obligations for energy operators increase energy prices and consequently contribute to greater energy poverty;

Amendment 175 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the upcoming legislative proposal concerning compulsory MRV for all energy-related methane emissions, as well as the introduction of an obligation to improve leak detection and repair procedures on all fossil gas infrastructure, as well as on other infrastructure that produces, transports or uses fossil gas;

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the upcoming legislative proposal on ~~compulsory~~ MRV for all energy-related methane emissions; notes that such a system must be cost-effective and avoid the duplication of obligations that already exist in law and the imposition of unnecessary administrative burdens;

Amendment 177 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Notes that almost 20% of EU methane emissions derive from the energy sector, including oil and gas extraction, production, processing, transport, storage, transmission and distribution; acknowledges that imports comprise over 80% of the oil and gas consumed in the EU and that most methane emissions associated with oil and gas occur outside EU borders; believes that, although rapid mitigation of these external emissions is urgently needed, the most effective pathway to reduce these emissions is through the rapid reduction of EU fossil oil and gas consumption and, therefore, imports; acknowledges that fossil gas, almost entirely consisting of methane, has no long-term role in the Union’s energy future; highlights the need to phase out as soon as possible but not later than 2030 the use of coal and not later than 2035 the use of oil and fossil gas in order to meet the climate objectives set out in the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement;.

Amendment 178 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Believes that fossil gas, consisting mostly of methane, has no long-term role in EU’s energy future and needs to be phased out as soon as possible in tandem with a transition to a highly energy efficient and highly renewables-based energy system within the Union in order to reach climate neutrality by 2050; believes that the Member States should therefore adopt fossil-gas phase-out plans with clear timeframes and intermediate targets, linked to the review and update of National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP); underlines that according to IEA´s Net Zero by 2050 report and pathway there is no need for investment in new fossil fuel supply;

Amendment 179 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Calls on the Commission to set a clear date, which is by all means not later than 2035 for the mandatory phase-out of oil and fossil gas in its coming 2021 legislation, requiring Member States to adopt sectoral strategies, with clear and concrete measures, to phase out of fossil gas as part of their National Energy and Climate Plans; urges the Commission to support Member States to this end;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 28 November 2019 on the Climate and Environment Emergency,1a _________________ 1a Texts Adopted, P9_TA(2019)0078

Amendment 180 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7c. Calls for a stop to EU support for expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure; recalls that according to the IEA last report on “Net Zero by 2050”, ‘[t]here is no need for investment in new fossil fuel supply in [the IEA] net zero pathway, and that the Commission has come to the same conclusion in its proposal for revision of the Regulation on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure;

Amendment 181 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 d (new)

7d. Stresses that methane monitoring and mitigation measures should accompany the phase-out of fossil fuels to reduce the climate impact but should not be utilised to justify prolonged use in the energy sector; notes that, even though it can be improved, the EU already has sufficient data to start acting immediately on taking measures to reduce methane emissions;

Amendment 182 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Reiterates its call in its Resolution 2020/2273 on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, urging the Member States – on the basis of the precautionary principle and the principle that preventive action should be taken, and taking into account the risks and the negative climate, environmental and biodiversity impacts involved in hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of unconventional hydrocarbons – not to authorise any new hydraulic fracturing operations in the EU and to halt all existing operations;

Amendment 183 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Underlines that currently a number of MRV and LDAR technologies are available; it is therefore necessary to adopt legislation to this effect without delay;

Amendment 184 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Calls on Member States to commit to phasing out fossil gas by 2035 and to develop fossil gas phase-out plans as soon as possible, linked to National Energy and Climate Plans, including intermediate targets setting out an immediate and predictable pathway toward reducing fossil-gas consumption, outlining clear and concrete policies for eliminating reliance on fossil gas by 2035; urges the Commission to support Member States to this end;

Amendment 185 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7c. Insists that all existing and new fossil gas and fuel infrastructure projects should be ineligible for state aid, EU funding and loans, including pipelines, all parts of transmission and distribution grids, LNG terminals, fossil-gas power plants and petrochemical facilities;

Amendment 186 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 d (new)

7d. Calls on Member States to immediately halt the construction of all fossil-fuel infrastructure, within and outside the EU, including the financing of projects in other countries;

Amendment 187 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 e (new)

7e. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to introduce a robust legislative proposal to make leak detection and repair (LDAR) mandatory on all fossil gas infrastructure as well as any other infrastructure that produces, transports or uses fossil gas, including as a feedstock; calls on the Commission to also include natural gas liquids (NGL), oil and coal supply chains in this legislative proposal and to target the entire life cycle of each in the proposal; calls on the Commission to prohibit fossil gas, NGL, and oil suppliers from placing fossil gas, NGL or oil, or energy or fuel derived therefrom, as well as pellets and plastics derived from NGL, on the EU market without undertaking mandatory and periodic (at least quarterly) LDAR supported by verified evidence of reductions or any comparably effective measures; calls on the Commission to establish minimum LDAR requirements, drawing upon industry-wide source-by- source best practices;

Amendment 188 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 f (new)

7f. Notes that a significant number of gas wells that have ceased production continue to emit methane into the atmosphere; calls on competent authorities to adopt policies to ensure that those wells, where ownership can be documented, are capped or filled to stop methane leakage and to ensure that those responsible for the leaks are paying the costs; calls for the establishment of funding programmes paid for by direct taxes on revenue from fossil-fuel companies to ensure that these abandoned wells are properly capped and leaks are stopped;

Amendment 189 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 g (new)

7g. Highlights that for coal a differential LDAR approach should be applied, encompassing quarterly assessment, quantification, and reporting of methane leaks from cracks in strata surrounding the extraction site and accounting for methane emissions from coal storage sites;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5

— having regard to its resolution of 25 March 2021 on the implementation of the Ambient Air Quality Directives: Directive 2004/107/EC and Directive 2008/50/EC2 , _________________ 2 Texts Adopted, P9_TA(2021)0107.deleted

Amendment 190 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 h (new)

7h. Calls on the Commission to make publicly available all of the MRV information reported on methane emissions, in an accessible, mandated format to ensure straightforward comparison;

Amendment 191 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 i (new)

7i. Recalls the IEA report 2021 which finds that investments in new fossil fuel production and unabated coal power need to end in 2021, if the global energy sector is to reach net zero emissions by 2050;

Amendment 192 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 j (new)

7j. Deplores the greenwashing of fossil gas; recalls that fossil gas consists almost entirely of methane and is a fossil fuel;

Amendment 193 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Welcomes~~Calls on the Commission~~’s proposal to consider legislation on~~ to immediately introduce a legislative proposal to ban all routine venting and flaring in the energy and petrochemical sectors covering~~, if feasible,~~ the full supply chain~~; considers that existing national legis~~, and to prohibit fossil gas, natural gas liquids (NGL) and oil suppliers from placing on the EU market fossil gas, NGL and oil as well as fossil gas, NGL and oil products, including energy and fuels derived therefrom, as well as pellets and plasti~~on addressing routine venting and flaring, taking into account complex safety and environmental aspects, must be taken into consideration when developing EU legislation~~cs derived from NGL, where no venting and flaring ban or any comparably effective measure is in place unless evidence is provided that the limited use of flaring is for a legitimate purpose, e.g. safety testing or safe disposal of harmful gases, and no technique exists that could capture the methane;

Amendment 194 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Welcomes~~Looks forward to the Commission’s propos~~al to consider~~ed legislation oto ban venting and flaring in the energy sector covering~~, if feasible,~~ the full supply chain; considers that existing national legislation addressing routine venting and flaring, taking into account complex safety and environmental aspects, must be taken into consideration when developing EU legislation;

Amendment 195 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Welcomes the Commission’s proposal to consider legislatio~~Notes that some non-EU countries have already introduced a ban on venting and flaring; believes that the Commission should in the upcoming legislation on methane introduce an immediate ban on venting and flaring in the energy sector ~~covering, if feasible,~~across the full supply chains; considers that ~~existing~~ national legislation addressing routine venting and flaring, taking into account complex safety and environmental aspects, must ~~be taken into consideration when developing~~complement EU legislation;

Amendment 196 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal to consider legislation onto ensure the elimination of routine venting and flaring in the energy sector covering, if feasible, the full supply chain, in accordance with the targets set out in the World Bank’s ‘Zero Routine Flaring by 2030’ initiative; considers that existing national legislation addressing routine venting and flaring, taking into account complex safety and environmental aspects, must be taken into consideration when developing EU legislation;

Amendment 197 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Welcomes~~Calls on the Commission’s to propos~~al to consider legislatio~~e a ban on venting and flaring in the energy sector covering~~, if feasible,~~ the full supply chain, by making new legislative proposals in this regard; considers that existing national legislation addressing routine venting and flaring, taking into account complex safety and environmental aspects, must be taken into consideration when developing EU legislation;

Amendment 198 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal to consider legislation on venting and flaring in the energy sector covering~~, if feasible,~~ the full supply chain; considers that existing national legislation addressing routine venting and flaring, ~~taking into accou~~is insufficient; c~~omplex safety and environmental aspects, must be taken into conside~~alls on the Commission to propose the swift elimination of the practi~~on when developing EU legislation~~ce of routine venting and flaring;

Amendment 199 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal to consider legislation on venting and flaring in the energy sector covering, if feasible, the full supply chain; considers that the subsidiarity principle and existing national legislation addressing routine venting and flaring, taking into account complex safety and environmental aspects, must be taken into consideration when developing EU legislation;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1

— having regard to Articles 192 ~~and 194~~ of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

Amendment 20 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 28 November 2019 on the climate and environment emergency,

Amendment 200 #

8a. Underlines that, in accordance with Directive 2003/87 (ETS), the carbon dioxide emitted during the utilisation (combustion) of methane in cogeneration systems with a total rated thermal input exceeding 20 MW will oblige installations to participate in the EU ETS and will therefore result in additional costs, which may rise by up to 100% given the dramatically increasing price of emission allowances; asks the Commission to take this fact into account in the upcoming revision of the EU ETS so that the potential for capturing and reducing methane emissions from the energy sector is not reduced;

Amendment 201 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Emphasises that methane leakage during production and transport of fossil gas is a significant contributor to methane emissions in the energy sector; stresses that improving leakage detection and repair and eliminating routine venting and flaring are essential measures to reduce methane emissions;

Amendment 202 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Stresses that a phase-out of fossil gas production and consumption in the EU must be achieved as soon as possible to minimize methane-induced climate change; emphasizes that abandoned fossil gas wells should be properly capped in to prevent further methane leaks after their closure;

Amendment 203 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Acknowledges that imports comprise over four fifths of the oil and gas consumed in the EU and that most methane emissions associated with oil and gas occur outside EU borders; ~~calls on the Commission to explore~~underscores the urgency to reduce all methane emissions linked to oil and gas consumption in the EU and calls on the Commission to ensure the scope of the obligations in its proposal for a legislative act to reduce methane emissions in the oil, gas and coal sectors applies across the supply chain including imports, up to the point of production; stresses that mitigation measures must not substitute an ambitious and swift transition to an energy system based on renewable energy and energy efficiency; calls on the Commission to implement regulatory tools for fossil energy imports~~, including~~ and to extend~~ing~~ forthcoming obligations on MRV, LDAR, venting and flaring to ~~imports;~~ the whole fossil gas and oil supply chain, including on imports up to and including production;

Amendment 204 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Acknowledges that imports comprise over four fifths of the oil and gas consumed in the EU and that most methane emissions associated with oil and gas occur outside EU borders; calls on the Commission to ~~explor~~propose regulatory tools for fossil energy imports, including extending forthcoming obligations on MRV, LDAR, venting and flaring to imports and developing mandatory performance standards; stresses that the only long-term solution for this problem is reducing the EU’s dependency on imports of oil and gas by phasing-out the consumption of these energy sources in the EU;

