The aim of the legislative proposal for a Union certification framework for carbon removals initiative is to ensure high-quality EU certified carbon removals, through a transparent and credible governance framework. In doing so, this would open up the possibility for further investments towards carbon removal activities and increased deployment.

EPRS podcast policy - A Union certification framework for carbon removals

As co-legislator, Parliament has long been supportive of EU biodiversity protection and climate change policies.

The EU has played an important international role in seeking solutions to biodiversity loss, deforestation and climate change. The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change notes the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity. As part of the European Green Deal, the Commission has proposed a new biodiversity strategy that aims to put Europe’s biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030, for the benefit of people, the climate and the planet.

Biodiversity Strategy 2030

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. Therefore in December 2019 the Commission presented a communication on a European Green Deal that sets out a detailed vision to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, safeguard biodiversity, establish a circular economy and eliminate pollution, while boosting the competitiveness of European industry and ensuring a just transition for the regions and workers affected.

Parliament has played an important role in pushing for more ambitious EU climate legislation and declared a climate emergency on 28 November 2019.&nbsp; The European Climate Law writes&nbsp;into law the goal to become climate neutral by 2050 and attain the intermediate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels).&nbsp;After 2050 the EU will aim for negative emissions. In July&nbsp;2021 the European Commission presented its “Fit for 55 in 2030” package-the legislative tool to deliver on the targets agreed in the European Climate law.

The EP adopted the new Nature restoration law during its February plenary. The new law sets a target for the EU to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. The EU nature restoration law, agreed with member states, will restore degraded ecosystems in all member states, help achieve the EU’s climate and biodiversity objectives and enhance food security.

To reach the overall EU targets, member states must restore at least 30% of habitats covered by the new law (from forests, grasslands and wetlands to rivers, lakes and coral beds) from a poor to a good condition by 2030, increasing to 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050. In line with Parliament’s position, EU countries should give priority to&nbsp;Natura 2000 areas&nbsp;until 2030. Once in a good condition, EU countries shall ensure an area does not significantly deteriorate. Member states will also have to adopt national restoration plans detailing how they intend to achieve these targets.

European Green Deal

Oceans need to be managed sustainably in order to conserve our fragile marine ecosystems.

Although oceans are essential to us in many ways, the state of marine biodiversity remains little known. What we do know, however, is that human activities create a number of pressures such as (over-)exploitation, carbon emissions, and pollution, including marine litter.

It is estimated that there are over 150 million tonnes of plastic in the world's seas and that, without significant action, there may be more plastic than fish (by weight) in the sea by 2050. Some marine litter consists of microplastics; these originate from the breaking down of larger plastic pieces or are released directly into the environment.

Ocean protection

GMO stands for genetically modified organisms. They are organisms whose genetic material has been artificially modified in order to give it a new property. For example, this could be to make it easier for a plant to resist a disease, insects or drought, or to increase crop productivity.

The EU's GMO legislation stems from 1990 when the first two directives concerning GMOs came into force. Both original directives have since been updated, but the definition of a GMO has remained unchanged. This is causing problems for new techniques developed since then. New plant genetic modification techniques, referred to as 'gene editing' or 'genome editing', have evolved rapidly in recent years, allowing much faster and more precise results than conventional plant-breeding techniques. They are seen as a promising, innovative field for the agri-food industry, offering great technical potential.There is, however, considerable debate as to how these new techniques should be regulated, and whether some or all of them should fall within the scope of EU legislation on genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

See more on this topic by visiting our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/genetically-modified-organism-8th-parliamentary-term_6504_pk">package</a> for the 8th parliamentary term.

Genetically modified organism

Launched in 1992, the LIFE programme is the only EU fund entirely dedicated to environmental and climate objectives. It supports the implementation of relevant EU legislation and the development of key policy priorities, by co-financing projects with European added value.

LIFE programme for 2021-2027 will become the EU's most ambitious climate and environmental programme. It would support projects in the areas of nature and biodiversity, circular economy and quality of life, clean energy transition, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. The total budget allocated for LIFE is EUR 5.4 billion, of which EUR 3.5 billion will go to environmental activities and EUR 1.9 billion to climate action. The programme is part of the Green deal package proposed by the European Commission.

LIFE

As part of a shift in EU policy towards a circular economy, the European Parliament worked on four legislative proposals introducing new waste-management targets regarding reuse, recycling and landfilling. The proposals also strengthen provisions on waste prevention and extended producer responsibility, and streamline definitions, reporting obligations and calculation methods for targets.

#EUelections2019 - Circular economy

On 27 March 2019, Parliament approved a new law banning single-use plastic items such as plates, cutlery, straws and cotton buds.

A milestone success is the ban of single-use plastic products such as cutlery, cotton buds, plates, straws, beverage stirrers and balloon sticks which will be banned from the EU market from 2021.

