Pollinating insects play a fundamental role in our ecosystem, but all over the world they are facing a number of threats: climate change, habitat loss, pests and intensive single-crop farming. These threats are leading to the dramatic decline of both wild and managed pollinator species, in spite of how vital they are to our well-being and nature. The EU is working to protect all pollinators.

Protecting pollinators

The COVID-19 global pandemic and Russia’s war against Ukraine had a significant impact on the European Parliament’s agenda during its ninth parliamentary term. In the wake of a health crisis and geopolitical challenges, during its ninth legislative term, Parliament focussed on the green and digital transitions to enhance the EU’s resilience while also strengthening democratic values.

The ninth legislative term of the European Parliament

Europe is one of the most forest-rich regions in the world: around 40% of its land area is covered by this ecosystem. Forests are essential for our health and wellbeing, and the health of the planet. They are rich in biodiversity and are hugely important in the fight against climate change. The EU is aware of the role forests can play in our future. That is why - in 2021 - the new Forest Strategy for 2030 was adopted.

The EU forest strategy for 2030

The world is not on track to keep the global temperature rise below 2°C. Even under the most optimistic scenarios, the temperature rise is expected to overshoot 1.5°C for a while, before falling back below 1.5°C thanks to large-scale carbon removals. While action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and scale up carbon dioxide removal remains crucial, there is an urgent need to reinforce efforts to adapt to climate change, in order to avoid losses and build resilience.

EPRS Policy Podcast - Climate overshoot and adaptation: Issues to watch in 2024

As part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package, the European Commission made a legislative proposal to review the EU’s current emissions trading system. In order to achieve the ambitious climate target of a 55 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030, set by the European Climate Law, the EU is further strengthening its emissions trading system. In this episode, we will cover the EU’s emissions trading scheme and its most recent reform as part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package.

The European Union’s Emissions Trading System revised - English

According to the European Commission, buildings consume 40% of the EU’s energy and are responsible for 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. While the entire European Union is trying to limit its energy consumption, urgent measures must be taken to address this situation. In March 2023, Parliament adopted draft measures to increase the rate of renovations and substantially reduce both energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions.

A climate neutral building sector by 2050 - English

Over the past 3.8 billion years, nature has been engineering itself to survive. It has also developed efficient and sustainable adaptation mechanisms against changing environmental conditions. To further the EU's political ambitions, could we employ biomimicry to mitigate climate change and achieve climate neutrality?

Science and Technology Podcast : What if nature taught us to adapt to climate change?

The policies of the EU on climate and energy are described, as well as the challenges that must be faced in order to achieve the Paris Agreement target of keeping the increase in global temperature well below 2°C and to pursue efforts to achieve 1.5°C.

The EU faces major challenges from the increased threats of climate change, with serious consequences in the energy sector, where urgent issues are arising concerning the national production mix of each Member State. The renewable energy share needs to be increased, and energy efficiency needs to be improved.

Climate change (2019-2020)

The COP 23 Conference on Climate Change, chaired by the Fiji, is held in Bonn, Germany from 6-17 November 2017. 

The program focuses on the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

COP 23

EP Plenary - Council and Commission statements - Outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (COP28)

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (COP28)

Policy Roundtable: Future shocks 2023 - Anticipating and weathering more storms to come

Signing Ceremony Annual EU Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis.

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - Protection of workers from extreme heat and other extreme weather phenomena resulting from the climate crisis

EP Plenary session - EU Day for the victims of the global climate crisis

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - Social-economic cost of climate change, floods in Emilia Romagna, Marche, Toscana - urgent need EU solidarity

EP Plenary session - New Oil Drilling in Alaska – impact on the global climate crisis and the rights of indigenous peoples

EP Plenary session - IPCC report on Climate Change: a call for urgent additional action

EP Plenary session - Humanitarian situation after the devastating floods in Pakistan and the climate crisis

EP Plenary session - The EEAS’s Climate Change and Defence Roadmap

FEMM Committee - EP side-event in the 66th session of the UN CSW - Draft programme ' Fighting climate change: gender perspective and feminist solutions '

EP Plenary session - Droughts and other extreme weather phenomena on the Iberian Peninsula and other parts of Europe

ENVI meeting - Exchange of views with Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans, taking stock of the COP26 conference and the consequences for EU climate policies

European Parliament delegation to COP26, Glasgow (UK) : meeting with NGOs representatives from developing countries

COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow : demonstrations outside COP 26

European Parliament delegation to COP26 in Glasgow (UK) : meeting with Mehmet Emin BIRPINAR, minister of Environment of Turkey and with Alexey OVERCHUK, Head of the Russian delegation

EP joint press briefing with Frans TIMMERMANS, Executive EC Vice-President, at the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow

Meeting with Saber Chowdhury, Member of Parliament of Bangladesh

European Parliament delegation to COP26, Glasgow : Meeting with Dr Hoesung LEE, Chairman of the IPCC and a Parliamentary delegation of Bangladesh

The former Soviet leader and co-founder of Green Cross International (GCI) has long been involved in environmental protection.
 
After co-authoring a report on water scarcity, Mikhail Gorbachev urged European and world leaders to act against the global water crisis and denounced a deficit of political leadership.
 
He addressed the European Parliament during the 2009 international “Peace with Water” conference.
 
