Ensuring climate protection
- Details
Preparation for a hard Brexit - member states agree on safeguard mechanism for ETS (Brexit shield)
Member States agreed on the implementation of a safeguard mechanism for the European emission trading system (EU ETS) today in the climate change committee. In case of a hard Brexit - which means that the UK would leave the EU without an agreement - the EU is preparing to maintain strong climate protection. The safeguard mechanism aims at preserving the integrity of the EU ETS in case that obligations of aviation operators and other operators from a member state cease. This would be the case in the event of a UK departure from the EU ETS in March 2019. The necessary changes in the EU ETS registry regulation where approved today by the member states.
Should the Brexit take place in March 2019, UK operators would not have to surrender allowances for their 2018 emissions, as allowances for verified emissions in the year 2018 must be surrendered by 30 April 2019, just after Brexit. The safeguard measure makes sure that aviation operators and other operators in the EU ETS may not use allowances that are issued from 1 January 2018 onwards by the UK.
Representatives of the EU-Member States confirm stricter rules for Emission Trading
- Details
Good for the climate and jobs
Today, after two and a half years of negotiations the representatives of the Council of Ministers signed the reform of the EU-Emission Trading Scheme for the timeframe from 2021 until 2030. Beforehand the reform was already brokered by representatives of the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission. Besides the traditionally sceptical countries like Poland, Great Britain, due to the Brexit, also raised doubts about its support of the reform in the Council of Ministers.
The environmental policy spokesman, Dr. Peter Liese, of the EPP-Group in the European Parliament welcomed the result: “I am very happy that there was a majority in the Council. The reform is good for climate protection. It helps us to reach the Paris climate goals. Innovative companies will be rewarded and we will on one hand secure jobs and on the other hand create new ones.”
The EU-Emission Trading Scheme covers 45% of the total greenhouse gas emissions of the European Union(the cap for fixed installations in 2013 was 2,084 billion).
Read more: Representatives of the EU-Member States confirm stricter rules for Emission Trading
European Parliament‘s ENVI Committee backs compromise on glyphosate
- Details
Objection of communists rejected
The European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety backed the compromise on glyphosate on Tuesday morning. The Members of the European Parliament rejected the objection of the communist group, which called for an immediate ban of glyphosate. The environmental policy spokesman, Dr. Peter Liese, of the EPP-Group in the European Parliament welcomed the result: “The European Parliament voted already last year for timely limited extension of the approval of glyphosate with specific conditions. Even if I could have imagined some details differently, the appeal committee followed the parliament’s recommendations yesterday. The original proposal of the Commission, namely 15 years renewal, was as wrong as the request for an immediate ban of glyphosate. Glyphosate must be subject to strict conditions and I hope that we will find an alternative in the coming years. However, I believe that if it is used according to strict rules its application is acceptable.”
EU Commission adopts Acrylamide regulation
- Details
Acrylamide is more dangerous than Fipronil and Glyphosate
The European Commission proposal strengthens health protection, but avoids excessive regulation
Today, the European Commission has finally adopted a regulation for the avoidance of acrylamide to better protect European consumers from related health risks.
The controversial substance acrylamide can be found in small quantities in almost anything that is roasted, baked or fried, such as crisps or chips.
Peter Liese, MEP and health spokesperson of the biggest group in the European Parliament (EPP-Christian Democrats) has consistently warned of the health risks connected to acrylamide in foodstuffs.
“After speaking to many experts and in my judgment as a medical doctor, the danger of acrylamide to health is bigger than that of glyphosate and fipronil. I thought it was totally disproportionate that supermarkets pulled all eggs from stores in the summer because of the firponil scandal. If at all, there only was a health risk if you ate at least 70 eggs over the course of the summer - you should not eat that many eggs anyway because of other negative health effects.
“In contrast we have a real health issue with acrylamide. The quantities that children and young adults consume are significant and, although full certainty is missing, we have to assume that high quantities of acrylamide increase the risk of developing cancer.