34 Amendments of Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY related to 2018/2974(RSP)
Amendment 9 #
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that European citizens already face direct impacts of climate change; underlines that according to the European Environment Agency, average annual losses caused by weather and climate-related extremes in the Union amounted to around €12.8 billion between 2010 and 2016, and that, if no further action is taken, climate damages in the EU could amount to at least €190 billion by 2080, equivalent to a net welfare loss of 1.8% of its current GDP; emphasises that under a high emissions scenario annual costs from flooding in the EU could go up to EUR 1 trillion by 2100 and that weather-related disasters could affect about two-thirds of European citizens by 2100, compared with 5% today;
Amendment 30 #
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Recalls the UN Environment Emissions Gap Report 2018 which finds that current Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) will lead to up to 3°C warming by the end of the century with warming continuing afterwards; stresses the importance of all Parties, including the EU, to increase their climate ambition;
Amendment 37 #
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls its demand expressed in its COP23 resolution for the Commission to prepare by COP24 a mid-century zero emissions strategy for the Union; welcomes in this regard the publication of the Commission Communication "A Clean Planet for all – A European strategic long- term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy"; asks the Member States tendorses the objective of net-zero agree on a net- zero 2050 strategy,nhouse gas emissions by 2050 and asks the Member States to do the same as part of the future Europe debate, at the special EU summit in Sibiu in May 2019;
Amendment 49 #
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that the strategy presents eight pathways for the economic, technological and social transformation needed for the Union to comply with the long-term temperature goal of the Paris Agreement; stresses that there are many ways to reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 at the latest, but that this requires swift action from the local and regional levels to the national and European level; calls on the Member States to put in place clear targets and policies and provide investment support for net-zero pathways and recalls the obligation of Member States to adopt long-term strategies as foreseelaid down in the Governance Regulation;
Amendment 67 #
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Notes with concern that the EU’s energy import dependence today is around 55%; highlights that under a net-zero emissions scenario this would fall to 20% by 2050, positively impacting the EU’s trade balance and geopolitical position; notes that the cumulative savings in fossil fuel import costs between 2031-2050 would be EUR 2-3 trillion, which could be spent on other priorities of European citizens;
Amendment 69 #
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Highlights that reduced air pollution under a net-zero emissions scenario would cut premature deaths from fine particulate matter by more than 40%; notes that under such a scenario health damages would be reduced by around EUR 200 billion per year;
Amendment 81 #
Paragraph 9
9. Notes however that those pathways rely to a large extentinclude the use of a number onf carbon removal technologies, including through carbon capture and storage and direct air capture, that yet have to prove their feasibilitybe deployed on a large scale; considers that the EU net-zero strategy should not overly rely on suchprioritise direct emissions reductions and should only aim for the use of carbon removal technologies, which should complementere no direct emissions reductions options are available; believes that further action by 2030 is needed if the Union is to avoid relying on carbon removal technologies that would entail significant risks for ecosystems, biodiversity and food security as confirmed by the IPCC 1.5 report;
Amendment 111 #
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes that the Commission clearly expressefinds that net-zero emissions are possible without net job losses and that they put a lakes positively note of emphasisthe detailed assessment onf the transition in the energy intensive industry; highlights that a just transition towardseconomy-wide employment will increase by 2.1 million additional jobs by 2050 under a net-zero GHG emissions has the potential to create a net gain of more than 1 million additional jobs in the Unionscenario compared to a employment increase of 1.3 million additional jobs under the 80% emission reduction scenario;
Amendment 132 #
Subheading 2 a (new)
Industrial competitiveness and innovation
Amendment 133 #
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Notes that a number of emerging markets are positioning themselves to play an important role in meeting the needs of the global market during the transition to a net-zero emissions economy, for instance with regard to zero-emissions transport and renewable energy. Stresses that the EU must remain the leading economy in green innovation and investments in green technology;
Amendment 134 #
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Notes that the European Commission 2018 report on energy prices and costs in Europe highlights the ongoing high exposure of the EU to volatile and increasing fossil fuel prices and that future electricity production costs are expected to increase for fossil fuel- generated electricity and fall for renewables; stresses that EU energy import costs increased in 2017 by 26% to EUR 266 billion, mainly due to increasing oil prices; the report estimates that oil price increases has had a negative impact on EU growth (-0.4% GDP in 2017) and on inflation (+0.6);
Amendment 137 #
Paragraph 12
12. Insists that that the EU’s low- carbon industrial leadership must be secured, that the EU must decrease its dependency on fossil fuels and with that its exposure to volatile and increasing fossil fuel prices, and that any significant risk of carbon leakage must be and can be avoided by intelligent and targeted policy frameworks;
Amendment 141 #
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Asks the Commission to examine the effectiveness and legality of additional measures to protect industries at risk of carbon leakage in particular in respect of the imports of products coming from countries that do not fulfil their commitments under the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 147 #
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Highlights the importance of and encourages innovation in a wide range of technologies in order to decarbonise the economy, such as zero-emissions transport, the circular economy and the bio-economy;
Amendment 149 #
Subheading 3
Amendment 166 #
Paragraph 15
15. Supports an update of the Union’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) with an economy-wide target of 55% domestic GHG emissions reductions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels; calls therefore on EU leaders to considersupport raising the level of ambition of the Union’s NDC at the special EU Summit in Sibiu in May 2019, in view of the UN Climate Summit in September 2019;
Amendment 175 #
Paragraph 16
16. Considers therefore that the Commission should, at the latest, use its during the 2022-2024 reviews of the 2030 climate package and other relevant legislation, topresent legislative proposals raiseing the ambition level accordingly in order for the co-legislators to bring the 2030 ambition level in line with the net-zero emissions economy target; believes that insufficient 2030 ambition would limit future options, possibly limiting the availability of some options for cost-efficient decarbonisation; considers these reviews to be an important milestone for securing the EU climate commitments;