Amendment 205 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Acknowledges that imports comprise over four fifths of the oil and gas consumed in the EU and that most methane emissions associated with oil and gas occur outside EU borders; draws attention in this context to the possibility of adopting a number of measures, which have either zero or near-zero costs, to reduce methane emissions from basic mining operations; calls on the Commission to explore regulatory tools for fossil energy imports, including extending forthcoming obligations on MRV, LDAR, venting and flaring to imports;

Amendment 206 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Acknowledges that imports comprise over four fifths of the oil and gas consumed in the EU and that most methane emissions associated with oil and gas occur outside EU borders; acknowledges also, therefore, that the EU must play a role in the mitigation of methane emissions beyond its borders; calls on the Commission to ~~explor~~introduce regulatory tools for all fossil energy imports, including extending forthcoming mandatory obligations on MRV, LDAR, venting and flaring to imports for placing on the EU market;

Amendment 207 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Acknowledges that imports comprise over four fifths of the oil and gas consumed in the EU and that most methane emissions associated with oil and gas occur outside EU borders; calls on the Commission to ~~explore~~avoid any delays and to design regulatory tools for fossil energy imports, including extending forthcoming obligations on MRV, LDAR, and venting and flaring to ~~impor~~whole supply chain including to imports; believes that a credible system has to be put in place to ensure compliance of imports with the EU requirements;

Amendment 208 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Acknowledges that imports comprise over four fifths of the oil and gas consumed in the EU and that most methane emissions associated with oil and gas occur outside EU borders; calls on the Commission to explore regulatory tools for fossil energy imports, including extending forthcoming obligations on MRV, LDAR, venting and flaring to imports; points out that these obligations must also apply, for example, to methane losses in biogas production and processing;

Amendment 209 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Acknowledges that imports comprise over four fifths of the oil and gas consumed in the EU and that most methane emissions associated with oil and gas occur outside EU borders; calls on the Commission to explore ~~regulatory tools for fossil energy imports, including extending forthcoming obligations on MRV, LDAR, venting and flaring to import~~the possibility of monitoring, verifying and reporting these emissions in a reliable manner in cooperation with the relevant partners at global level, also taking into account import mechanisms;

Amendment 21 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 b (new)

— having regard to the 2021 International Energy Agency report, entitled ‘Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector’,

Amendment 210 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. ~~Acknowledges that imports compris~~Calls on the Commission to extend requirements on MRV, LDAR and routine ove~~r four fifths of the oil and gas consumed in the EU and that most methane emissions associated with oil and gas occur outside EU borders; calls on the Commiss~~nting and flaring to all actors of the oil and gas value chain to cover all oil and gas consumed in the EU, including actors from outside of the EU; calls for these obligations to ~~explore regulatory tools for fossil energy imports, including extending forthcoming obligations on MRV, LDAR, venting and flaring to imports~~be implemented as soon as possible but no later than 1 January 2023;

Amendment 211 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Underlines that the EU imports over half of globally traded fossil gas, thereby contributing to significant methane emissions outside of EU- borders; calls on the Commission to develop mandatory methane performance standards for imported fossil gas to address these emissions; stresses that a rapid phase-out of fossil gas consumption in the EU is the only long-term solution to eliminate these methane emissions;

Amendment 212 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Pascal CANFIN, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the Commission to take such measures in the framework of the EU’s diplomatic and external relations as will lead to globally coordinated efforts to reduce methane emissions in the energy sector; calls on the Commission, in the event that international partners are unwilling to make such commitments, to consider targets, standards or other incentives for reducing methane emissions from fossil energy consumed in the EU and imported into the EU;

Amendment 213 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Underlines that the MRV, LDAR and the ban on routine venting and flaring (BRVF) requirements are on their own unlikely to deliver the most effective and economically efficient methane reductions; calls therefore on the Commission to develop within its legislative proposal emissions reduction targets, benchmarks and performance standards linked to clear timelines;

Amendment 214 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Believes it to be nonsensical to consider fossil gas a "transition fuel", particularly when there is no clear phase out date and plan for its diminishing use; considers the use of the descriptive term "transition" should only apply when the transition is clearly planned, including phase out dates;

Amendment 215 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the Commission to include all feedstock uses of fossils gas and oil, including when used for non- energy purposes such as to produce petrochemicals, in its proposal for a legislative act to reduce methane emissions in the oil, gas and coal sectors;

Amendment 216 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Jan HUITEMA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Points out that defects in the Ukrainian section of the Brotherhood pipeline, caused by neglect in carrying out maintenance by the operator, cause the largest leakage of methane and other harmful gases into the air in Europe;

Amendment 217 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Supports the establishment of an independently audited and globally applicable certification system that would provide a credible assessment of the methane emissions performance of all natural gas production around the world; believes that the certification should be audited and verified by an independent third party and based on uniform approach for measurement based on detailed information at facility, asset and country level; believes that the performance assessment could be used for an establishment of a grading system to serve to inform buyers and regulators in an objective way;

Amendment 218 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to set a deadline to propose and support the development of an international agreement on methane mitigation, promoting coordinated actions to reduce methane emissions, and to consider potential trade measures to ensure methane abatement through market access for fossil energy based on methane mitigation requirements;

Amendment 219 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Calls on the Commission to make the disbursement of any funds from the EU budget to Ukraine conditional on the repair of defects in the Brotherhood pipeline that result in gas leaks into the atmosphere, with a view to ensuring that the Brotherhood pipeline is in proper technical order by 2024 at the latest;

Amendment 22 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 c (new)

— having regard to the European Environment Agency 'Quality in Europe 2020' report,

Amendment 220 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Ccalls on the Commission to support the establishment of a~~n independent international~~ methane emission~~s observatory,~~ monitoring p~~artnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Energy Agency, tasked with collect~~rogramme with the task of gathering, reconciling, ~~verify~~checking and publishing data on anthropogenic methane emissions dat~~a at a~~ global level;

Amendment 221 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES, Jan HUITEMA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Commission to support the establishment of an independent international methane emissions observatory, in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Energy Agency, tasked with collecting, reconciling, verifying and publishing anthropogenic methane emissions data at a global level; welcomes that the Commission wants to spearhead this initiative, including by mobilising funding; considers it imperative that the scope of the observatory covers methane emissions also from coal, waste and agricultural activities from the outset and that there is no two-stepped approach with the scope of the observatory;

Amendment 222 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Commission to support the establishment of an independent international methane emissions observatory, in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Energy Agency, tasked with collecting, reconciling, verifying and publishing anthropogenic methane emissions data at a global level; believes that independent, comparable, verifiable and transparent emissions data are key to gain knowledge about the size of the emission problem and to combat under- estimation of the size and amount of leaks;

Amendment 223 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Commission to support the establishment of an independent international methane emissions observatory, in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Energy Agency, tasked with collecting, reconciling, verifying and publishing anthropogenic methane emissions data at a global level; stresses that availability of the detailed emissions data should lead to governments and regulators holding emitters accountable and help reverse the trend of increasing emissions rates;

Amendment 224 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Commission to support the establishment of an independent international methane emissions observatory, in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Energy Agency, tasked with collecting, reconciling, verifying and publishing anthropogenic methane emissions data at a global level; believes that such an observatory should look at methane emissions across all sectors, not only energy, with a view in particular to identifying global super-emitters in all sectors;

Amendment 225 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Commission to support the establishment of an independent international methane emissions observatory, in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Energy Agency, tasked with collecting, reconciling, verifying and publishing anthropogenic methane emissions data at a global level, and with developing a methane supply index based on these data in order to increase transparency on global methane emissions;

Amendment 226 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Commission to support the establishment of an independent international methane emissions observatory, in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Energy Agency, tasked with collecting, reconciling, verifying and publishing anthropogenic methane emissions data at a global level;

Amendment 227 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Calls on~~Supports the Commission ~~to support the~~in its plans to establish~~ment of~~ an independent international methane emissions observatory, in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Energy Agency, tasked with collecting, reconciling, verifying and publishing anthropogenic methane emissions data at a global level;

Amendment 228 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Notes the improvement in detection and tracing of emissions able to attribute substantial individual methane leaks; highlights that the modified Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite data used for identification of methane emissions from the leaks show that there are around 100 high volume-emitting events around the world which together, in the course of one year, release 20 megatons of methane1a; _________________ 1ahttps://www.kayrros.com/wp- content/uploads/2020/07/2020-03- 31_Kayrros-x-Copernicus.pdf

Amendment 229 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the Commission’s in~~itiatives on the utilisation and mitigation of methane from coal min~~tention to address methane emissions from coal mines, including closed and abandoned sites; stresses that coal has no future in the EU energy mix and should be fully phased out by 2030 at the latest; expresses its strong support for mandatory MRV and LDAR for coal mine methane emissions, including the requirement for companies that own closed sites or Member States (for abandoned mines where no existing owner is liable) to ~~adopt the same MRV and LDAR measu~~effectively close and seal all closed and abandoned sites in the EU by 2025 at the latest; appeals to the Commission to require Member States to address ~~as for operating sit~~the ownership of abandoned sites to support coal mine methane mitigation measures;

Amendment 23 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 d (new)

— having regard to the 2017 WHO report, entitled 'Assessing the economic costs of unhealthy diets and low physical activity: an evidence review and proposed framework',

Amendment 230 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the Commission’s initiatives on the utilisation and mitigation of methane from coal mines; expresses its strong support for ~~mandatory~~improving MRV for coal mine methane emissions, including the requirement for companies that own closed sites or Member States (for abandoned mines where no existing owner is liable) to a~~dopt the same~~lso adopt MRV and LDAR measures ~~as for operating sites~~; notes that, in view of the increasing number of mine closures in the EU’s coal regions, technical and financial support will be necessary for them in order to support the just transition objectives, which could be disrupted by excessive burdens imposed on the operators that close down;

Amendment 231 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the Commission’s initiatives on the utilisation and mitigation of methane from coal mines; expresses its strong support for mandatory MRV for coal mine methane emissions, including the requirement for companies that own closed sites or Member States (for abandoned mines where no existing owner is liable) to adopt the same MRV and LDAR measures as for operating sites; stresses the importance of clean-up works aimed at preventing and eventually eliminating methane emissions from closed coal mines in coal regions undergoing transition, and calls on the Commission to ensure that they are effectively supported;

Amendment 232 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the Commission’s initiatives on the utilisation and mitigation of methane from coal mines; expresses its strong support for mandatory MRV for coal mine methane emissions, including the requirement for companies that own closed sites or Member States (for abandoned mines where no existing owner is liable) to adopt the same MRV and LDAR measures as for operating sites; stresses that the only real solution is a very rapid complete phase-out of coal mining and coal-fired electricity production and consumption in the EU and insists that swift regulatory action to achieve this is necessary;

Amendment 233 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Ondřej KNOTEK, Frédérique RIES, Jan HUITEMA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the Commission’s initiatives on the utilisation and mitigation of methane from coal mines; expresses its strong support for mandatory MRV for coal mine methane emissions, including the requirement for companies that own closed sites or Member States (for abandoned mines where no existing owner is liable) to adopt the same MRV and LDAR measures as for operating sites; calls on the Commission to adopt measurement equipment standards and impose a measuring requirement for mines assumed to be non-methane;

Amendment 234 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the Commission’s initiatives on the utilisation and mitigation of methane from coal mines; expresses its strong support for mandatory MRV for coal mine methane emissions, including the requirement for companies that own closed sites or Member States (for abandoned mines where no existing owner is liable) to adopt the same MRV and LDAR measures as for operating sites; stresses that measures and activities to improve available datasets should follow the planned revision of E-PRTR;

Amendment 235 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Stresses that the production of renewable biogas from manure in biogas plants is an essential part of decentralised, local energy production networks that promote rural and local bioeconomy and thereby contribute to GHG reduction.

