Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

“There is No Planet B: With the devastating impacts of climate change becoming increasingly visible, the EU faces the challenge of reducing carbon emissions and transitioning towards sustainable energy sources. With the ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, how can the EU accelerate the adoption of green technologies and encourage global cooperation to combat climate change?”

Florian Blok (NL), Pepijn Bus (NL), Trisha Madan (NL), Iva Marjanovic (NL), Annabel Smith (NL), Jasmīna Bundule (LV, Chairperson)

The European Youth Parliament aims to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change and achieve carbon neutrality before 2050 by promoting collective action and the use of a system of retributions and benefits. It further aims to do so by providing appropriate subsidies for the farming sector and those with lower incomes.

The above is decided upon because

1. There is a necessity for urgent action in order to achieve the EU commitment to Carbon Neutrality by 2050.
2. The current rate of transition to sources of renewable energy is not efficient in order to ensure a sufficient reduction of greenhouse gases.
3. There is a lack of importance placed on the global scale if any tangible results are to be achieved via the help of international agreements, such as the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal.
4. Consumer behaviour and lifestyle choices are impactful for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
5. Until now, collective action has been ineffective in reaching its fullest extent in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, since consumer behaviour and lifestyle changes have had little impact.
6. Climate change disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities socially and economically.
7. The agricultural sector’s struggle to balance profitability with stricter environmental regulations undermines support for climate initiatives, highlighting its dual role as both a major contributor to and victim of climate change.

To that end, the European Youth Parliament

1. Encourages Member States to incentivise citizens and companies to reduce their carbon usage by applying taxation based on their carbon emissions;
2. Urges the European Commission to initiate funding for the transition towards diversified energy supply, including both nuclear and renewable energy sources;
3. Asks the Directorate-General for Communication (DG COMM) to divulge climate change related research to the public, by producing and distributing respective advertisements;
4. Proposes that the DG COMM encourages consumers to buy eco-friendly products through the use of media campaigns;
5. Requests the European Commission to track the flows of money towards non-sustainable ends by initiating additional transparency policies;
6. Calls upon the European Commission to fund projects supporting sustainable energy alternatives in low-income communities, thereby making green energy more accessible;
7. Invites the Directorate-General for Climate Action to incentivise sustainable agricultural production through subsidies.

Annex: Definitions belonging to the Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)

For the purposes of this resolution:

1. ‘Carbon Neutrality’ – balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.
2. ‘Collective Action’ – occurs when a number of people work together to achieve some common objective.
3. ‘Renewable Energy’ – energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed.

‘International Cooperation’ – collaboration between governments, businesses or individuals where it is agreed to work together towards similar strategies.