On Thursday 28 November, the European Parliament succeeded in declaring a climate and environmental emergency and asking the EU to take action. This vote took place the day after the von der Leyen Commission was approved and a few days before the COP25 - a strong signal, all the political groups behind the compromise resolution (Renew Europe, S&D and GUE/NGL) that was adopted (see EUROPE 12378/5) were delighted.
The text, with few amendments, was adopted by a very large majority (429 votes in favour, 225 against, 19 abstentions).
The Parliament calls on the new Commission to fully assess the climate and environmental impact of all relevant legislative and budgetary proposals and to ensure that they are all fully in line with the objective of limiting global warming to less than 1.5 °C and that they do not contribute to biodiversity loss.
The Greens/EFA/ and GUE/NGL amendment that has been adopted urges the new Commission to tackle the inconsistencies in the Union's current policies on climate and environmental emergencies, in particular through a thorough reform of its investment policies in the fields of agriculture, trade, transport, energy and infrastructure.
The text specifies that no emergency should ever be used to weaken democratic institutions or to infringe fundamental rights and that all measures will always be adopted as part of a democratic process.
The result was greeted with loud applause. The EPP amendment to transform the word emergency into urgency was rejected. The EPP Group, criticising alarmism, voted, with the exception of the French delegation, against the resolution.
"We have succeeded! Europe will be the first continent to declare a climate and environmental emergency", said Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe).
"Fighting climate warming is no longer an option, but an obligation. There is no time to waste, because our planet is at risk. Scientists tell us that this is an emergency", commented Iratxe Garcia Perez (S&D).
However, the Greens/EFA, who supported the resolution, are disappointed that the text is not concrete enough and as ambitious as they had hoped. "This text is a victory for the climate. But refusing to vote for a 65% reduction in emissions by 2030 is refusing to respect the Paris Agreement", commented Karima Delli.
According to Manon Aubry (GUE/NGL), "we must now move from words to acts and provide ourselves with the means to achieve the objectives of this historic resolution, which calls for radical and immediate action!".
Alexander Vondra (ECR) stressed that alarmism will not help answer the serious questions over tackling global emissions. The amendment by the ECR group, which criticised the Parliament's carbon footprint for its shuttles and called for a single headquarters for the Parliament, was rejected. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)