Amendment 236 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Emphasises that the EU’s continued reliance on coal mining and coal-fired power stations is unacceptable, also given the significant methane leaks that occur at coal mines; underlines that the continued reliance on coal is completely at odds with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the much- needed energy transition towards energy savings and renewable energy sources; calls on the Commission to lay out a plan for an EU-wide phase-out of coal-fired electricity by 2025;

Amendment 237 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Underlines that the innovation, development, improvement and implementation of fit-for-purpose and appropriately targeted technologies and practices to improve MRV and to mitigate emissions are at the backbone of effective reduction of methane emissions; considers therefore that these technologies and practices should be further supported by the mobilisation of funding from Horizon Europe or other programmes;

Amendment 238 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Stresses that production and transport of LNG are not only extremely inefficient taking into account the energy losses through liquefaction and cooling, but also add over-proportionally to methane emissions from the oil and gas sector; notes with concern the uptake of LNG as transport fuel in the shipping sector;

Amendment 239 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Supports the Commission's endeavours to secure a UN-based pathway to reduce methane emissions for 2021- 2031 at the UN General Assembly and the creation of a legally binding framework at international level for methane emission reductions;

Amendment 24 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 e (new)

— having regard to the 2021 United Nations Environment Program and Climate and Clean Air Coalition report, entitled ‘Global Methane Assessment: Benefits and Costs of Mitigating Methane Emissions',

Amendment 240 #

11a. Calls on the Commission to adopt a specific programme on MRV and emissions mitigation in abandoned oil and gas sites, with dedicated funding for addressing emissions from wells without known ownership;

Amendment 241 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to provide economic incentives for companies to mitigate methane from abandoned coal mines where no existing owner is liable;

Amendment 242 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Highlights in this respect also the importance of adequate decommissioning of unused gas and oil infrastructure;

Amendment 243 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Notes that fossil gas and oil are used in the energy and petrochemical sectors and thus both sectors contribute to the methane emitted at fossil gas and oil well pads and processing plants; notes that, according to the International Energy Agency, petrochemicals account for 8% and 14% of total primary demand for fossil gas and oil, respectively, and will soon become the world’s biggest driver of oil demand – ahead of trucks, aviation and shipping; calls on the Commission to ensure that MRV and LDAR obligations, and routine venting and flaring bans apply equally to fossil gas and oil used in the petrochemical sector; asks to ban methane-intensive C2-C5 feedstock for petrochemicals (e.g. ethylene, propylene) and plastic resins (e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene), such as from production sites and facilities where routine venting or flaring occur and no LDAR program is in place, which would also be in line with the objectives in the Plastics Strategy and the new Circular Economy Action Plan to create a circular economy for plastics;

Amendment 244 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Supports the Commission’s intention to detect methane leaking from coal mines; emphasises that for leak detection, understood as leaks other than emissions from demethanisation stations and ventilation shafts, satellite data may prove to be necessary to show the cracks in the strata from which leaks may occur; notes that when satellite technology reaches maturity to detect these leaks, the Commission should require Member States to assess the feasibility of leak repair and submit a legislative proposal;

Amendment 245 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Calls on the Commission to adopt mandatory methane performance standards that cap methane emissions along the entire energy supply chain for both domestic and imported gas, oil, and coal sold and consumed in the EU by 2025, by which time company-level leakage data should be available either through improved MRV and/or comprehensive satellite imaging, subsequently allowing for an ambitious cap to be set;

Amendment 246 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)

11c. Calls on the Commission to propose legislation to mitigate coal mine methane emissions at all active coal mines, including a ban on venting and flaring of methane from degasification operations; calls for Ventilation Air Methane capture projects to become mandatory, but also to provide financial support, for example through loans, to speed up the abatement process; highlights that thermal coal mines should be exempted from the support in order not to prolong their operation; calls instead for thermal coal mines to be encouraged to close and Abandoned Mine Methane (AMM) degasification systems to be installed as this could prevent further leaks; stresses that the use of coal in the EU's energy mix should be phased out by 2030 at the latest;

Amendment 247 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)

11c. Highlights that measures to mitigate methane emissions are crucial to accompany, not replace, a swift phase-out of fossil fuels by 2050, to align with both the aims of the European Green Deal as well as the EU commitments under the Paris Agreement;

Amendment 248 #

11d. Calls on the Commission to explore the use of a third-party verification system in conjunction with other monitoring methods as a possible solution to verifying emissions data across the supply chain from the EU and non- EU supplier countries;

Amendment 249 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)

11d. Calls on the Commission to request all Member States to phase out coal-fired electricity as part of their National Energy and Climate Plans and to chart a pathway for coal-free steel production by 2030;

Amendment 25 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 f (new)

— having regard to the 2019 EAT Lancet Commission report, entitled ‘Food in The Anthropocene: the EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets From Sustainable Food Systems',

Amendment 250 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 e (new)

11e. Calls on the Commission to promote and strengthen the storage and transport networks of methane in rural areas, in order to ensure its use for the EU's dependence on imports of natural gas in conjunction with the reduction of methane emissions into the atmosphere;

Amendment 251 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3

Agriculture and land use

Amendment 252 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that technologies and practices to limit methane emissions from agriculture are developing at a fast pace; calls on the Commission to ensure that proven effective and cost-efficient innovations ~~are quickly implemented in the EU and integrated into EU agriculture policie~~that have the potential to deliver emission reductions decoupled from production are quickly implemented in the EU and integrated into EU agriculture policies; stresses that farmers should receive financial incentives to adopt mitigation practices within the Horizon Europe programme and the ERI- funds;

Amendment 253 #

Marlene MORTLER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that technologies and practices to limit methane emissions from agriculture are developing at a fast pace; calls on the Commission to ensure that proven effective and cost-efficient innovations are quickly implemented in the EU and integrated into EU agriculture policies; stresses that farmers need a rapid implementation and use of new and existing methane-reducing technologies, as well as continuous training and exchange of best practices;

Amendment 254 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that technologies and practices to limit methane emissions from agriculture are developing at a fast pace, notes that many of the so-called solutions which are put forward by the industry are in fact only end-of-pipe measures, which do not address the roots of the problem and that implementation of these measures will delay effective action; calls on the Commission to ensure that only proven effective ~~and cost-efficient innovation~~innovations which are in line with the intrinsic value of animals and their enshrined right to be treated as sentient beings with full regard to their welfare requirements are quickly implemented in the EU and integrated into EU agriculture policies;

Amendment 255 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that technologies and practices to limit methane emissions from agriculture ~~are developing at a f~~, such as sustainable management practices of livestock, should be developed and implemented as soon ast pacossible; calls on the Commission to ensure that proven effective and cost- efficient innovations ~~are quickly implemented~~such as precision farming, nitrification inhibitors and advanced animal nutrition to reduce the methane, are quickly implemented and the ones already available must to be integrated by EU producers, in order to continue with reductions of methane emissions in the EU and integrated into EU agriculture policies as other sectors- affected are currently achieving;

Amendment 256 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that many technologies and practices to limit and reduce methane emissions from agriculture already exist and that more are developing at a fast pace; calls on the Commission to ensure that proven effective ~~and cost-efficient innovation~~methane mitigation practices and technologies are quickly implemented in the EU and integrated into EU agriculture policies; stresses that while methane emission efficiency improvements in agriculture are welcome, efficiency improvements will not necessarily lead to absolute methane emissions reductions;

Amendment 257 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that technologies and practices to limit methane emissions from agriculture are developing at a fast pace; calls on the Commission to ensure that proven effective and cost-efficient innovations are ~~quickly~~ implemented, as far as is technically and financially feasible, in the EU and integrated into EU agriculture policies; notes that the structure of agriculture differs widely between Member States and that not all measures can be fully applied in every Member State;

Amendment 258 #

Ondřej KNOTEK, Asger CHRISTENSEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that technologies and practices to limit methane emissions from agriculture are developing at a fast pace; calls on the Commission to ensure that proven effective and cost-efficient innovations, supported by appropriate incentive schemes and advisory services, are quickly implemented in the EU and integrated into EU agriculture policies following a proper impact assessment;

Amendment 259 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Amendment 26 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 g (new)

— having regard to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services1a, and its 2020 Workshop Report on Biodiversity and pandemics1b _________________ 1a https://ipbes.net/global-assessment 1b https://www.ipbes.net/pandemics

Amendment 260 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that technologies and practices to limit methane emissions from agriculture are developing at a fast pace, but are unlikely on their own to solve the emissions problems associated with animal agricultural production; calls on the Commission to ensure that proven effective and cost-efficient innovations are quickly implemented in the EU and integrated into ~~EU a~~Common Agriculture pPolic~~ies~~y;

Amendment 261 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that technologies and practices to limit methane emissions from agriculture alre ~~developing~~ ady exist; recalls, however, that, a ~~fast pace; calls on the Commission to ensure that proven effective and cost-efficient innovat~~s underlined in an IIASA study on methane1c, technical solutions only have limited impact on the reduction of methane emissions from the agriculture sector and must be complemented with a shift in livestock farming practices; _________________ 1cAccording to the Commission’s ~~are quickly implemented in the EU and integrated into EU agriculture policies;~~consultant IIASA, the maximum technical potential –at any cost –could reduce EU methane emissions by only 62% from 2005 to 2050, compared to a 42% reduction in the baseline - REFERENCE NEEDED http://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/eprint/16324/1/H %25C3%25B6glund- Isaksson_2020_Environ._Res._Commun. _2_025004.pdf

Amendment 262 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Amendment 263 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that technologies and practices to limit methane emissions from agriculture and to utilise these for energy generation on-farm are developing at a fast pace; calls on the Commission to ensure that proven effective and cost- efficient innovations are quickly implemented in the EU and integrated into the EU agricultureal polic~~ies~~y;

Amendment 264 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Amendment 265 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that technologies and practices to limit methane emissions from agriculture are developing at a fast pace; calls on the Commission to ensure that proven effective and cost-efficient innovations are quickly implemented in the EU and integrated into EU agriculture policieemissions from agriculture in the EU amount to only 2.6 per cent of global methane emissions; points out that methane emissions from agriculture represent about 6 per cent of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions;

Amendment 266 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Regrets the failure of the past efforts to decrease methane emissions in the agriculture sector; recalls that, while the number of farms in the EU decreased by about one quarter between 2005 and 2016, from 2010 to 2018 methane emissions in the agricultural increased with 0.62%, showing a trend towards industrial farming and its correlation with increased methane emissions; points out that large farms with more than 50 livestock units account for about 70% of agricultural methane emissions in the EU, and is of the opinion that EU legislation to reduce methane emissions from agriculture should focus on these large farms; recalls that the existing monitoring system based on Tier 2 methodology allows to take action, as this methodology is already used for reporting and monitoring under environmental legislation, including the NEC Directive;

Amendment 267 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Recalls that agriculture is the largest single contributing sector to anthropogenic methane emissions in the EU; stresses that methane emissions in agriculture are primarily driven by livestock numbers, particularly ruminants such as cattle (for dairy and meat), sheep and goats, which are mainly associated with microbial activity in the digestive tracts of animals and manure management; deplores the lack of action of the methane strategy in targeting this source of methane emissions; calls on the Commission to put forward binding measures and emissions reduction targets covering the agricultural sector, which should take animal welfare fully into account;

Amendment 268 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Pascal CANFIN, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Points out that renewable energy sources have their own impact on biodiversity, in particular as a result of the extraction of critical raw materials, and calls for a regular in-depth assessment of the impact of the various energy sources; points out that to date oil has the highest ‘harvest factor’ (= metric describing efficiency in the exploitation of energy sources, known as EROI) and should not be phased out before the energy supply of the Member States is fully secured;

Amendment 269 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Expresses its concern that agriculture represents the largest share of anthropogenic methane emission sources in the EU; calls on the Member States to introduce effective and sustainable measures to address those emissions in their National Strategic Plans and calls on the Commission to analyse those thoroughly before approving the Plans with the aim of ensuring policy coherence;

Amendment 27 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 h (new)

— having regard to the scientific opinion of March 2020 by the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to the European Commission entitled ‘Towards a Sustainable Food System’1a _________________ 1aDirectorate-General for Research and Innovation, Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (2020). ‘Towards a sustainable food system. Moving from food as a commodity to food as more of a common good: independent expert report’.

