Verbatim report of proceedings

Tuesday, 4 October 2016 - Strasbourg

Conclusion on behalf of the EU of the Paris Agreement adopted under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (Giovanni La Via (A8-0280/2016))

  Paul Brannen (S&D), in writing. ‒ Like most Members of the European Parliament, I voted today in support of ratifying the Paris Agreement on climate change, probably the most important vote I have cast as an MEP. Now we have the plan, and now we must act.

The energy, industry and transport sectors must act to reduce emissions – and so must the land-use sector. Agriculture has significant potential to reduce emissions, through agro-forestry for example. Forestry also has a major role to play as trees and timber soak up carbon, substituting for carbon-intensive steel, concrete and plastic. So let us design a framework of rules that incentivise farmers and the construction industry, working to the motto that ‘Man’s best friend is the tree’.