MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
7.2.2007
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Karl-Heinz Florenz
on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
on climate change
B6‑0045/2007
European Parliament resolution on climate change
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the twelfth Conference of the Parties (COP 12) to the UNFCCC and the second Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 2) held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 6 to 17 November 2006,
– having regard to its previous resolutions regarding climate change, and in particular those of 16 November 2005 on 'Winning the Battle against Global Climate Change'[1] and of 26 October 2006 on 'the EU strategy for the Nairobi Conference (COP 12 and COP/MOP 2)'[2],
– having regard to the Commission Communication on 'Limiting Global Climate Change to 2 degrees Celsius – The way ahead for 2020 and beyond'[3],
– having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the recent extreme weather events, such as the devastating storm Kyrill, lead to an even more intensive debate on climate change,
B. whereas a single extreme weather event cannot be directly linked to climate change but one has to consider that many scientists see the increased intensity of extreme weather events as having a link to climate change,
1. Stresses the urgency of taking concrete action at global level to tackle climate change, as well as the need for political leadership to drive the process forward;
2. Welcomes, in this context, the fact that both the Commission and the Presidency-in-Office of the Council have put climate change at the core of their political agenda;
3. Urges the European Union to maintain its leading role in the negotiations with a view to a post-2012 international framework on climate change and to maintain a high level of ambition in future discussions with its international partners;
4. Urges the European Union to demonstrate its resolve by addressing climate change through measurable progress in reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and meeting its domestic and international emission reduction targets;
5. Recognises that the EU's share of GHG emissions - 14%[4] - may appear low; stresses, however, that, when measured in terms of per capita emissions, the EU share is among the highest in the world; in order to narrow these differences, reminds the Commission and the Member States of their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol and Marrakesh Accords to ensure supplementarity of their use of flexible mechanisms;
6. Stresses the need to significantly accelerate international negotiations on the post-2012 framework so as to ensure that there is no gap between the first and second commitment periods under the Kyoto Protocol and give the international community time to plan the necessary measures; reiterates its call for an agreement to be reached by the end of 2008 and by 2009 at the latest;
7. Underlines that the EU should base its strategy on the assumption that an agreement will be achieved at international level on a post-2012 framework; believes, therefore, that it is premature to discuss at this stage a fall-back strategy in case such an international agreement is not reached;
8. Recalls that, as set out in its resolutions of 16 November 2005 and 26 October 2006, and partly acknowledged by the Commission in its communication, the EU strategy on climate change should be based on the following key objectives :
- (i)to limit the average global temperature increase to 2°C above pre-industrialisation levels;
- (ii)to undertake emission reductions of 30% in comparison with 1990 emissions levels by 2020 with a view to achieving a reduction in the order of 80% by 2050;
9. Regrets the lack of clarity of the Commission 'energy and climate package' with regard to the target for GHG emission reductions for 2020; emphasises that a minimum 30% reduction is necessary to have a reasonable chance of attaining the EU objective of limiting the average temperature increase to 2°C;
10. Underlines that, in order to reach agreement at international level on a 30% reduction of GHG emissions in all industrialised countries, the European Union has to focus not only on environmental policy but also on foreign policy and international trade policy as well as on a willingness to change demand for energy and other natural resources, and that this broader picture has, therefore, to be part of the debate on the strategy to achieve the abovementioned objective;
11. Considers that economically developed Member States have exported a large amount of their energy- and natural resource-consuming activities and technologies to less developed countries, where the same activity causes possibly higher GHG emissions; therefore urges the Commission and Member States to establish policies to prevent such practices;
12. Insists on the specific responsibility of developed countries to tackle climate change at world level; calls, therefore, on Annex I Parties to meet their existing commitments and to take on ambitious targets for a second commitment period after 2012; calls, moreover, on those industrialised countries that have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol to reconsider their position, to take vigorous domestic measures and to play an active role in future international negotiations, with a view to their participation in the future climate change regime;
13. Calls on the Commission and Member States to investigate the possibility of adopting border adjustment measures applicable to trade in order to offset any short-term competitive advantage that producers in industrialised countries without carbon constraints might have;
14. Reiterates its proposal to revise the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) with the goal of harmonising the allocation method on the basis of benchmarks and auctioning;
15. Agrees with the Commission that non-Annex I countries have to be further involved in the process, but underlines that developing countries cannot be treated as one block and that activities undertaken by or within developing countries must be differentiated on the basis of their particular national circumstances; further emphasises that the least developed countries should not be required to take on any commitments;
16. In order to ensure an international level playing field, calls on the Commission and Member States to consider proposing sectoral targets for energy-intensive export industries in countries without binding emission reduction commitments as a supplement to binding emission targets for industrialised countries;
17. Stresses that energy policy is a crucial element of the EU global strategy on climate change and that diversification of energy resources and a switch to alternative, carbon-free and low-carbon energy technologies has great potential for emission reductions while ensuring less energy dependency on external sources;
