Brussels, 13/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - Stricter monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union and the inclusion of agricultural land and forests in accounting for emissions are two major steps forward for the climate behind which the European Parliament rallied in Strasbourg on 11 March, with its approval, by a large majority, of two legislation proposals.
Following their rapporteur, Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, Netherlands), the Parliament gave its support (634 votes to 42, with 5 abstentions) to the revision of the monitoring rules and greenhouse gas reporting requirements upon the member states. The resolution adopted calls for the member states to submit a report each year on their contribution to the global fight against climate change and on the policies they are pursuing to achieve the long-term climate objectives and reduction targets for 2050.
“The revised rules will step up the way in which greenhouse gas emissions are accounted for and reported by the member states. This is very important to guarantee the environmental integrity of the climate policies of the EU and we welcome today's vote as a step forward”, said Eickhout.
Following Kriton Arsenis (S&D, Greece), the MEPs largely subscribed (635 votes to 42, with 3 abstentions) to the compromise amendments on the draft decision on accounting rules and action plans on greenhouse gas emissions and removals resulting from activities related to land use, land use change and forestry (Lulucf). The European Parliament backed compulsory accounting of the emissions/absorption of CO2 from forestry and agricultural activities, but did not agree that the CO2 emissions from wetlands should also have to be accounted for in the future. This is a source of disappointment for the Greens/EFA, as wetlands are a major source of greenhouse gases. However, the Council could not agree to go quite that far. “The forest is known to be active in the fight against climate change”, said Gaston Franco (EPP, France). It is worth noting that this text transposes into European law the agreement concluded at the international climate negotiations in Durban in December 2011 (COP 17). (AN/transl.fl)