CO² Emissions

Greens/EFA take on the plenary session

14-18 September

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the Just Transition Fund, arms exports, the state of the Union, global data collection system for ship fuel oil consumption data, the situation in Moria refugee camp, the situation in Poland and LGBTI rights, strategic approach to pharmaceuticals in the environment, the situation in Belarus, the EU Roma Strategy, and maximising the energy efficiency potential of the EU building stock.

Commission impact assessment

Climate

"The European Commission must not play around with numbers to calculate the climate target. Tricks in the calculation of such a vital target damages the climate and undermines trust. We need concrete steps to halt climate collapse such as phasing out coal by 2030 and using 100% renewable energy" said Bas Eickhout

MEPs vote for emissions reductions in shipping

Environment

Today, MEPs have voted for shipping to be included in the European emissions trading scheme (ETS) from 1 January 2022 and shipping companies will be obliged to reduce their CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030. Until now, maritime transport has been excluded from the ETS.

The Mercosur Trade Agreement: A lose-lose deal

When you go to the official website of the EU-Mercosur agreement, the first sentence you see is: ‘A union of countries working as one to secure the well-being of their people’. This is outrageous when you realise that this agreement will emphasize deforestation, biodiversity loss, land grabbing, violation of human rights and adding to this, that in Europe our farmers will have to face unfair competition, that will destroy local markets. This agreement is a gift to multinationals!

Protecting marine life - the road to 2030

Webinar

Healthy oceans are a key to our life on Earth as we know it. Unfortunately, marine life is disappearing at an alarming rate. The decisions we make now will be extremely important. But what can we do this year? In the next 10 years? What role can the EU biodiversity strategy play?

Plenary session debriefing

8-10 July

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the programme of the German Presidency, prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, EU Hydrogen Strategy, chemicals strategy for sustainability, boosting Roma inclusion process in Europe, state of play Rule of Law in Member States,...

Parliament votes set out steps for EIB to become EU Climate Bank

European Investment Bank

The European Parliament has made clear its demands on the level of ambition that the Bank would have to reach to become the European Climate Bank. The European Investment Bank has set climate ambitious targets for itself, but it’s time for words to be followed by actions.

A new European energy infrastructure policy in line with the climate emergency

A blog by Marie Toussaint

During this week’s plenary session, Members of the European Parliament will adopt a resolution setting out the Parliament’s views on the upcoming revision of the trans-European energy infrastructure Regulation (TEN-E Regulation). The current law sets out the process and criteria to select cross-border electricity, gas and oil infrastructure projects of European interest. For the upcoming revision due in December this year, the Greens/EFA group is asking to end EU support for fossil fuel projects, such as gas pipelines. In addition, this year the European Commission should adopt transitional guidance on how to spend EU funds until the revised law enters into force. This is to ensure that only projects in line with the Paris Agreement are supported.

Green hydrogen & renewables

The EU should take the lead now!

On Wednesday 8 July 2020, the European Commission presented its so-called “Hydrogen Strategy”. Our MEPs Henrike Hahn and Damien Carême, co-chairs of Greens/EFA's Green Industrial Policy Campaign look at why hydrogen will be a key energy source to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. But not any type of hydrogen: green hydrogen only!

Hydrogen Strategy must not be excuse to continue polluting the planet

Green Deal

Hydrogen can play a role in decarbonisation and in promoting the greening of European industries and the economy. However, the Hydrogen Strategy must not be allowed to become a greenwashing exercise used to subsidise obsolete gas pipelines. Funding hydrogen from fossil fuels is not sustainable and not in line with our climate commitments.

Plenary Flash - July session

Greens/EFA priorities 8-10 July 2020

This week, the Parliament will debate on the programme of the German Presidency of the EU with Chancellor Merkel, on prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, EU hydrogen strategy, Roma inclusion,... Discover all the other major topics on the agenda and the Greens/EFA priority issues

No community left behind / La population au coeur de la transition

Putting people at the centre of the just transition

Join Greens/EFA MEPs Mounir Satouri, Henrike Hahn and Green Mayor of Loos-en-Gohelle, Jean-Francois Caron to discuss how to safeguard social and economic justice in the transition, the infrastructure and initiatives that will put people at the centre, and how to support green investment in local industry and start-ups.