Amendment 270 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Notes that large livestock farms with more than 50 livestock units account for about 70% of agricultural methane emissions, and 40% of total anthropogenic methane emissions in the EU; underlines that this makes mega livestock farms one of the biggest sources of methane emissions in the EU; emphasises that in addition to their methane emissions, mega livestock farms are extremely harmful for animal welfare, public health and the environment; stresses that this demonstrates an urgent need to swiftly phase out intensive animal agriculture in the EU, including a ban on the development of new mega livestock farms; calls on the Commission to put forward concrete and binding measures targeting the industrial livestock sector;

Amendment 271 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Deeply regrets the lack of ambitious action in the Methane Strategy to support lifestyle and diet changes, which “can contribute significantly to reducing methane emissions”, considering also that, due to population growth, food consumption is set to increase to unsustainable levels if no measures are taken; calls on the Commission to release sustainable and healthy diet guidelines to promote reduction of meat and dairy consumption and increase in plant-based diets, and to set EU meat and dairy consumption reduction targets; calls for the promotion of the reduction in the number of agricultural livestock, alongside with support for small farmers to prevent further intensification;

Amendment 272 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12c. Underlines that livestock farming and slurry and manure management are responsible for great amounts of both methane and ammonia emissions; calls on the Commission to propose regulatory measures that reduce methane and ammonia at the same time, such as requirements for coverage of slurry storages, frequent removal of manure from the stable, small-scale extraction of biogas from slurries, and acidification of the slurry; calls on the Commission to propose the extension of the Industrial Emissions Directive and the NEC Directive to cover methane and better cover emissions from the agriculture sector, including cattle farming and aquaculture;

Amendment 273 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12c. Stresses the need to swiftly move away from industrial animal farming, aiming at a 70% reduction in livestock numbers in the EU, with particular focus on Member States with high livestock density such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark;

Amendment 274 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)

12d. Highlights that nitrogen-based fertiliser production is responsible for great amount of methane emissions; looks forward to Commission action to reduce the use of such fertilisers in the framework of the Farm to Fork strategy;

Amendment 275 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Notes methane emissions emitted from rewetted peatlands; at the same time underlines that research shows that warming effect reaches a plateau after rewetting because of the halted emissions of CO2/N2O of rewetted peatlands and the short atmospheric lifetime of any emitted CH4 1a; highlights that this is not the case for the continued CO2 emissions from drained peatlands and that this causes further warming; calls for rewetting peatlands without delay to have most beneficial, cooling, effect; _________________ 1a Günther, A., Barthelmes, A., Huth, V., Joosten, H., Jurasinski, G., Koebsch, F., & Couwenberg, J. (2020). Prompt rewetting of drained peatlands reduces climate warming despite methane emissions. Nature communications, 11(1), 1644. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020- 15499-z

Amendment 276 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Highlights that well-demonstrated practices already exist to help reduce emissions from manure management; points that methane emissions can be reduced through improved and gas-tight storages for slurry, digestates, and manure, improved slurry and manure management, acidification of slurry in the barn, and increased anaerobic digestion of manure in biogas plants; notes that these practices also decrease the level of ammonia released by the agriculture sector;

Amendment 277 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Notes the vast methane emissions from nitrogen-based fertiliser production; welcomes the targets to cut fertiliser use by 20% in the Farm to Fork Strategy and to halve nutrient losses; emphasises the importance of pursuing these targets through holistic and circular approaches to nutrients management, such as agroecological practices, which can deliver co-benefits for soil health and biodiversity;

Amendment 278 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Notices that the strategy notes a strong correlation between herd size in the EU and methane levels for the whole agriculture sector, with reductions in methane emissions down 22% since 1990 in agriculture at EU level being mainly due to a reduction in ruminant livestock numbers, and the increase in herd size over the past five years leading to an upturn in methane emissions in that period;

Amendment 279 #

Marlene MORTLER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. stresses that tightening the framework conditions for methane emissions in the agricultural sector, and in particular in the livestock sector, must not endanger food security; points out that shifting livestock production abroad and the associated imports are counterproductive;

Amendment 28 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 i (new)

— having regard to the EEA report of 11 January 2021 entitled ‘Growth without economic growth’;

Amendment 280 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Welcomes the progress and improvements made by farmers to mitigate methane gas emissions; calls on the Commission to incentivise and support the transformation of our livestock farms, ensuring that they are both competitive and sustainable;

Amendment 281 #

Pascal CANFIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Calls on Member States to include provisions in their CAP strategic plans to reduce methane emissions from agricultural practices and calls on the Commission to include methane reduction in its assessment of those Strategic Plans with the aim of ensuring policy coherence;

Amendment 282 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Notes that although agriculture offers the second-highest overall methane-emission reduction potential of any sector, as showed in the Commission´s communication , its methane-emission sources are diffuse and therefore potentially difficult to monitor, report and verify;

Amendment 283 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Points out that methane emissions related to fertilisation can easily be reduced by appropriate livestock manure storage methods;

Amendment 284 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Notes that according to Eurostat, in 2019, the ruminant livestock population of the EU consisted of 77 million bovine animals and 74 million sheep and goats, resulting in an enormous environmental impact, the emission of many greenhouse gases and harmful substances including methane, as well as biodiversity loss; notes that farmers rarely get fair prices for their animal products; emphasises that a reduction in the number of animals kept for agricultural purposes should be encouraged and calls in that regard for a European ban on the establishment, development and extension of factory farms, with appropriate support for small and medium-sized farms to prevent their further withdrawing from livestock production, and to prevent its further concentration and intensification;

Amendment 285 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Recalls to this regard the importance of the creation of the International Observatory to collect genuine and good data on methane emissions worldwide which determine the real quantity of methane that agri-food sector emits to better set and apply the specific measures that must be taken;

Amendment 286 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Calls on the Commission to develop targets at an EU level, in order to implement the afore-mentioned best practices, with a realistic and ambitious timeline and with funding available to support, incentivise and reward the frontrunners farmers in the transition;

Amendment 287 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Calls for a detailed examination of the socio-economic impact of the methane-reduction targets proposed by the Commission and for an assessment of their potential impact on the size of the European livestock population;

Amendment 288 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12c. Deeply regrets that the opportunity to fundamentally reform the Common Agricultural Policy has been wasted, and that the positions taken by both Parliament and Council will further entrench unsustainable and environmentally damaging agricultural methods; points out that even the Commission's analysis shows that the ambitions and goals of the European Green Deal will not be met with the current positions of the legislators;

Amendment 289 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12c. Points out that new technologies and continuous innovation in plant breeding have made it possible to develop low-methane rice varieties; highlights the remarkable efforts made by the European livestock sector to introduce new feeding and nutrition patterns for cows;

Amendment 29 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)

— having regard to the Commission communication entitled ‘A EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030’ (COM(2020)0380),

Amendment 290 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12c. Recalls that significant amount of methane emission in the agri-food sector, are due to imports; calls for the EU to promote the best practices with its trading partners by asking them to implement similar rules to those that apply to EU producers;

Amendment 291 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)

12d. Demands that CAP support shall only be granted to farms that stay within a defined maximum livestock stocking density for a given river basin as defined in the Water Directive;

Amendment 292 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 e (new)

12e. Calls for the mainstreaming of agroecological practice in EU agriculture and calls on the Commission to set a target of 50% of EU agricultural area to be managed through agroecological systems, including organic farming, by 2050;

Amendment 293 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 f (new)

12f. Recognises that the current European diet is not in line with recommendations for healthy eating; highlights that Europeans ate 69.3kg of meat per capita in 2018 1a; recalls that a sustainable, healthy diet requires a maximum consumption of 16kg of meat per capita per annum 1b; emphasises that EU-wide guidelines for sustainable and healthy diets would bring clarity to consumers on what constitutes a healthy and sustainable diet and inform Member States’ own efforts to integrate sustainability elements in national dietary advice; calls on the Commission to develop such guidelines and specific actions to effectively promote healthy plant-based diets; calls on the Commission to set measurable targets to reduce the consumption of meat in the EU; _________________ 1aEuropean Agricultural Outlook 2018- 2030 Report, 2018 1bEAT Lancet Commission 2019 report Food in The Anthropocene: the EAT- Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets From Sustainable Food Systems

Amendment 294 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 g (new)

12g. Welcomes the Strategy's acknowledgement that methane emissions from agriculture in the EU are, in particular, linked to intensive production;

Amendment 295 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 h (new)

12h. Calls on the Commission to target super-emitters of agricultural methane using EU satellite capability in the same way the Commission proposes to target super-emitters in the energy sector;

Amendment 296 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 i (new)

12i. Regrets the lack of any mandatory measures to deal with agricultural methane emissions;

Amendment 297 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 j (new)

12j. Welcomes the Strategy's acknowledgement that biogas derived from food or feed crops increases methane emissions, and thus can undermine the mitigation benefits of biogas, and that biogas developments should be based primarily on waste or residues; calls on the Commission to develop a robust, independent certification of origin scheme for biogas production methods and feedstocks; stresses that biogas production should be based on a local, circular economy model to avoid transport-related emissions and costs; emphasises that no supports should incentivise the intensification of livestock agriculture;

Amendment 298 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 k (new)

12k. Welcomes the Commission's review of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED); calls on the Commission to propose the extension of the IED to include methane, and also to include cattle farming and aquaculture;

Amendment 299 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 l (new)

12l. Emphasises that both UNFCCC Tier 1 and Tier 2 emission inventory methodologies already form the basis for reporting and measuring compliance in relation to existing environmental legislation, including the National Emission reduction Commitments Directive; insists that while the development and implementation of Tier 3 methodologies should be promoted and supported, this must not be treated as an essential pre-condition for action in relation to methane emissions reduction;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)

— having regard to the Agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015 (the Paris Agreement),

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

— having regard to the most recent reports of the International Energy Agency and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change;

Amendment 300 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 m (new)

12m. Stresses that action must be urgently taken in the EU to reduce methane emissions in the agricultural sector; regrets that the EU Methane Strategy did not present measures to do so; calls on the Commission to introduce legislative proposals under a framework on methane to specifically reduce methane emissions in the agricultural sector;

Amendment 301 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 n (new)

12n. Considers it essential to take a holistic approach in the ecological transition for agriculture, considering and addressing all the challenges simultaneously, including animal welfare, antibiotic dependence, ammonia, nitrogen and methane emissions among the many other challenges; points to the co-benefits of organic agriculture and deintensification;

Amendment 302 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 o (new)

12o. Stresses the importance of ensuring ambitious measures for reductions in methane emissions in the agricultural sector; believes that these ambitious measures should be bolstered by supports at national level, including through the CAP, for farmers to ensure the transition is just, swift, and effective;

Amendment 303 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 p (new)

12p. Considers it essential that the EU's trade policy does not undermine any potential advances made by consumption within the EU; notes that EU's exports of meat and dairy are increasing, while domestic consumption of these products is decreasing; regrets that the EU promotional funds for farm products 2016-2020 was disproportionally spent on promoting meat and dairy;

Amendment 304 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines the key role that the EU should play in supporting research, innovation and development, as well as in scaling up new technologies ~~to help address methane emissions from livestock agriculture, while protecting animal health and welfare; points especially to the need for multigenerational studies on feed additives;~~

Amendment 305 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines the ~~key role that the EU should play in supporting~~existence of EU funding for research, innovation and development, as well as in scaling up new technologies and practices to help address methane emissions from livestock agriculture~~, while protecting animal health and~~; stresses that such funding should be limited to projects that guarantee the protection of animal health and welfare and do not incentivise large- scale industrial farming; recalls that methane mitigation measures must be developed for grazing animals as methane mitigation should not come at the expense of animal welfare; points especially to the need for multigenerational studies on feed additives;

