During the plenary session in Strasbourg (11-14 March 2019), MEPs debate the long-term reduction targets of greenhouse gas emissions with theCommission. Statements by Peter LIESE (EPP, DE), Udo BULLMANN (S&D, DE), Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY (ALDE, NL), Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL) and Miguel ARIAS CAÑETE, Member of the EC in charge of Climate Action and Energy. Shots of young climate activists present in the Chamber during the debate.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EICKHOUT, Bas (Greens/EFA, NL)

2030 framework for climate and energy policies (T)

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (T)

GERBRANDY, Gerben-Jan (ALDE, NL)

ARIAS CAÑETE, Miguel (EPP, ES, EC)

BULLMANN, Udo (S&D, DE)

LIESE, Peter (EPP, DE)

climate change

fight against climate change (T)

Climate change: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (German), Peter LIESE (EPP, DE), That would become climate neutral by 2050 and the good thing about this vision is that it is supported by facts and arguments. The Commission is clear in saying that we can create more jobs as well as additional growth if we do strive towards that goal.

SOUNDBITE (English), Udo BULLMANN (S&amp;D, DE), This is a social revolution that started now everywhere. And dear colleagues we the politicians we the parliamentarians we have to be part of that. This is my firm conviction and one element more I think they should be here in our place today and talk to us they should come forward with their demands.

SOUNDBITE (English), Udo BULLMANN (S&amp;D, DE), <p>(referring to the decision not to open up the climate debate with the 60 young activist present today in the EP in STB) : I regret very much that Conservatives,Liberals and the far right denied us this chance for open debate today.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Udo BULLMANN (S&amp;D, DE), If you are genuine committed, then let's do this next time round in this next Parliament next parliamentary term. You know it's quite easy. Let's see to it that the Growth and Stability Pact is transformed into a Sustainability pact. And you know let's not just have a semester that's all about the economy, but let's make sure that the semester is all about sustainability policy. Keep on fighting young people.

SOUNDBITE (English), Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY (ALDE, NL), We should also act in all other policy areas and this Monday I'm afraid again we proved that we're letting the future generation down. We voted on sustainable finance and I'm afraid by the right wing parts of this house we voted out all ambition and that is extremely extremely important because all human action starts with investments.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), A lot of people who are here now are getting a bit of diets that people are saying oh we want to thank you thank you for being here. Thank you for telling us they don't want things. They want action. They want politicians to act.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), If we go beyond the targets then suddenly you see that the vested interests of the fossil industry is still hugely protected by this side of the parliament. As my colleague, as my colleague said on finances we still only try to say OK. Don't talk about the negative impact of our financing only talk about a little green corner on agriculture, we don't manage to really make sure that agriculture becomes green, on transportation: we are still lagging behind on new and future transportation and on climate proofing of all our investments we're not delivering. We really need to step up.

SOUNDBITE (English), Miguel ARIAS CA&#209;ETE, Member of the EC in charge of Climate Action and Energy, Now we are in this situation thatwe have legislation., we have a review process, but that is not enough. And the next Parliament and the next Commission have a huge responsibility and I expect that the Spitzenkandidate and the political groups in the campaign are ambitious in the electoral programmes, because if we all agree that we have to raise ambition there should not be problems in the Council, to take a decision supporting the 2050 climate neutrality objectives. If will have that objective, the next Commission will have to raise ambitions before.

<p>2 cut away shots, pan over the 60 young climate activists, at the end of the debate they stand up and raise their hands and shout: "What we want is climate justice". </p>