Activities of Rebecca HARMS related to 2008/2105(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
2050: The future begins today − Recommendations for the EU's future integrated policy on climate change (debate)
Amendments (25)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Recalls its abovementioned resolution of 21 May 2008, and in particular the fact that all efforts to curb emissions should aim at staying well below the objective of limiting global temperature increases to below 2°C, inasmuch as a level of warming of that magnitude would already heavily impact on our society and individual lifestyles and would also entail significant changes in ecosystems and water resources; is deeply concerned about the fact that, as indicated by many recent scientific reports, climate change is both more rapid and more serious in terms of its adverse effects than was previously thought; consequently, calls on the Commission to closely monitor and analyse the latest scientific findings with a view to assessing, in particular, whether the EU 2°C target would still achieve the aim of avoiding dangerous climate change;
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas human society is facing a dual challenge as regards threats to the earth's life-supporting system, namely climate change and the overuse and destruction of many of the most important ecosystems; whereas there are many interlinkages between the climate system and ecosystems – in particular the capacity of oceans and terrestrial ecosystems to sequester carbon – and whereas climate change can only be addressed effectively within the context of healthy ecosystems,
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls in particular the essential objectives in combating climate change and stresses the importance of setting a clear, in accordance with the recommendations contained in the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) and as included in the Bali road- map, of setting, for the EU and the other industrialised countries as a group, a medium-term target of a 20%-35-40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, ands well as a long-term reduction target of 50%-at least 80% by 2050, in order to achieve a 50% probabilitycompared to 1990, maintaining the focus ofn restricting the increase in average global temperature to 2°C over pre-industrial levels; and thus achieving a 50% probability of meeting this objective;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls its position of [date of adoption in plenary] within the framework of the legislative procedures on the "climate and energy package";
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas it is examining, together with the Council, proposals for legislation aimed at delivering the EU climate commitments,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the Lisbon Treaty explicitly lays down the objectives and competences of the Union in the field of climate change and, if ratified, will strengthen the European Union's role in promoting sustainable development and fighting climate change,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Agrees that the development, application and export of modern environmental technologies makes a contribution to fulfilling the Lisbon Strategy and meeting the EU’s Kyoto targets and other climate objectives, thus enabling environmental targets and economic growth to be realised; emphasises, in this context, that tackling climate change will lead to societal changes that will help to create new jobs and industries, combat dependency on imports of fossil fuels and provide social benefits for citizens; is convinced, moreover, that climate change can only be successfully combated if citizens are fully engaged in the process and are protected during the period of transition to a carbon-neutral economy;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
O. whereas the available funding for adaptation measuresmitigation and adaptation efforts are both of paramount importance; whereas industrialised countries have a historical responsibility for climate change; whereas developing countries have contributed little to climate change and yet are the most affected by it; whereas the available funding to combat climate change in developing countries is quite inadequate and should be substantially increased, International Dimension: Post-2012Or. en
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that the new climate change agreement should come into being under the auspices of the UN and on the principle of a ‘sharedcommon but differentiated responsibility’, with the countries of the industrialised world mtaking a clear contribution to emission reductthe lead in reducing their domestic emissions while the developing countries also commit themselves to climate measures within the limits of their capabilit, in accordance with the Bali Action Plan, to taking nationally appropriate mitigation actions in the context of sustainable development, supported and enabled, in a measurable, reportable and verifiable manner by technology, financing and capacity- building from industrialised countries;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to incorporate the requirements of emission reductions, and measures to adapt to the consequences of climate change, into development aid programmes, and/or to refer to these requirements in the decision-making processes of international development aid agencies, thus involving the private sector and, public authorities and non-governmental organisations in the countries or regions concerned by way of partnerships; stresses that additional resources need to be mobilised to help developing countries to tackle the climate change challenge and that emerging initiatives in this context must be formally linked to the UNFCCC process and to achieving the Millennium Development Goals; welcomes the EU’s launching of a Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) to support adaptation to climate change in poor developing countries that are most vulnerable to climate change and recalls in this regard its resolution of 21 October 20081; Or. en Energy