Amendment 306 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines the key role that the EU should play in supporting ~~research, innovation and development, as well as in scaling up new technologies to h~~the development of agro-ecological and plant-based agricultural practices, as welpl a~~ddress~~s in reducing the methane emissions from livestock agriculture~~, while protecting animal health and welfare; points especially to the need for multigenerational studies on feed additiv~~ by reducing animal density and animal livestock numbers, while protecting animal health and welfare; points out that feed additives are no effective solution and could lead to serious animal health problems as well as to food safety issues;

Amendment 307 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines the key role that the EU should play in supporting research, innovation and development, as well as in scaling up new technologies to help address methane emissions from livestock agriculture, while protecting animal health and welfare; points especially to the need for ~~multigenerational studies on feed additives~~applying the precautionary principle and for multigenerational studies on feed additives; reminds that while methane emissions from ruminants may be reduced by the manipulation of factors, such as feed additives, levels of feed intake, types of carbohydrates in diet, improvements in animal welfare and - as underlined by the EU Farm to Fork Strategy – a transition towards more sustainable livestock farming, more sustainable and plant- based diet are also necessary to reduce the environmental and climate impact of agricultural production;

Amendment 308 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines the key role that the EU should play in supporting research, innovation and development, as well as in scaling up new technologies to help address methane emissions from livestock agriculture, while protecting animal health and welfare; points especially to the need for multigenerational studies on feed additives; calls on the Commission to ensure that only demonstrably effective and cost-effective innovations are implemented in the EU and integrated into EU agricultural policy, and only after a thorough assessment demonstrating that animal welfare, meat quality and farmers’ incomes are not compromised; points out that food security must take precedence over so-called measures to protect the climate;

Amendment 309 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines the key role that the EU should play in supporting research, innovation and development, as well as in scaling up new technologies by improving the measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions in this sector to follow the progress towards these targets and applying the ones currently available such as MRV related, to help address methane emissions from livestock agriculture, while protecting animal health and welfare; points especially to the need for multigenerational studies on feed additives;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period, making it the second most important greenhouse gas, contributing to about a quarter of the global warming experienced today4 ; _________________ 4Myhre, G., D. Shindell, F.-M. Bréon, W. Collins, J. Fuglestvedt, J. Huang, D. Koch, J.-F. Lamarque, D. Lee, B. Mendoza, T. Nakajima, A. Robock, G. Stephens, T. Takemura and H. Zhang, ‘Anthropogenic and Natural Radiative Forcing’, Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis, Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Chapter 8, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 2013, p. 714.deleted

Amendment 310 #

Christian DOLESCHAL, Marlene MORTLER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 311 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines the key role that the EU should play in supporting research, innovation and development, as well as in scaling up new technologies to help address methane emissions from livestock agriculture, e.g. through feed additives for ruminants and improved processing of manure, while protecting animal health and welfare; points especially to the need for multigenerational studies on feed additives; points in particular to the need for multi-generation studies of feed additives;

Amendment 312 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines that one of the key roles that the EU should play is in supporting research, innovation and development, as well as in scaling up new technologies to help address methane emissions from livestock agriculture, while protecting animal health and welfare; pPoints ~~especially~~, inter alia, to the need for multigenerational studies on feed additives;

Amendment 313 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines the key role that the EU should play in supporting research, innovation and development, as well as in scaling up new technologies to help ~~address~~reduce methane emissions from livestock agriculture, while protecting animal health and welfare; points especially to the need for multigenerational studies on feed additives;

Amendment 314 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines the key role that the EU should play in supporting research, innovation and development, as well as in scaling up new sustainable technologies to ~~help~~ address methane emissions from livestock agriculture, while impro~~tect~~ving animal health and welfare; points ~~especially~~ to the need for multigenerational studies on feed additives;

Amendment 315 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines the key role that the EU should play in transition to diets less rich in meat and dairy, and at the same time supporting research, innovation and development, as well as in scaling up new technologies to help address methane emissions from livestock agriculture, while impro~~tect~~ving animal health and welfare; ~~points especially to the need for multigenerational studies on feed additives;~~

Amendment 316 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Considers that the utilisation of agricultural waste and residues can be a driver of the circular economy if stringent sustainability criteria are applied 1d, so that agricultural waste is first reduced to the strict minimum, and unavoidable waste and residues are recovered in priority for higher value uses following the cascading use principle; considers therefore that only genuine waste and residues, for which no higher value and more sustainable alternative uses exist, are considered as potential sources of feed for small on-farm biogas plants; stresses that support to biogas should clearly exclude dedicated energy crops, including secondary and cover crops, and should in no way lead to perverse incentives to more intensive livestock farming; calls on the Commission to develop a robust, independent certification of origin scheme for biogas production methods and feedstocks; _________________ 1dFor reference (only in German): 'Methodenkonvention 3.1 zur Ermittlung von Umweltkosten - Kostensätze', Umweltbundesamt, December 2020: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/def ault/files/medien/1410/publikationen/2020 -12- 21_methodenkonvention_3_1_kostensaetz e.pdf

Amendment 317 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Warns against reliance on technological innovations such as the development of feed additives which do not address the root causes of methane emissions in the agricultural sector, nor the systemic environmental issues associated with industrial farming and can harm animal health and welfare; stresses instead the need to phase out industrial livestock farming and stimulate a transition towards plant-based diets in line with the objectives of the EU farm to fork strategy;

Amendment 318 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Notes that the Commission stresses how lifestyle and diet change can contribute significantly to reducing emissions; considers the promotion of sustainable diets to be an important tool for reducing methane emissions, with many other benefits; commends the Commission for emphasising the need for less red and processed meat, more fruits, vegetable and plant-based protein sources in diets in the EU;

Amendment 319 #

Silvia MODIG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Points out that biogas production from agricultural residues and other organic waste can reduce agricultural sector's methane emissions and replace fossil-based gas while providing material for organic fertilizers and creating jobs in rural areas; however, stresses that biogas production must not create path dependencies for large-scale intensive livestock production;

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period, making it the second most important greenhouse gas, as well as a precursor pollutant to tropospheric ozone(O3), contributing to about a quarter of the global warming experienced today4 ; _________________ 4 Myhre, G., D. Shindell, F.-M. Bréon, W. Collins, J. Fuglestvedt, J. Huang, D. Koch, J.-F. Lamarque, D. Lee, B. Mendoza, T. Nakajima, A. Robock, G. Stephens, T. Takemura and H. Zhang, ‘Anthropogenic and Natural Radiative Forcing’, Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis, Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Chapter 8, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 2013, p. 714.

Amendment 320 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Frédérique RIES, Ulrike MÜLLER, Jan HUITEMA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Notes that a number of the measures proposed as part of the amendment to the Strategic Plan Regulation in the section relating to GAEC, as well as in the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, such as the expansion of areas of wetland or farmland not in economic use, would lead to an increase in the amount of methane released into the air;

Amendment 321 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Calls for better coordination and improved infrastructure between farmers and renewable energy producers in order to enable the uptake of locally connected production of biogas; furthermore highlights the importance of returning high quality natural fertilizer, which is the by-product of biogas production, to the farms again;

Amendment 322 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Supports actions to develop biogas plants, which are an important source of biomethane for energy and transport; points out that the development of biogas plants in rural areas is an effective tool for introducing the principles of the circular economy and for reducing energy poverty in those areas;

Amendment 323 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Notes that extensive livestock production might result in lower methane emissions on farm level, but increases the emissions per unit of product produced; Calls on the Commission and Member States to take into account the effects of mitigation strategies on global methane emissions;

Amendment 324 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Points out that EU trade policy needs to be applied consistently if it is to prevent unfair competition from third countries with no strategies or policies to reduce emissions from greenhouse gases such as methane;

Amendment 325 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Stresses that value-added utilisation of agricultural residues and other by-products is an important driver of the circular economy and bio-economy; calls on the Commission for the acceleration of European biogas production from agriculture waste;

Amendment 326 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. points out that ruminants are the basis for the use and preservation of grassland, the conservation of which is of high importance in terms of climate change as a result of the CO2 captured in soil humus.

Amendment 327 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Calls on Member States to include methane reduction measures and schemes, such as low-carbon agriculture initiatives, in their CAP Strategic Plans;

Amendment 328 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Highlights the possible role of sustainable biogas and biomethane in creating employment in general but in particular in affected rural areas;

Amendment 329 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Asger CHRISTENSEN, Frédérique RIES, Jan HUITEMA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Considers that value-added utilisation of agricultural residues and other by-products is an important driver of the circular economy and bio-economy; calls for the acceleration of sustainable European biogas production in line with the cascading principle from agriculture waste, as an important tool for reducing methane emissions and increase circularity in the agricultural sector; stresses the role of permanent grassland for biodiversity and carbon sequestration and points out that the size of grassland in Europe is linked to livestock numbers; underlines that carbon storage by grasslands compensates up to 45% of GHG emissions and underlines the need to integrate the carbon stored by grasslands and their capacity not to release carbon in order to better assess the mitigation potential of agriculture;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. notes that prior to the introduction of mechanisation based on steam engines and internal combustion engines, many more herbivores were kept in the territory of today's Member States without any scientifically proven negative impact on the environment or the climate;

Amendment 330 #

Silvia MODIG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Stresses that the fastest and most important way of cutting agricultural sectors methane emissions is to reduce the production and consumption of animal products, particularly dairy products; points out that many farmers have invested large amount of debt money to livestock production and therefore cannot realistically phase-out the production in the near future; calls the Commission to come up with a proposal to provide just and economically viable pathways for small- and middle-scale farmers to transition from livestock production to plant-based agricultural production;

Amendment 331 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Highlights the significant contribution of the agricultural sector to total anthropogenic methane emissions, points out in this context that total methane emissions from agriculture have increased since 2013 and that many of the appropriate measures to reduce methane emissions from agriculture, such as covering manure and slurry vats, regular removal of manure from stables, acidification of slurry and small-scale production and use of biogas, will also reduce ammonia emissions and therefore further improve air quality;

Amendment 332 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Calls on the Commission, in accordance with the EU Climate Law, to explore the development of a regulatory framework for the certification of carbon removals on the basis of robust and transparent carbon accounting that takes into account the differences between the greenhouse gases, and to verify the authenticity of carbon removals and reward farmers for their mitigation efforts;

Amendment 333 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Emphasises that biogas production from agricultural waste and manure is an end-of-pipe solution that allows intensive livestock farming to continue business as usual; highlights that the promotion of biogas incentivises industrial livestock farming and thereby harms the environment, biodiversity, public health, animal welfare and small farmers;

Amendment 334 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Considers it essential to examine the sustainability of each biogas installation with a science-based holistic approach, and by considering what industries it sustains; looks forward to the Commission's Long Term Vision for Rural Areas and requests the Commission to focus on the root causes of the challenges faced by rural areas;

Amendment 335 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Welcomes the creation of a favourable framework for methane capture from agricultural waste (manure) with a view to finding synergies with the waste management sector; stresses that defining a harmonized policy framework across the EU for anaerobic digestion (for biogas production) is key to achieving this result;

Amendment 336 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. stresses that, in order to improve methane efficiency in livestock farming, it is necessary to provide additional funding for research and development in the fields of feeding, herd management, fertiliser management, breeding, animal health and grassland management.