18. Considers that there is a huge potential for emission reductions in the field of energy efficiency; calls on the Commission and Member States to adopt ambitious measures and targets in this field and to explore the possibility of going above the 20% reduction target proposed by the Commission;
19. Considers that with well balanced national tax/levy systems, energy efficiency can be increased in Member States and unnecessary energy consumption can be prevented;
20. Calls on the Member States to fulfil their commitments by taking the appropriate measures to ensure the prompt implementation of Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy efficiency of buildings, which entered into force on 4 January 2003, whose cost-effective savings within the building sector are estimated at around 22%; calls therefore on the Commission to open proceedings against those Member States which have not yet taken adequate measures, as requested, to implement Directive 2002/91/EC;
21. Underlines that energy consumption is increasing most in the transport sector and that road transport contributes to roughly 25% of the Community's CO2 emissions; calls, therefore, for a boost to public transport;
22. Welcomes the proposal of a binding target to increase the level of renewable energy in the EU energy mix to 25% by 2020;
23. Regrets the absence of binding sectoral renewables targets, as only these will bring about a real improvement in order to tackle climate change; urges the Commission to require, in addition to the general target, the submission of sector-specific targets by Member States for renewable energy as proposed by the impact assessment of the Renewable Energy Roadmap;
24. Reiterates that heating and cooling with renewable energy offers huge potential for a cost-effective reduction of CO2 and of dependence on fossil fuels; regrets that the Commission has not submitted a proposal for a directive to support heating and cooling with renewable energies as promised to the European Parliament but notes that legislative measures in the field are still planned by the Commission;
25. Insists on its proposal that was spelled out in its resolution of 14 February 2006[5] on heating and cooling from renewable sources of energy;
26. Deplores the delay within the Commission in submitting proposals for mandatory limits on car emissions despite repeated calls by the European Parliament for such limits as part of a comprehensive set of measures to reduce GHG emissions from the transport sector; notes the Commission proposal for a binding minimum target for biofuels of 10% of vehicle fuels in 2020; underlines the importance of the sustainable production of biofuels; considers that while biofuels may have an important role to play in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, an increase in their share must not be at the expense of food production or aggravate global deforestation; stresses the need for mandatory environmental and social certification of biofuels and for any incentives to be differentiated on the basis of full life-cycle climate efficiency;
27. Supports the proposed energy partnership with Africa; however, strongly recommends that a similar partnership be established with China and India as well, bearing in mind the very rapid growth of GHG emissions in those countries and the urgent need to assist them in capacity-building as well as investments in carbon-free, low-carbon and energy-efficient technologies (the priority being renewables) while insisting that the EU work with the relevant regions to stop tropical deforestation and instead encourage afforestation and reforestation; proposes, furthermore, that energy cooperation with Russia be stepped up;
28. Considers that significant efforts to reduce emissions can go hand in hand with economic development and are even a prerequisite for sustainable economic development in the coming decades; reiterates that environmental technologies can give the European Union a competitive edge while greatly contributing to emission reductions; notes that environmental technologies are, therefore, at the heart of a sustainable development strategy compatible with the EU's Kyoto commitments and the Lisbon Strategy;
29. Underlines the appalling economic, social and health costs of inaction shown, inter alia, by the Stern Review on the economics of climate change; recalls that the absence of action would cause damage corresponding to 5-20% of global GDP per year, whereas the cost of a sound climate policy and investment in clean technologies is estimated at between 0.5% and 1% of global annual GDP up to 2050, without taking account of auxiliary environmental and health benefits; recognises that delaying action will increase the risk of adverse environmental effects and mitigation costs;
30. Takes the view that research in this field should be boosted and clear environmental performance targets should be adopted in order to encourage the development and use of better and more environment-friendly technologies;
31. Maintains that reducing global emissions must not lead to other threats such as nuclear proliferation or terrorism; therefore believes that nuclear power should remain excluded from CDM/JI or other mechanisms aimed at rewarding emission reductions in developing countries;
32. Encourages much greater direct involvement in mitigation efforts at the level of the European citizen;
33. Calls again on the European Union and its Member States to adopt an ambitious policy of technology partnerships with and transfers of clean technologies to developing countries, helping them in developing their economies and increasing their welfare in a more sustainable way;
34. Is concerned about the risks related to existing nuclear installations in coastal zones posed by climate change and tsunamis and calls on the Commission and Council to assess and prepare for such risks and avoid any new nuclear construction in coastal zones;
35. Calls on the Commission to evaluate climate change repercussions on the increase in ground temperature, the reduction of rains and the groundwater status; considers it especially important to study the effects of the reduction of the area of cultivable land as a source of biomass and as a carbon pool; underlines the importance of certain agricultural management practices;
36. Calls for all of its relevant committees and delegations to work together closely on climate change, so that its industrial policy, energy policy and transport, agriculture, research and development and other initiatives are better coordinated with climate change targets, and so that climate change is regularly raised at interparliamentary delegation level and in the context of the Transatlantic Legislative Dialogue;
37. Calls on the two Presidencies in 2007 to ensure that the momentum on climate change is accelerated, whilst increasing the level of political commitment and the number of international partners within the process at international level;
38. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, with the request that it be circulated to all non-EU contracting parties.