#EUelections2019 - Single use plastics

The European Parliament has been pushing for the implemention of its 2030 goals to be in line with the targets set by the Paris Agreement. MEPs managed to push through a higher target for reducing EU fleet-wide emissions for new cars by 2030 (40% compared to the EU Commission’s 30%; year of reference 2021). There is an intermediate target of 20% by 2025. Similar targets are set for new vans as well.

On 17 December 2015 the EP decided to set up the Committee of inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS) to investigate in detail alleged breaches and maladministration in relation to emission measurements in the automotive sector. On 4 April 2019, the EMIS final report was discussed and legislation voted and approved during the plenary session in Strasbourg.

#EUelections2019 - Car emissions

The European Parliament has been pushing for the implemention of its 2030 goals to be in line with the targets set by the Paris Agreement.

To achieve the set goals the EU’s budget should also be coherent with its international commitments, and the post-2020 long-term budget should have climate and energy targets at its heart. The share of climate-related spending should be increased from 20% to 30% as soon as possible, and all remaining spending should be Paris-compliant and not counter-productive to climate efforts.

#EUelections2019 - Climate change

EU countries are required to drastically reduce the use of the most common and polluting plastic bags under new rules voted by Parliament on 28 April 2015.

In 2010 EU citizens used an estimated 198 plastic carrier bags, some 90% of which were lightweight. Binding reduction targets were put in place. EU member states will be able to choose: either to take measures to reduce annual average consumption of plastic bags to 90 lightweight bags per citizen by the end of 2019 or 40 by the end of 2025. Since the end of 2018, no more light plastic bags are given to shoppers free of charge.

#EUelections2019 - Plastics bags

By making energy more efficient, Europeans will see their energy bills reduced. In addition, Europe will diminish its reliance on external suppliers of oil and gas, improve local air quality and protect the climate.

By 2030, energy efficiency in the EU must have improved by 32.5%, whereas the share of energy from renewables should make up at least 32% of the EU’s gross final consumption. Both targets are to be reviewed by 2023. These targets can only be raised, not lowered. Lower energy bills and the right to become a renewable self-consumer will be the result.

#EUelections2019 - Clean energy and energy efficiency

The drinking water directive achieved the update of a list of parameters to monitor drinking water, in line with technical and scientific progress. The vote on this report, adopted on 28 March 2019, closes Parliament’s first reading, which reached its position in October 2018.
Two other aspects include the importance of transparency for citizens and consumers as regards water quality, and the improvement of accessibility to drinking water for everyone.

#EUelections2019 - Drinking water quality

Plans to boost trust in the EU approval procedure of pesticides, by making it more transparent and accountable, were put forward by Parliament on 16 January 2019.

The European Parliament, on 6 February 2018, set up a special committee on the European Union’s authorization procedure for pesticides (PEST). MEPs want the public to be granted access to the studies used in the procedure to authorize a pesticide, including all the supporting data and information relating to the applications.&nbsp; Parliament is of the opinion that vulnerable groups should be more protected.

#EUelections2019 - Use of pesticides in the EU

Oceans need to be managed sustainably in order to conserve our fragile marine ecosystems.

Although oceans are essential to us in many ways, the state of marine biodiversity remains little known. What we do know, however, is that human activities create a number of pressures such as (over-)exploitation, carbon emissions, and pollution, including marine litter. The European Union has been active in promoting the sustainable use of the seas. In early 2018, the European Commission presented a strategy to address the issue of plastics pollution, including microplastics in our seas.

Ocean protection (2019-2020)

Parliament is set to approve new rules aiming to protect the environment in the EU through criminal law.

Following a debate on Monday, MEPs are expected to give their final green light to a new directive on environmental crime, as agreed with the member states in November 2023, on Tuesday. The new law provides an updated list of environmental crimes including illegal timber trade, depletion of water resources or breaches of EU chemicals legislation. It also introduces the so-called qualified offence of causing the destruction of an ecosystem, such as large-scale forest fires, and thus comparable to ecocide.

Individual offenders, including company representatives, can face prison sentences of up to five or ten years depending on the severity of the crime. They will also be required to reinstate the environment they destroyed and compensate for the damage. Companies can also face fines of up to 5% of their worldwide turnover or 40 million euro.

Background

The new legislation aims to tackle the rising number of environmental crimes in the EU. Environmental crime is the fourth largest criminal activity in the world and is one of the main sources of income for organised crime alongside drugs, weapons and human trafficking.

Press conference -  Environmental crime directive

EP Plenary session - Union certification framework for carbon removals

French SME active in beekeeping - Honey producer

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Mark RUFFALO, actor and environmental activist

EP Plenary session - COP15 to the Convention on Biological Diversity (Kunming 2020)

Outside view of the COP25 in Madrid on December 14, 2019.