Amendment 337 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Stresses that Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) should be revised in order to include specific funds to incentive, mitigate and reduce methane, as well as to produce biogas from methane emissions in the agricultural sector;

Amendment 338 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)

13c. Warns against support for biogas production from manure that is not limited in scope or use to locally linked needs, as this could act as an incentive for further intensification of livestock farming and therefore have undesirable consequences for the implementation of the methane reduction strategy;

Amendment 339 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)

13c. Stresses that the Commission's inventory of best practices, available technologies and innovative technologies for methane-reducing approaches in agriculture must describe in detail any trade-offs such technologies or practices may generate that would compromise other objectives;

Amendment 34 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Aa. whereas it has been three years since the IPCC published its Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, which stated that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid, far- reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society;

Amendment 340 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)

13c. Emphasises that the CAP could be a powerful policy tool to reduce methane emissions and coherence should therefore be ensured with the Methane Strategy; calls on the Commission to proceed with the integration of circular economy technologies;

Amendment 341 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)

13c. Stresses that promoting biogas as a "solution" risks locking in unsustainable forms of animal production that further contribute to the root causes of harmful methane emissions in agriculture;

Amendment 342 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)

13d. Welcomes the Commission’s objective on multilateral engagement and supports active cooperation with international partners in the frames of the UNFCCC Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), which provide essential multilateral platforms to exchange best practices and to encourage our global partners to reduce methane- emitting agricultural production and to support their sustainable transition;

Amendment 343 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)

13d. Emphasises the need to ensure that animal welfare does not suffer under new measures for the agricultural sector, including regarding methane; stresses that no measures, targets, or incentives should lead to a restriction of livestock animals to indoor confinements; emphasises that animals must be able to graze and roam outdoors and should not be prevented from exhibiting their natural behaviour;

Amendment 344 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)

13d. Calls on all Member States to include methane reduction schemes in their strategic plans for the CAP; calls also on Members States to pay consideration to the need to mitigate methane emissions in the use of the recovery and resilience plans and to make investments thereof, particularly for rural areas;

Amendment 345 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)

13d. Draws attention to the need for the EU to actively contribute to a change in consumer behaviour leading to a reduction in the production and consumption of animal products, such as meat and milk, and calls on the Commission to take appropriate measures in this regard;

Amendment 346 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 e (new)

13e. Highlights that peatlands are the world’s largest terrestrial carbon store; underscores that the draining of peatlands for agriculture converts them from a carbon sink to a significant carbon source and makes them more susceptible to damaging wildfires; calls on the Commission to swiftly present an ambitious and concrete action plan to halt the conversion, draining and burning of peatlands and urgently stimulate their restoration and rewetting;

Amendment 347 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 e (new)

13e. Stresses the need to promote conscious consumer behaviour across the EU, and calls, in this context, on the Commission to prepare an information campaign highlighting the risks associated with the current level of methane emissions and to include this aspect in the EU Ecolabel;

Amendment 348 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Commission to further analyse methane emissions from sludge and waste water and to revise the Sewage Sludge Directive7 and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive8 in 2022; calls on the Commission furthermore to be ambitious and to integrate a strong focus on methane emissions in the 2024 review of the Landfill Directive9 ; highlights the need for measures to require landfill sites to use the bio-methane they produce until its energy content drops below a useful value to add air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions to the current focus on water and soil pollution; _________________ 7 Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture. OJ L 181, 4.7.1986, p. 6. 8 Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment. OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40. ~~9Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste. OJ L 182, 16.7.1999, p. 1.~~

Amendment 349 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Commission to revise the Sewage Sludge Directive7 and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive8 in 2022; calls on the Commission furthermore to be ambitious and to integrate a strong focus on methane emissions in the 2024 review of the Landfill Directive9 ; highlights the need for measures to require landfill sites to use the bio-methane they produce until its energy content drops below a useful value and, once no longer viable to use the biomethane produced at a landfill site, the use of bio-oxidation and other technologies in hot spots to reduce the remaining methane emissions; _________________ 7Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture. OJ L 181, 4.7.1986, p. 6. 8 Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment. OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40. 9Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste. OJ L 182, 16.7.1999, p. 1.

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the total methane emissions to the atmosphere are unknown, since an important part of them come from fossil fuel mining and burning; whereas these total emissions are estimated to be around 570 Mt/year1a; _________________ 1aIPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007. https://archive.ipcc.ch/publications_and_ data/ar4/wg1/en/ch7s7-4-1.html

Amendment 350 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Pascal CANFIN, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Commission to revise the Sewage Sludge Directive7 and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive8 in 2022, with a view, inter alia, to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, including methane, from waste water treatment and sewage sludge; calls on the Commission furthermore to be ambitious and to integrate a strong focus on methane emissions in the 2024 review of the Landfill Directive9 ; highlights the need for measures to require landfill sites to use the bio-methane they produce until its energy content drops below a useful value; _________________ 7 Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture. OJ L 181, 4.7.1986, p. 6. 8 Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment. OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40. 9Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste. OJ L 182, 16.7.1999, p. 1.

Amendment 351 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Commission to revise the Sewage Sludge Directive7 and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive8 in 2022; calls on the Commission furthermore to be ambitious and to integrate a strong focus on methane emissions in the upcoming revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and in the 2024 review of the Landfill Directive9 ; highlights the need for measures to require landfill sites to use the bio-methane they produce until its energy content drops below a useful value; _________________ 7 Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture. OJ L 181, 4.7.1986, p. 6. 8 Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment. OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40. 9Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste. OJ L 182, 16.7.1999, p. 1.

Amendment 352 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the Commission to revise the Sewage Sludge Directive7 and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive8 in 2022; calls on the Commission furthermore to be ambitious and to integrate a strong focus on methane emissions in the 2024 review of the Landfill Directive9; highlights the need for measures to require landfill sites to use the ~~bio-~~methane they produce until its energy content drops below a useful value; _________________ 7 Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture. OJ L 181, 4.7.1986, p. 6. 8 Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment. OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40. 9Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste. OJ L 182, 16.7.1999, p. 1.

Amendment 353 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Recommends that the section of the Strategic Plan Regulation relating to the GAEC, as well as the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, be reviewed with a view to eliminating proposals whose implementation would cause an increase in methane emissions to the air from wetlands and unmanaged farmland;

Amendment 354 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Recalls that methane emissions from the waste sector comes partly from leaks out of biogas plants; calls on the Commission to publish guidelines on the best methods to build and operate biogas plants to address leaks due to poor maintenance, operation and design;

Amendment 355 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Jan HUITEMA

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4 a (new)

Highlights the importance of prioritising waste prevention, and reiterates its call contained in its Resolution 2020/2077 on the new Circular Economy Action Plan for binding targets for waste reduction and targets to cap the generation of residual waste in the review of the Waste Directive and Landfill Directive foreseen for 2024;

Amendment 356 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14b. Recalls that the IED has successively contributed to reducing pollution from industrial activities; underlines that landfill disposal, at the bottom of the waste hierarchy, is the most polluting way to manage waste both in terms of GHG emissions and other pollutants to air, soil and water; highlights however that landfill disposal is not covered by any Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Documents (BREF); calls on the Commission to produce a BREF document for landfilling, which will include, among others, provisions on methane;

Amendment 357 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4 b (new)

Points out that, according to the UNEP 2021 Methane Global Assessment, the reduction of food waste and loss, combined with shift to renewable energy and more energy efficiency, can reduce global methane emissions by 15% by 2030, bringing also co-benefits such as decreased pressure on ruminant and crops production;

Amendment 358 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Call~~Regrets the lack of focus onf the Member States to fully comply with the existing requirements of the Landfill Directive, including the objective for 2035, by which date the amount of municipal waste landfilled is to be reduced to 10 % or less of the total amount ofLandfill Directive on the prevention, therefore calls for its alignment with the overarching principles of the Circular Economy Action Plan; reiterates its call in Resolution 2020/2077 on the new Circular Economy Action Plan that the 10% landfill target should be set on a baseline year as kg of waste per person per year, so that the combined effect of reduction, reuse, recycling and composting delivers the best environmental result, while muini~~cipal waste generated, by weight;~~mising landfilling of residuals, as well as the calls on the Commission to ~~develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure that Member States that are likely to miss that target take corrective measures and actions~~propose targets to cap the generation of residual waste in the review of the Waste Directive and Landfill Directive foreseen for2024;

Amendment 359 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Calls on the Member States to fully comply with the existing requirements of the Landfill Directive~~, including~~; highlights with concern that in 2017, 15 Member States were not fully meeting the obligation laid down in the directive to treat waste before landfilling, and that a number of facilities are still not in line with the requirements of the directive; recalls the objective for 2035, by which date the amount of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfilleds is to be reduced to 10 35% or less of the total amount of biodegradable municipal waste generated, by weight; is concerned by the great disparities in landfilling percentages across the EU, with 10 Member States having landfilled over 50 % , and 5 having landfilled above 70 % of municipal waste in 2015; calls on the Commission to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure that Member States that are not in compliance with the Landfill Directive and/or that are likely to miss thate 35% target take corrective measures and actions;

Amendment 36 #

Maria SPYRAKI, Pietro FIOCCHI

Motion for a resolution
Recital Α a (new)

Αa. whereas the CH4 emissions and concentrations are still increasing, raising concerns for air quality and climate change;

Amendment 360 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Calls on the Member States to fully comply with the existing requirements of the Landfill Directive, including the objective for 2035, by which date the amount of municipal waste landfilled is to be reduced to 10 % or less of the total amount of municipal waste generated, by weight; calls on the Commission to develop a comprehensive strategy to support Member States in their efforts to move away from landfills and to ensure that Member States that are likely to miss that target take corrective measures and actions; underlines the importance of setting more ambitious targets on commercial and industrial waste for which no legally binding targets to reduce landfilling are set yet;

Amendment 361 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Calls on the Member States to fully comply with the existing requirements of the Landfill Directive, including the objective for 2035, by which date the amount of municipal waste landfilled is to be reduced to 10 % or less of the total amount of municipal waste generated, by weight; calls on the Commission to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure that Member States that are likely to miss that target take corrective measures and actions; calls on the Commission to be more ambitious by setting binding targets for commercial and industrial waste, which still do not have any specific ones;

Amendment 362 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Petros KOKKALIS, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Calls on the Member States to fully comply with the existing requirements of the Landfill Directive, including the objective for ~~2035, by which date the amount of~~the amount of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled is to be reduced to 10 35% or less of the total amount of biodegradable municipal waste generated, by weight; calls on the Commission to ~~develop a comprehensive strategy to~~ ensure that Member States that ~~are likely to~~have missed that target take corrective measures and actions;

Amendment 363 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Calls on the Commission furthermore to be ambitious and to integrate a strong focus on methane emissions in the 2024 review of the Landfill Directive; reiterates the calls contained in its Resolution 2020/2077 on the new Circular Economy Action Plan to focus the revised directive on prevention, and to improve the 10% landfill target, defining a landfill cap in kg/person/year, so that combined effect of reduction, reuse, recycling and composting delivers the best environmental result, while minimising landfilling of residuals; highlights the need for measures to require landfill sites to use the bio- methane they produce until its energy content drops below a useful value;

Amendment 364 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Calls on the Commission to align the current Directive on the landfill of waste with the EU’s overall climate change and GHG emission reduction objectives; stresses that with the current Directive due for review by 2024, an in- depth analysis should be launched with a view to better address GHG-related issues; considers that a key improvement would be to ensure that the methodology for accounting for GHG from landfills is more robust and harmonized across the EU;

Amendment 365 #

Mick WALLACE, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Calls on the Commission to support the improvement of the treatment of municipal solid waste in landfills, for which no recycling or other form of recovery is possible, as well as to favour and encourage the transition from disposal, albeit residual, of waste to landfill, to more sustainable alternative forms of disposal;

Amendment 366 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Reiterates its call in its Resolution 2020/2077 on the new Circular Economy Action Plan calling on the Commission to make legislative proposals to implement the goal of halving food waste by 2030;

Amendment 367 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Regrets that the Landfill Directive does not focus on waste prevention, therefore calls for its alignment with the overarching principles of the Circular Economy Action Plan; calls on the Commission to set the landfill target with reference to a baseline year, instead of "any given year" to reward waste reduction efforts, and to define a landfill cap in terms of kilograms of waste per capita per year rather than as a percentage so that the combined effect of reduction, reuse, recycling and composting delivers the best environmental result, while minimising landfilling of residuals and avoiding overcapacity of incineration that could cause lock-in and undermine the development of the circular economy;

