Environment

#EUCO

Quote from Ska Keller

Greens/EFA Co-President Ska Keller comments on ongoing EUCO:

European transformation in chemicals policy draws closer

Chemicals Strategy

Today, the European Commission has just presented its Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. The Strategy is a step in the right direction towards an European chemicals revolution and can provide the framework for a more sustainable, clean and competitive chemicals industry. The str...

Commission only scratches the surface

Methane Strategy

Today, the European Commission has just presented its new Methane Strategy, which does not live up to promise of greater climate protection under the European Green Deal. The Commission itself writes that methane emissions must be reduced by 35% to achieve 55% fewer greenhouse gas e...

Greens/EFA plenary session debriefing

4-9 October

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the climate law, rule of law and fundamental rights mechanism, rule of law and fundamental rights in Bulgaria, multiannual financial framework (MFF) and the rule of law, reinforcing the youth guarantee, forest strategy, approval of McGuinness and Dombrovskis, fight against money laundering following the FinCEN files.

Huge success for the climate

European Climate Law

Members of the European Parliament have voted in favour of a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030, supporting the call of the Environment Committee and going beyond the European Commission's 55% climate target. The European Parliament will now enter into negotiations with the Council and Commission with a strong position.

Plenary Flash October I 2020

Greens/EFA priorities 04-09 October

During this week plenary session, the European Parliament will debate and vote on the climate law, the rule of law mechanism, the Multiannual Financial Framework, the forest strategy, the fight against money laundering, ...

The European climate targets by 2030

The Paris Agreement was signed by 195 countries in 2015. They all agreed on the core objective of keeping the global average temperature rise well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. Five years later, not one of those 195 countries is in line with its target. We need rapid and radical action if we want to be serious about the 1.5°C objective.

Farm to fork strategy

Agriculture is both hugely responsible and affected by climate change. The food we eat, how it’s made and where it comes from plays an important role in the system change that we are fighting for, since our global food system accounts for nearly one third of global greenhouse gas 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!