Plenary session - Reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment

New recycle bin for aluminium coffee caps

Conference - ' Private landowners, what role for Europe's nature '

EP plenary session - Establishing a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE)

This series of stockshots illustrate various types of nature and biodiversity in Europe, and a series of EU-funded projects aiming to protect habitats and species on land, in the air and in the marine environment.

Infoclip: Biodiversity in Europe – Marine biodiversity

This video stockshot offers illustration footage of various types of adaptation measures. Some projects are directly EU-funded, whereas others are part of the European Climate Adaptation Platform Climate-ADAPT, promoting access and sharing of data and information on how to adapt to climate change.

Infoclip: European Green Deal - Adaptation to climate change

During the plenary session (19-23 October 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate (21/10) on a binding legislation based on traceability requirements and mandatory due diligence for companies placing products on the EU market to ensure that EU consumption does not lead to global deforestation. The final vote takes place on 22/10 and the results are: 695 votes, 377 in favor, 75 against, 243 abstensions. The report is adopted. Illustration shots of deforestation in Brazil.

Deforestation: extracts from the debate (21/10), from the vote and illustration shots

During the plenary session (5-8 October 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate (06/10) and vote on the report Petri SARVAMAA (EPP, FI) on the European Forest Strategy.

European Forest Strategy - The Way Forward: extracts from the debate (06/10) and from the vote on the report Petri SARVAMAA (EPP, FI)

Infoclip: European Mobility week - Car-Free Days

Over 1 billion people in some 100 countries face risks related to desertification and half of EU countries are impacted. Every minute, 23 hectares of land is lost, more than the average size of EU farms. Climate change can make it worse, as does human activity. This land degradation process affects both food production and biodiversity. Today, measuring and monitoring pose great challenges. In the European Union, data exist but there is no EU common approach as yet. In the future, the new European Green Deal and the ‘From Farm to Fork’ strategy will contribute to protecting our land. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Can the EU stop desertification?

Insects, while commonly consumed elsewhere in the world, have long been off the menu in Europe, but they could soon be creeping their way onto our plates. Entomophagy, the practice of eating insects, is now gaining serious interest. Is it set to take Europe by swarm? Insects are the most diverse group of organisms on the planet and over 1 000 different species are regularly eaten in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Nutritionally dense and versatile, insects are already available for human consumption in some EU Member States, either sold whole or in processed products. With the EU committed to transitioning to a more sustainable and resilient food system as part of the European Green Deal and in light of the Covid‑19 pandemic, insects could offer a greener alternative component of future animal protein production. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - What if insects were on the menu in Europe?

Clothing manufacture and consumption have a huge negative impact on both the environment and people. Sustainability is not only about the environment, but is also an economic and social indicator, and the clothing industry is a good example illustrating their interconnections. Are technological innovations alone enough to 'tailor' a green and fair future for fashion? Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - What if fashion were good for the planet?

This infoclip illustrates the EU Biodiversity Strategy in the franework of the European Green Deal programme: views of the Parc de Sainte Croix, in Rhodes (France), European pond turtles, coypu, brown bears, raccoon, griffon vulture, grey wolf. Views of the Mediterranean coast, views of the countryside; and planting trees initiative.

Infoclip: Green Deal - The EU Biodiversity Strategy

This Infoclip illustrates: the EU Biodiversity strategy in particular the endangered species, Brown bear, in France.

Infoclip: Green deal - The EU Biodiversity strategy - Endangered species; Brown bear

This Infoclip illustrates: the EU Biodiversity strategy in particular the endangered species, Yellow-cheeked gibbon, in France.

Infoclip: Green deal - The EU Biodiversity strategy - Endangered species; Yellow-cheeked gibbon

This Infoclip illustrates: the EU Biodiversity strategy in particular the endangered species, Red panda, in France.

Infoclip: Green deal - The EU Biodiversity strategy - Endangered species: Red panda

This Infoclip illustrates: the EU Biodiversity strategy in particular the endangered species, Wolverine, in France.

Infoclip: Green deal - The EU Biodiversity strategy - Endangered species; Wolverine

This Infoclip illustrates: the EU Biodiversity strategy in particular the endangered species, Eurasian lynx, in France.

Infoclip: Green deal - The EU Biodiversity strategy - Endangered species - Eurasian lynx

This Infoclip illustrates: the EU Biodiversity strategy in particular the Deer, in France.

Infoclip: Green deal - The EU Biodiversity strategy - Deer

This infoclip illustrates the EU Biodiversity strategy in particular the invasive species, the red-eared slider and the coypu, in France.

Infoclip: Green deal - The EU Biodiversity strategy - Invasive species; Red-eared slider, Coypu

This infoclip illustrates the EU Biodiversity strategy in particular the endangered species, Red ruffed lemur, Ring-tailed lemur, in France.

Infoclip: Green deal - The EU Biodiversity strategy - Endangered species; Red ruffed lemur, Ring-tailed lemur

This Infoclip illustrates the EU Biodiversity strategy in particular the invasive species, the Raccoon, in France.

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