Amendment 368 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Calls on the Commission to monitor progress made by Member States regarding the separate collection of bio- waste, due to be implemented by 2023; recalls that, in accordance with the waste treatment hierarchy, Member States are legally required to take measures to encourage the recycling of bio-waste, which include composting and digestion of bio-waste, bearing in mind that, bio- waste is usually collected and treated at local level; stresses therefore that the Commission should encourage further cooperation between regions and Member States and harmonisation through the exchange of best practices;

Amendment 369 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)

15c. Reiterates the new Circular Economy Action Plan’s objectives in significantly achieving circularity and avoiding GHG and particularly methane emissions from escaping the closed loop; understands that a genuinely integrated waste management should be promoted to successfully implement the waste hierarchy, and to higher-up the treatment of waste;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas, similarly to CO2 , there is no difference between the molecule of the biogenic and fossil methane;

Amendment 370 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Emphasises that closure and after- care procedures for landfill cells are key to reducing leakages, taking into account the entire life cycle of landfill sites; calls on the Commission to provide specific ~~incentives~~support suited to the conditions of each Member State in order to ensure, t~~o the greatest extent possible,~~he achievement of the 31 December 2023 target for source separation and separate collection of bio-waste, including by encouraging cooperation between the public and private sectors to secure ~~a high degree of~~ separate collection, recycling and recovery of biodegradable waste, leading to efficient diversion from landfill; highlights that there must always be a feasible biological treatment (composting or anaerobic digestion) option; in that regard, acknowledges the potential of anaerobic digestion from bio-degradable waste which allows the production of biomethane; recalls that the final step after anaerobic digestion should be composting as a way to prevent fugitive emissions of methane and create a quality soil amendment; believes that incineration of waste is at odds with a fully circular economy; calls, therefore, on Member States to end support schemes for incineration facilities and to plan their progressive decommissioning, starting with the least efficient ones;

Amendment 371 #

Pietro FIOCCHI, Maria SPYRAKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Emphasises that closure and after- care procedures for landfill cells are key to reducing leakages, taking into account the entire life cycle of landfill sites; calls on the Commission to provide specific incentives suited to the conditions of each Member State in order to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, waste prevention and separate collection of bio-waste, including by encouraging cooperation between the public and private sectors to secure a high degree of separate collection, recycling and recovery of biodegradable waste, ~~leading to efficient diversion from landfill~~including - when waste cannot be recycled - energy recovery in advanced Waste-to-Energy facilities with a high energy efficiency and low emissions, leading to efficient diversion from landfill; calls on the Commission to provide specific incentives suited to the conditions of each Member State in order to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, the treatment of the bio- degradable part of residual, non- recyclable waste left after separate collection, according to the waste hierarchy;

Amendment 372 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 373 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 374 #

Sara CERDAS

Amendment 375 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Highlights that reservoir surfaces are a globally significant source of GHG emissions, including methane mainly due to sediment accumulation in impoundments, and that dam removal can result in strong reduction of emissions from impounded areas; calls on the European Environmental Agency to collect information about this subject to inform the assessment of potential policy measures;

Amendment 376 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Believes that incineration of municipal waste has no role in a fully circular economy; calls on Member States that are reliant on incineration of municipal waste to phase out support schemes for waste incineration, introduce moratoriums on new facilities and decommission older and less efficient ones;

Amendment 377 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Reminds the Commission that the United Nations suggests introducing a price for methane emissions or an emissions reduction target; calls on the Commission to introduce these measures in current and future legislation;

Amendment 378 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Calls on the Commission to consider the introduction of a price on methane emissions or an emissions reduction target as suggested by the United Nations;

Amendment 379 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Calls on the Member States to develop effective systems for the selective collection and recovery of bio-waste;

Amendment 38 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas economic growth requires additional resources and embodied energy, and therefore, we need to rethink the extent to which we pursue GDP growth by exploring alternative indicators, such as the Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare and the Genuine Progress Indicator;

Amendment 380 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Calls on the Commission to implement education programs throughout the European Union in order to achieve green education in early childhood, specially related to the fight against Climate Change through the implementation of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas anthropogenic sources of methane emissions account for approximately a 60% of total methane emissions, and natural sources for the remaining 40%;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)

- having regard to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action,

Amendment 40 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)

Ac. whereas many of the measures that can be taken at farm level to slash methane are also effective in reducing ammonia, and thus constitute a double win for air quality;

Amendment 41 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)

Ad. whereas fossil gas consists almost entirely of methane and therefore is incompatible with the EU’s climate objectives and the goals of the Paris Agreement;

Amendment 42 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)

Ae. whereas according to the 2018 IEA report, 'The Future of Petrochemicals', petrochemical feedstock accounts for 12% of global oil demand, and this share is expected to increase driven by increasing demand for plastics, fertilisers and other products;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the European Climate Law commits the EU to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 with increased emission reductions by 2030; whereas addressing energy-related methane emissions is a key component of the European Green Deal, as are measures in the agriculture and waste sectors; whereas the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions notes that the EU should also play a role in ensuring methane emission reductions at global level, as the largest global importer of fossil fuels and a significant player in the agriculture sector;deleted

Amendment 44 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the European Climate Law commits the EU to reaching climate neutrality by 2050, with increased emission reductions by 2030; whereas addressing energy-related methane emissions is a key component of the European Green Deal, as are measures in the agriculture and waste sectors; whereas the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions notes that the EU should also play a role in ensuring methane emission reductions at global level, as the largest global importer of fossil fuels and a significant player in the agriculture sectoronly 5 % of global methane emissions come from the EU;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the European Climate Law ~~commi~~sets the ~~EU to reaching~~GHG emissions reduction objective of at least 55% by 2030 and the goal of a climate -neutralit economy by 2050 ~~with increased emission reductions by 2030~~at the latest, in line with the Paris Agreement; whereas addressing energy- related methane emissions as the sector where more cost-effective methane emissions saving can be achieved, is a key component of the European Green Deal, as are measures in the agriculture and waste sectors; whereas the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions notes that the EU should ~~also play a role~~take the leadership in ensuring methane emission reductions at global level, as the largest global importer of fossil fuels and a significant player in the agriculture sector;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the European Climate Law commits the EU as a whole to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 ~~with~~and increaseding emission reductions by 2030; whereas addressing energy-related methane emissions is a key component of the European Green Deal, as are measures in the agriculture and waste sectors; whereas the EU ~~strategy to reduce methane emissions notes that the EU should also play a role in ensuring methane emission~~accounts for only 5% of global methane emissions, and the vast majority of methane emissions from the energy sector occur outside the EU's borders, and the EU therefore has limited influence on their reductions, a~~t global level, as the largest global importer of fossil fuels and a significant player in the agriculture sector~~lthough it should strive to develop effective methods for monitoring, reporting and reducing these emissions within the appropriate international forums, while making use of import regulations;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the European Climate Law commits the EU to reaching a balance between all anthropogenic GHG emissions by sources and removals by sinks (‘climate neutrality’) by 2050 at the latest with increased emission reductions by 2030; whereas ~~addressing energy-related methane emissions is a key component of the European Green De~~urgently reducing methane emissions in the energy, agricultural, was ~~are measures in the agriculture and waste sector~~te, water, and petrochemical sectors is a necessary condition for achieving the EU’s climate targets; whereas the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions notes that the EU should also play a role in ensuring methane emission reductions at global level, as the largest global importer of fossil fuels and a significant player in the agriculture sector;

Amendment 48 #

Mick WALLACE, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the European Climate Law commits the EU to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 ~~with increased emission reduction~~and sets a binding domestic reduction target of net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990 levels by 2030; whereas addressing energy-related methane emissions is a key component of the European Green Deal, as are measures in the agriculture and waste sectors; whereas the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions notes that the EU should also play a role in ensuring methane emission reductions at global level, as the largest global importer of fossil fuels and a significant player in the agriculture sector;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the European Climate Law commits the EU to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest with increased emission reductions by 2030; whereas ~~address~~immediately and significantly reducing energy-related methane emissions is a key component of the European Green Deal, as are measures in the agriculture and waste sectors; whereas the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions notes that the EU should also play a role in ensuring methane emission reductions at global level, as the largest global importer of fossil fuels and a significant player in the agri~~culture sector~~-food sector globally;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 b (new)

— having regard to the 2018 International Energy Agency report, entitled ‘The Future of the Petrochemical: Towards a more sustainable chemicals industry',

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the European Climate Law commits the EU to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, with increased emission reductions by 2030; whereas addressing energy-related methane emissions is a key component of the European Green Deal, as are measures in the agriculture and waste sectors; whereas the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions notes that the EU should also play a role in ensuring methane emission reductions at global level, as the largest global importer of fossil fuels and a significant player in the agriculture sector;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the European Climate Law commits the EU to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest with increased emission reductions by 2030; whereas addressing energy-related methane emissions is a key component of the European Green Deal, as are measures in the agriculture and waste sectors; whereas the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions notes that the EU should also play a role in ensuring methane emission reductions at global level, as the largest global importer of fossil fuels and a significant player in the agriculture sector;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas reducing methane emissions is indispensable in the fight against climate change, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement; whereas methane emissions contribute to air pollution and it is therefore necessary to tackle these emissions in order to protect the health of EU citizenscould only make sense at global level;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas reducing methane emissions is indispensable in the fight against climate change, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement; ~~whereas methane emissions contribute to air pollution and it is therefore necessary to tackle these emissions in order to protect the health of EU citizens;~~

Amendment 54 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. ~~whereas reducing methane emissions is indispensable in the fight against climate change, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement;~~ whereas methane emissions contribute to air pollution and it is therefore necessary to tackle these emissions in order to protect the health of EU citizens; whereas double regulation of methane emissions as both an air pollutant and a greenhouse gas in a way that represents an excessive administrative burden should be avoided;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas reducing methane emissions is indispensable in the fight against climate change, as indicated in the impact assessment of the 2030 climate target plan (SWD(2020)176 final) which indicates that the target of at least 55% of greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 requires to tackle methane emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement; wWhereas methane emissions are the second largest contributor to climate change and to tropospheric ozone formation which contribute to air pollution and whereas it is therefore necessary to tackle these emissions in order to protect the health of EU citizens;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas reducing methane emissions is indispensable in the fight against climate change, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement; whereas methane emissions contribute to air pollution and the formation of ground- level ozone, another greenhouse gas with negative effects on human health, crops and the stability of ecosystems, and it is therefore necessary to tackle these emissions in order to protect the health of EU citizens;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas reducing methane emissions is indispensable in the fight against climate change, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement; whereas methane emissions also contribute to air pollution and it is therefore necessary to tackle these emissions in order to protect the health of EU citizens;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas landfills of municipal solid waste have been identified as significant sources of methane and that in some Member States the degree of real application of European landfill regulations is not satisfactory, especially as regards the control of accumulation and the migration of landfill gases;

Amendment 6 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 c (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 28 November 2019 on the Climate and Environment Emergency1a, _________________ 1a Texts Adopted, P9_TA(2019)0078

Amendment 60 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas reducing methane is important for improving air quality; whereas, despite this, methane emissions are not regulated under EU air pollution legislation and are not specifically regulated under EU climate policy;

Amendment 61 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas increases in methane emissions have an impact on biodiversity and even food security; whereas reducing methane emissions can bring multiple benefits apart from its cooling effect, including higher crop yields and food security;

Amendment 62 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas methane emissions from agriculture are an important precursor of the harmful air pollutant ground-level ozone, which has adverse effects on human health; whereas ozone is responsible for around 1 million premature respiratory deaths globally per year, with methane being responsible for about half of these deaths;1a _________________ 1a Stockholm Environment Institute, 2017

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas cutting methane emissions can have a quicker impact on slowing the rate of global warming than reducing CO2 emissions, since methane does not stay in the atmosphere for as long, and it could therefore be one of the most cost-effective strategies to rapidly reduce the rate of warming and avoid some tipping points for global warming; complementary to the efforts that we must continue to make to reduce CO2 emissions, across all sector affected in order to achieve a climate- neural economy by 2050.

