MEPs debate and vote on key EU draft laws to combat climate change by drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to protect jobs and citizens. Parliament is set to adopt its position on eight proposals that are part of the “Fit for 55 in 2030 package”. This is the EU’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and have net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (climate neutrality) by 2050, in line with the European Climate Law. The texts approved will be Parliament’s mandate for negotiations with EU governments on the final laws. Statement by Ville NIINISTÖ on the Land use, land use change and forestry report.

debate

plenary session

joint debate

fight against climate change (T)

NIINISTÖ, Ville (Greens/EFA, FI)

European Green Deal (T)

Fit for 55 (T)

Fit for 55: Land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF): statement by Ville NIINISTÖ (Greens/EFA, FI), rapporteur

SOUNDBITE (English), Ville NIINIST&#214; (Greens/EFA, FI), Rapporteur, The regulation is about increasing carbon sinks in how we use land. So it's about trying to make the forests, how we use agricultural land and also other forms of land like lands, like wetlands, restoring them into more natural conditions. And with those actions that we can increase carbon sinks. And that is the goal of the Commission's proposal and the Environment Committee of the Parliament is proposing to go even further. So in 2030 we would have 310 million tonnes of sequestration of carbon by maybe used land in Europe. And then additionally, the committee is proposing 50 million tonnes of added action at the EU level on carbon farming and this is a pathway towards making land use part of our action, action on climate change, part of the Fit for 55 package and increasing the ambition of reaching carbon neutrality in Europe by 2050. So there will be an added focus on how land will be used more sustainably. And this regulation is key in that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ville NIINIST&Ouml; (Greens/EFA, FI), Rapporteur, Land use can be a carbon sink if we make sure that forests are used more sustainably, harvesting periods are longer, so we let the forest grow more. We don't over use the resources of forests. We stop deforestation, and we also restore land, the land into a condition. For example, restoration of peatlands and wetlands can also increase carbon sinks while supporting also biodiversity. And then on farming, I think there is a huge market in the future for sustainable carbon farming practises that the consumers want to buy products that have a low or even negative CO2 value. So these will have a huge market and we need to promote those practises and they will also be good for biodiversity. We will need less fertilisers, have more kind of regenerative farming, which is also good for the environment.