 
* Watch the full speech on the European Parliament's Multimedia Centre: http://epyoutube.eu/SpeechGorbachev

Mikhail Gorbachev speech on global water crisis | European Parliament

The European Parliament has been working to protect people and the planet from the worst effects of climate change.   

 It passed ambitious and binding greenhouse gas reduction targets to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050, and backed vital funds to help Europeans meet the cost of the green transition.   

New rules encourage cleaner, more efficient energy and industry, creating new jobs and opportunities for businesses.

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June!  - 9:16

The European Parliament has been working to protect people and the planet from the worst effects of climate change.   

 It passed ambitious and binding greenhouse gas reduction targets to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050, and backed vital funds to help Europeans meet the cost of the green transition.   

New rules encourage cleaner, more efficient energy and industry, creating new jobs and opportunities for businesses.  

EU action on climate change: use your vote in June! 

Eco-friendly, biodegradable, climate-neutral… 
  
In recent years, many corporations have overstated or misrepresented their green credentials, often misleading consumers with exaggerated environmental or durability claims. So much so that the practice gave rise to the term ‘greenwashing’. 
  
Parliament has voted to outlaw greenwashing and make durability information clear and easily accessible to consumers.  
     
Find out more in our short explainer video.

New EU rules to prevent greenwashing decrypted - EE24

Rising sea levels, excessive logging, the loss of biodiversity... Across the EU, people from all walks of life are concerned about climate change.
 
Meet Anu and Carlos, two climate advocates who are taking concrete steps for the planet. One as an 'Activist Granny' in Finland, the other as a member of the 'Global Shapers' NGO in the Canary Islands.
 
The European Parliament is acting to protect our planet with the European Green Deal, new legislation on carbon emissions and better safeguards for the EU’s biodiversity.

Climate action across generations and nations: meet Anu & Carlos

Climate action across generations and nations: meet Anu & Carlos 9:16

Once elected, Members of the European Parliament have an important job to do. They are the eyes, ears and voices of Europeans in the Parliament. You vote for them, then they vote for you!

Sitting in parliamentary groups, a bit like parties in national parliaments, MEPs listen to people’s concerns, debate, consult with interested parties and vote on laws.

Find out more about the role of MEPs!

The role of Members of the European Parliament - VT EE24

The role of Members of the European Parliament - 4-5 EE24

The role of Members of the European Parliament  -16:9 EE24

The European Parliament, the only directly elected EU institution, is the beating heart of European democracy! 

It represents the interests of EU citizens.  

MEPs debate, amend and pass laws which have a direct impact on the lives of some 450 million Europeans.  

Find out more about how the European Parliament works!

How the European Parliament works -  VT EE24

How the European Parliament works - 4-5 EE24

How the European Parliament works -16:9 EE24

&lt;p>Eco-friendly, biodegradable, climate-neutral… In recent years, many corporations have overstated or misrepresented their green credentials, often misleading consumers with exaggerated environmental or durability claims. So much so that the practice gave rise to the term ‘greenwashing’. Parliament has voted to outlaw greenwashing and make durability information clear and easily accessible to consumers. Find out more in our short explainer video.&lt;/p>

New EU rules to prevent greenwashing, decrypted_VT

The Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016 and as part of it a Global Stocktake takes place every five years. The first-ever stocktake, scheduled to conclude at COP28, aims to provide an overall picture of its implementation progress. Parliament adopted its demands ahead of this year’s global climate talks on 21 November 2023. MEPs debate with Commission and Council representatives the conclusions of the UN COP28 Climate Change Conference. MEPs debate

Outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (COP28): MEPs debate

The Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016 and as part of it a Global Stocktake takes place every five years. The first-ever stocktake, scheduled to conclude at COP28, aims to provide an overall picture of its implementation progress. Parliament adopted its demands ahead of this year’s global climate talks on 21 November 2023. MEPs debate with Commission and Council representatives the conclusions of the UN COP28 Climate Change Conference. Opening statements by Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union and Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality. This transcription is a result of an authomatic process. Please check against delivery.

Outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (COP28): opening statements by Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union and Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

MEPs debate on Parliament’s demands for the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), taking place in Dubai from 30 November. The Parliament calls for action in view of the COP28, which takes stock of the progress made on implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement. MEPs want global financial contributions to be continued and increased, better efforts to protect, conserve and restore biodiversity and global targets to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency by 2030. They also call for an end to all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies.

UN Climate Change Conference 2023 in Dubai (COP28): MEPs debate

&lt;p>Once elected, Members of the European Parliament have an important job to do. They are the eyes, ears and voices of Europeans in the Parliament. You vote for them, then they vote for you! Sitting in parliamentary groups, a bit like parties in national parliaments, MEPs listen to people’s concerns, debate, consult with interested parties and vote on laws. Find out more about the role of MEPs!&lt;/p>

The role of Members of the European Parliament

The environment and climate change, cost-of-living crisis, migration, Russia’s war on Ukraine, EU enlargement…  

Members of the European Parliament questioned Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the final State of the Union debate before the 2024 European elections.  
 
Has the von der Leyen Commission done enough this past year? And how will it deliver for EU citizens in the coming months? 

Watch this video to learn more on how Parliament scrutinised the Commission’s track-record and programme before next year's vote.

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