Amendment 64 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas ~~cutt~~reducing methane emissions ~~can have a quicke~~has a major impact on slowing the rate of global warming ~~than reducing CO2 emissions, since methane does not stay in the atmosphere for as long, and it could~~, and is therefore be one of the most ~~cost-~~effective strategies to rapidly reduce the rate of warming and avoid ~~some~~ tipping points for global warming; whereas increases in methane emissions, compared to other GHGs can drastically accelerate global warming; whereas although reductions in methane can produce the quickest cooling effect, it is imperative that action is taken across all sectors to reduce all greenhouse gases;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas ~~cutting methane emissions can have a quicker impact on slow~~methane is a short-lived climate gas that is degraded into water and CO2 ing the rat~~e of global warming than reducing CO2 emissions, since methane does not stay in the atmosphere for as l~~mosphere within 12 years, and whereas biogenic methane sources do not add new CO2 to the atmosphere after their degradationg, ~~and it could therefore be one of the most cost- effective strategies to rapidly reduce~~but that the resulting CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by means of photosynthesis through plant growth and therefore is cyclical in principle, while methane from fossil sources adds CO2 to the rat~~e of warming and avoid some tipping points for global warming;~~mosphere, so that fossil and biogenic methane sources should be accorded different weightings.

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas ~~cutting~~ methane emissions ~~can have a quicker impact on slowing the rate of global warming than reducing CO2 emissions, since methane does not stay in the atmosphere for as long, and it coul~~represent only a small proportion of greenhouse gas emissions – around 10.6 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU – and twhere~~fore be one of the most cost- effective strategies to rapidly reduce the rate of warming and avoid some tipping points for global warming~~as the cost of measures and efforts should always be weighed against impacts;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas cutting methane emissions ~~can have a quick~~has an important short-term impact on slowing the rate of global warming ~~than reducing CO2 emissions, since methane does not stay in the atmosphere for as long, and it could~~, since methane is a short-lived climate forcer with an atmospheric lifetime of about 12 years before being ultimately degraded to CO2 in the atmosphere, and whereas cutting methane emissions is therefore be one of the most cost-effective strategies to rapidly reduce the rate of warming and avoid some tipping points for global warming;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas cutting methane emissions can have a quicker impact on slowing the rate of global warming than reducing CO2 emissions, since methane does not stay in the atmosphere for as long, and it ~~could~~ therefore beis one of the most ~~cost-~~effective strategies to rapidly reduce the rate of warming, achieve the objectives of the Paris agreement by limiting warming to 1.5°C, and avoid some tipping points for global warming;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas cutting methane emissions can have a quicker impact on slowing the rate of global warming than reducing CO2 emissions, since methane does not stay in the atmosphere for as long, and it could therefore beaccording to the UNEP´s Global Methane Assessment (2021) “reducing human-caused methane emissions is one of the most cost-effective strategies to rapidly reduce the rate of warming and ~~avoid some tipping points for global warming~~contribute significantly to global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C”;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2

~~— having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 on the European Green Deal (COM(2019)0640),~~deleted

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas more than half of global methane emissions stem from human activities in three sectors: fossil fuels (35%),waste (20%) and agriculture (40%); whereas in the fossil fuel sector, oil and gas extraction, processing and distribution account for 23% and coal mining accounts for 12% of global anthropogenic methane emissions, respectively; whereas in the waste sector, landfills and waste water make up about 20% of global anthropogenic methane emissions; whereas in the agricultural sector, livestock emissions from manure and enteric fermentation represent roughly 32% and rice cultivation 8% of global anthropogenic methane emissions, respectively1a; _________________ 1aUnited Nations Environment Programme (2021). Global Methane Assessment: Benefits and Costs of Mitigating Methane Emissions (Summary for Policymakers).

Amendment 71 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas the family farm model is vital to the future of agriculture and rural communities in the EU; whereas the number of farms in the EU decreased by about one quarter in the relatively short period between 2005 and 2016 of which the vast majority were small family farms; whereas over the same period, the number of farms with livestock fell by well over one third; whereas the intensification and concentration of agricultural systems has been a major contributor to this decrease in the number of farms in the EU;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas 53% of anthropogenic methane emissions come from the agricultural sector, making it the largest single contributing sector to methane emissions in the EU; whereas unlike the waste and energy sectors whose methane emissions decreased slightly in the period of 2010 to 2018, emissions from the agricultural sector increased, demonstrating the failure of existing regulation to effectively address agricultural methane emissions;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas, unlike other sources of methane, methane emissions in agriculture from natural fermentation by ruminants resulting from the exploitation of grassland to provide food for humans cannot be significantly reduced;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. E. whereas methane emissions associated with human activities account for around 59% of all methane in the atmosphere, with a total of 53% of these anthropogenic methane emissions in the EU coming from agriculture, 26% from waste and 19% from the energy sector;

Amendment 75 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas there are plans to establish an International Methane Emissions Observatory in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Energy Agency;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas animal agriculture significantly contributes to methane emissions, particularly through enteric emissions and gaseous emissions from manure storage;

Amendment 77 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas there is no policy in the EU to specifically set measures to reduce methane emissions in a cross-sectoral way;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas biogas and biomethane play a key role in the energy transition;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas methane emissions in agriculture are primarily driven by the livestock industry, particularly ruminants such as cattle (for dairy and meat),sheep and goats, which are mainly associated with microbial activity in the digestive tracts of animals and manure management; whereas large livestock farms with more than 50 livestock units account for about 70% of agricultural methane emissions and 40% of total anthropogenic methane emissions in the EU;

Amendment 8 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)

— having regard to the 2018 International Energy Agency report, entitled ‘The Future of Petrochemicals: Towards a more sustainable chemicals industry',

Amendment 80 #

Martin HOJSÍK, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES, Jan HUITEMA

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas, unlike other sources of methane, methane emissions in agriculture from natural fermentation by ruminants resulting from the exploitation of grassland to provide food for humans cannot be significantly reduced and whereas interfering with nature cannot be justified;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas innovative and advanced technologies that can detect methane leaks in real time, including the type, size and direction of the plume, and that allow for immediate reaction and prevent large amounts of methane to be released in the air, already exist and can be immediately deployed;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas in the EU, according to the European Environment Agency and based on reported data from Member States to the UNFCCC, 53% of anthropogenic methane emissions come from agriculture, 26% from waste and 19% from energy1b; _________________ 1bEC EU Methane Strategy, page 1, citing https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and- maps/data/data-viewers/greenhouse- gases-viewer.

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas climate targets should take account of impact analyses that support the setting of targets and strategies on the basis of science;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. F. whereas methane accounts for 10% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)

Dc. whereas moving away from intensive livestock farming practices towards sustainable agriculture will deliver an immense reduction in methane emissions from the agricultural sector while also providing benefits for the environment, biodiversity, animal welfare and public health; whereas drastically reducing the number of animals kept in the EU for agriculture is an essential step in this process;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)

Dc. whereas over 80% of the fossil gas, 90% of the oil and40% of coal consumed in Europe is imported and most methane emissions resulting from EU consumption of fossil fuels occur outside the EU, making the EU an important driver of global methane emissions;1c _________________ 1cEurostat (November 2019). EU Imports of Energy Products - Recent Developments. Available here. See also Eurostat (webpage). Where Does Our Energy Come From? Available here. Eurostat (webpage). From Where Do We Import Energy and How Dependent Are We? Available here.

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)

Dc. G. whereas the EU is the world's largest importer of fossil gas, but most of the methane emissions associated with the extraction and import of these fuels are generated outside the EU;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)

Dd. whereas methane is a precursor gas for harmful ground-level ozone (O3) and contributes to air pollution; whereas air pollution is the single biggest environmental health risk in Europe,1d with ground-level ozone contributing to nearly 20,000 premature deaths in Europe per year;1ewhereas tackling methane emissions is therefore not only an environmental and climate priority but also necessary to protect the health of EU citizens; _________________ 1d https://www.who.int/phe/publications/air- pollution-global-assessment/en/ 1e https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/ai r-quality-in-europe-2020-report , Page 7.

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)

Dd. whereas adapting our diets and drastically reducing the production and consumption of animals while developing alternative protein sources to substitute meat, dairy and other animal products is a cost-effective, quick, healthy and easy measure to fight methane-induced climate change and will realise countless co- benefits for human, animal and ecosystem health and welfare;

Amendment 9 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Anja HAZEKAMP, Manuel BOMPARD

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)

— having regard to the UN Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report 2019 of 26 November 2019, and to its first synthesis report on fossil fuel production of December2019 (Production Gap Report 2019),

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D e (new)

De. whereas an agricultural system which imports millions of tons of soy and maize each year, feeds that to animals, and uses the huge amounts of excess manure this system creates to produce so- called biogas is inherently unsustainable; whereas the promotion of biogas as a “solution” " risks locking in unsustainable forms of intensive animal production that further contribute to the root causes of harmful methane emissions in agriculture;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D f (new)

Df. whereas methane leakage during production and transport of fossil gas is a significant contributor to methane emissions in the energy sector; whereas improving leakage detection and repair and eliminating the practice of routine venting and flaring are essential measures to reduce methane emissions from the energy sector; whereas EU imports over half of globally traded fossil gas, thereby contributing to significant methane emissions outside of EU-borders, necessitating mandatory methane performance standards for imported fossil gas; whereas a phase-out of fossil gas production and consumption in the EU must be achieved as soon as possible in order to minimise methane-induced climate change; whereas abandoned fossil gas wells should be properly capped to prevent further methane leaks after their closure;

Amendment 92 #

Martin HOJSÍK, Pascal CANFIN, María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS, Frédérique RIES

Motion for a resolution
Recital D g (new)

Dg. whereas peatlands are the world’s largest terrestrial carbon store; whereas the draining of peatlands for agriculture converts them from a carbon sink to a significant carbon source and makes them more susceptible to damaging wildfires; whereas the reduced methane emissions from drained peatlands are significantly outweighed by their increased emissions of carbon dioxide; whereas halting the conversion, draining and burning of peatlands and stimulating their restoration and rewetting is an extremely effective measure to fight climate change;

Amendment 93 #

Mick WALLACE, Clare DALY, Manuel BOMPARD, Anja HAZEKAMP, Petros KOKKALIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1 Points to the lack of global leadership on mitigation of methane emissions, with very little action being taken on methane internationally; calls on the Commission to make methane emissions a top priority in its climate diplomacy;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the cross-sectoral approach outlined in the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions and fully supports a fair ~~framework~~and clear framework with binding measures and targets covering the agriculture, waste and energy sectors;

Amendment 95 #

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Sara CERDAS, Tiemo WÖLKEN, Jytte GUTELAND, Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES, César LUENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Welcom~~Notes the cross-sectoral approach outlined in the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions and fully supports a ~~fair~~comprehensive policy framework covering the agriculture, waste and energy sectors; regrets however, the lack of binding measures and emissions reduction targets for the agricultural sector; stresses the need for the agricultural sector, with particular emphasis on the industrial livestock industry, to take responsibility for their contribution to the climate crisis, calls on the Commission and the Member States to swiftly commit to concrete, sustained and binding measures to reduce agricultural emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the cross-sectoral approach outlined in the EU strategy to ~~reduc~~mitigate methane emissions and fully supports a ~~fai~~clear framework and pathway covering the agriculture, waste and energy sectors; , which allow to create synergies between these sectors and the related socio-economical aspect and to achieve the EU decarbonisations objectives throughout Europe and international business.

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the cross-sectoral approach outlined in the EU strategy to reduce methane emissions and ~~fully supports a fair framework~~calls on the Commission to pursue such an approach when proposing legislation; calls on the Commission to propose a legislative framework that establishes binding Union and national methane emissions reduction targets covering the agriculture, waste ~~and~~, energy, water, and petrochemical sectors;

Amendment 98 #