Amendment 205 #
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Calls for a harmonisation of carbon and energy pricing in the EU in support of the transition to a net-zero emissions economy, in particular for sectors not covered by the EU’s emissions trading system;
Amendment 231 #
Paragraph 20
20. Underlines the central importance of aCalls for a highly energy-efficient and renewables-based power sectorenergy system and asks the Commission and the Member States to take all necessary action in that regard as it will have spill-over effects across all economic sectors; highlights that all pathways assume full decarbonisation of the power sector by 2050, a drastic reduction of fossil fuels and a strong increase in renewable energies; calls on the Member States to fully harness the potential of energy efficiency, especially when it comes to decarbonising the housing sector;
Amendment 237 #
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Underlines that the Ecodesign Directive has contributed significantly to the EU’s climate targets by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 320 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents annually and that it is estimated that by 2020 EU consumers will save a total of up to EUR 112 billion, or around EUR 490 per year per household a result of the Directive; calls for regulating additional products under the Ecodesign Directive, including tablets and smartphones, and for keeping existing standards up to date in order to reflect technological development;
Amendment 243 #
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses the need to implement the Energy Union and ensure further integration of the European Energy market in order to most effectively decarbonise the power sector and to facilitate investments where most renewable energy production can be effectuated; especially raising the level of interconnectivity between Member States including encouraging more cross- border support schemes;
Amendment 265 #
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Calls on the Commission to propose as soon as possible a European Rail Agenda, including a framework for removing the barriers towards the swift realisation of an interoperable intra-EU high-speed rail network and mobilising enhanced investments in high-speed rail connections;
Amendment 268 #
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22 b. Underlines that in order to achieve climate neutrality for the EU economy as a whole all sectors must contribute including international aviation and shipping; notes that the Commission’s analysis shows that current global targets and measures foreseen respectively by IMO and ICAO even if fully implemented fall short of the necessary emissions reductions and that further action consistent with the economy-wide objective of net-zero emissions are needed; highlights the need for investments in zero- and low-carbon technologies and fuels in these sectors;
Amendment 283 #
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Calls for a Common Agricultural Policy that is contributing to greenhouse gas emission reductions in line with the transition to a climate neutral economy;
Amendment 301 #
Paragraph 24
24. Supports active and sustainable forest management at national level, together with concrete means to incentivise the potential of the EU bioeconomy, given the large potential of forests to contribute to strengthening Europe's climate efforts (through sequestration, storage and substitution effects) and achieving the target of zero emissions by 2050; recognising the need of climate change adaptation and the need to halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystems services in the EU by 2020;
Amendment 334 #
Paragraph 27
27. Considers that in order for the Union to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, substantial private investments need to be mobilised; believes that this requires long- term planning and regulatory stability and predictability for investors and that future EU-regulations need to take this into consideration, especially for the period up to, and post 2030; stresses therefore that the implementation of the Sustainable Finance Action Plan adopted in March 2018 should be prioritised;. including a calibration of capital requirements of banks and a brown add on, prudential rules for insurance companies and an update of institutional investors and asset managers duties;
Amendment 337 #
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Considers that the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework should, before its adoption, be evaluated in the light of the objective to reach a climate neutral economy by 2050 and that a standard test to climate proof expenditure under EU budget must be established;
Amendment 348 #
Paragraph 29
29. Stresses the importance of creating a just transition fund, especially for the most affected regions, with a general horizontal streamlining of social aspects into exto a carbon neutral economy and calls on Member States to put in place appropriate policies and financing in this regard; underlines that EU spending from relevant funds should also support the just transition where appropriate; highlights in this regard that the ETS Modernisating climate fundingon Fund will support investments in a just transition in carbon- dependent regions;
Amendment 364 #
Paragraph 30
30. Highlights the significant impact of behavioural change in achieving GHG emissions reductions, including fromin the whole food supply chain and in the transport sector and particularly thein aviation sector; calls on the Commission to explore as soon as possible policy options to encourage behavioural change;
Amendment 366 #
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Notes that statistics from the FAO indicate that total meat and animal product consumption per capita in the EU28 has decreased since the 1990s and that supporting this ongoing trend, combined with technical supply-side mitigation measures, could reduce significantly emissions from agriculture production;
Amendment 368 #
Paragraph 30 b (new)
30 b. Stresses the importance of the EU achieving not only an energy substitution, but equally much a product/material one, i.e. substituting products and materials which are fossil-based or which create high emissions during production in favour of products based on renewable resources;
Amendment 370 #
Paragraph 31
31. Highlights the cost efficiency of circular economy measures; believunderlines that improved resource efficiency and circular economy approaches in production as well as circular product design will help bring about a switch in industrial materials and a reduced but improved productionuse of primary materials as well as more efficient production methods, leading to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions while improving competitiveness and creating business opportunities and jobs;
Amendment 374 #
Paragraph 32
32. Stresses the importance of product policy, such as green public procurement, of and ecodesign, which can contribute significantly to energy savings and to reducing the carbon footprint of products while at the same time aligning them with the circular economy strategyimprove their materials footprint and overall environmental impact; highlights the need to establish circular economy requirements as part of EU ecodesign standards and to expand the current ecodesign methodology to other product categories in addition to energy-related products;
Amendment 393 #
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34 a. Emphasises the role of the United National Climate Summit in September as the moment for leaders to announce increased ambition of the NDC’s and that the EU should adopt a position on updating its NDC well in advance, so to arrive at the Summit well-prepared and in close cooperation with an international coalition of Parties in support of enhanced climate ambition;