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses that Europe needs a forward- looking strategic energy and external energy policy, common energy policy, both within the EU and in external relations, to ensure a high level of security of energy supply meeting the conditions of sustainability, resource efficiency and climate neutrality, and that questions regarding the transport and storage of energy under the umbrella term ‘energy infrastructure’ must be answered alongside the question of the availability of energy;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on politicianthe EU, the Member States and the business community: – to invest in infrastructure, networks and grids for the generation of solar power for hydrogen production, andproduction, transport and storage of solar energy and hydrogen; – to offer third countries, by way of energy partnerships, programmes for the creation of the necessary institutions, infrastructures and training programmes for locally based experts and network access for their own needs;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses the considerable potential of the use of sustainable biomass for energy production with a view to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and calls for a European strategy for the exploitation of biomass forsustainable biomass for production of electricity and gas, heating and cooling; BiofuelsOr. en
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Considers it essential to involve the developing countries in a long-term strategy for the development and production of biofuels, in order to examine the possibility of their economic planning and profitability, to secure availability and production of food, to answer the question of their environmental sustainability, and not least to permit social developments and lasting increase in earnings; Energy efficiency, as well as to ensure that developing countries receive the training needed in order to be in a position to meet the EU sustainability criteria; Or. en
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Calls on the Commission to reconsider the non-binding nature of the 20% goal for energy efficiency by 2020 and if necessary to propose to the Council that this target be made bindingpropose a binding goal of 20% in energy efficiency by 2020 and to accompany that proposal with concrete interim reduction targets;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the relevant local authorities and professional associations in the Member States to establish the criterion of energy efficiency criteria, guidelines and national legislation or administrative decisions for new buildings as a leitmotiv for architects and building engineers, with building regulations for the energy efficiency of new buildings as a possible first step in this directionnd major renovation works;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Welcomes the creation and the extension within the EU, as well as to the neighbourhood countries, of the Trans- European NetworksTransport Networks (TEN-T) and calls for the priority projects, in particular those which are most climate- friendly, to be completed as soon as possible, since these are vitally important for freight transport logistics and a sustainable European transport policy; Agriculture and livestock breedingOr. en
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 84 a (new)
Paragraph 84 a (new)
84a. Recognises that the cultivation of cereals and soya as feed for livestock is responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions; recalls the report entitled “Livestock’s Long Shadow” issued by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in November 2006, which states that the livestock industry is responsible for 18% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions; considers that a switch from intensive livestock production to extensive sustainable systems should be encouraged while total meat consumption also needs to be reduced in particular in industrialised countries;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85
Paragraph 85
85. Calls for feed rations in dairy and meat production to be reviewed, and where necessary improved, with a view tothe aim of achieving a reduction in methane formation in the rumen of ruminants without restricting productivity; ; calls for any feeding and breeding measures in the livestock sector to be subject to an animal health and welfare impact assessment and for such measures not to be introduced if there are any adverse effects on the animals concerned; Or. en Soil protection
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 116
Paragraph 116
116. Notes that possible measures may include collection and evaluation of relevant data on the effects of climate change on human health, improving preparedness for natural disasters, public health services and emergency planning, support for measures to promote health in all sectors, and measures to increase awareness, particularly public information about new types of dangers to health, warnings and specific tips on avoiding exposure, with special reference to insect- borne diseases and heat waves;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital CA
Recital CA
CA. whereas many of the effects of climate change on health as reported for instance by the WHO may be kept at bay by preparing and strengthening health systems, and by appropriate preventive measures, with particular attention being paid to the spread of tropical diseases, and by public information campaigns addressing especially vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, newborn babies, children and elderly people, Or. en Advanced technologies
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 125
Paragraph 125
125. Calls for the establishment of a European Climate Fund and/or corresponding funds in the Member States, to be financed by the proceeds of ETS auctions, and regards this as a way of creating a capital stock to fund a future climate policy, given that there are limits on how far one can plan now for the individual measures of that policy and the investment and solidarity they will require; Or. en 2050 - The future begins today
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 146 a (new)
Paragraph 146 a (new)
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the task of preserving creationnature and humanity is passed on from one generation to the next,