Speeches

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Many thanks to Mr Timmermans, First Vice-President of the Commission, for making it possible for us to vote on this result today. We finally decide the end of the climate-damaging combustion engine. This is good for climate protection, and it is also good for the economy. In this way, we create clarity: From 2035 onwards, no new combustion engines will be allowed and the car industry and workers will be able to adapt to this change – and they are already doing so. Climate-friendly e-mobility can no longer be stopped worldwide. Let's finally get into this competition: Let's build the widest range batteries, the most modern cars in Europe and thus secure Europe's jobs and automotive location for the future. In the transport sector, we have always set the climate targets. And this is also a result of the Conservatives' policy over the last 20 years. And they are already trying again not to do anything for climate protection in the transport sector, and hopefully they will fail today. 2035 is good for climate protection, but it's still far too late. And many car manufacturers have also been involved much earlier in getting out of the car. Let me say something about e-fuels. Some of you who have spoken here are mistaken in the past. The ADAC, which is really not a green apron organization, but it calculates that a wind turbine can supply 160 electric cars, but only 52 electric fuel cars. E-fuels are inefficient. They will always be more expensive than electric cars, and they have no future. And that is why we clearly exclude this here in this law, even if some others claim otherwise. With the burner off it is clear: Industry is moving towards e-mobility, which is the guarantee that it will stay. The success story of the industry in Europe is not based on the fact that we build internal combustion engines, but on the fact that everyone works every day to make products better. Inventiveness, accuracy, reliability and engineering are what define us and we are securing Europe as an automotive location for the future. Anything else would be a policy of de-industrialization.

Madam President, Thank you, Commissioner, for announcing a European Net Zero Industry Act. That's right. We need to become leaders in the key green technologies of the future: Solar power plants, wind power, electricity storage and grids, heat pumps and hydrogen electrolysers. This climate industry must replace the dirty fossil industry if we are to save the climate and secure sustainable jobs in Europe. The global race has long since begun, and Europe is just lagging behind. In order to be able to play at the front, we need a European way. It includes three things: The debt brake must not prevent European investment, Europe must be given easy opportunities to promote the climate industry – in all regions – and thirdly, high European standards for recyclability, environmental sustainability and workers. The modernisation of industry, the transition to a circular economy and social justice – let's tackle this together!

Madam President, Commissioner Timmermans! 2022 was a lost year for climate action. Why? We are breaking the Paris Agreement on climate change, and we are on a lethal 3-degree earth-heating path. That's why we said in Glasgow a year ago: This year 2022, we are raising all our climate targets to 1.5 degrees. And what has happened since then? Nothing. You, Mr Timmermans, then stated that the European Union will not raise its climate targets because we are already doing enough. If everyone acts like this, the planet will go before the dogs. Don't make that mistake again. Commit to a higher European climate target: 60% is possible, 65% is necessary. And demand the same from our partners, because 2023 must not be lost again for climate protection.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner! We want a transformation towards sustainability, and we want safe medical devices. But I get a lot of calls for help from companies from my constituency: Specialized products, such as scalpels for children with few runs and often manufactured by small companies, are thrown into a pot with mass-produced products from multinational companies. Manufacturers then withdraw the products from the market because they can't meet the requirements, and we can't want that. We walk into an immense bottleneck. Up to 24 000 allowances expire by May 2024, but only 6 300 allowances can be issued annually by notified bodies. We must prevent bottlenecks and life-saving products from being taken off the market. It is clear: The current situation is unsatisfactory. We now need quick solutions for health, but in the medium term the regulation must be put on firm feet, so that this drama does not repeat itself every few years.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen! There are only three weeks left until the climate conference, and so far it looks like it will end in disaster. The countries of the Global South demand justice. Europe's CO2 emissions are leading to devastating floods and climate catastrophes in countries such as Pakistan. We must finally acknowledge that. Loss and Damage is Real! At the same time, a year ago in Glasgow, we made the promise: We must stop the breach of the Paris climate agreement and finally reach the 2-degree target by Sharm El-Sheikh. Ladies and gentlemen, none of this has happened so far! Nothing has happened because there is no leadership from the EU. Where are the joint press conferences with John Kerry? Where are the global alliances? Climate Commissioner Timmermans, where are you? We don't see you. You have not even come here to this central debate in plenary. If this climate change conference fails, you are responsible for it. Come on up. Take care of yourself and make sure that the climate conference is a success.

Mr President, I wonder if the MEPs should now also get to triple the amount of speaking time, as she also got it. So maybe in this House we should also then give it to the MEPs. Herr Präsident, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Derzeit verursacht der Verkehr knapp ein Drittel der Treibhausgasemissionen in Europa. Und das muss und das wird sich ändern. Schon bald wird das Reisen mit dem Elektroauto von Schweden bis Bulgarien problemlos möglich sein. Das Laden von E-Autos wird einfacher sein als das Tanken von Benzin. Und statt Abofallen und App-Chaos wird es überall unkompliziert mit Kartenzahlung gehen. Meine Damen und Herren, geben Sie den Bürgerinnen und Bürgern Europas heute dieses Versprechen. Ich appelliere an Sie: Konzentrieren wir uns auf das Pferd, auf das die Autoindustrie setzt – das Elektroauto. Grünen Wasserstoff braucht ThyssenKrupp für CO2-neutralen Stahl, Autos fahren mit Batterie, und LNG ist knapp in Europa. Lassen Sie uns keinen Champagner in den Tank kippen. Schalten wir jetzt auf Turbo in der E—Mobilität und sichern damit Arbeitsplätze, Innovation und Zukunft in Europa.

It’s a funny question because I think you didn’t really understand what we are talking about. We are talking about droughts. We are talking about the destruction of the European biosphere, and if you are now trying to burn all of the wood, all of the forests, then it’s exactly what you get. You get more droughts, you get more problems for the people. You’ll get more firefighters that need to go into these risky situations. What we need to do is really save the climate, using renewable energies, but not cutting down our forests.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, When I take the train from Stuttgart to Brussels, it's autumn outside, because the leaves of the trees are yellow and grey and sometimes have already fallen off. But it's not autumn. It is the driest summer in Europe in over 500 years. But for my daughter's generation, it's probably more of the wetter she'll ever experience. In this situation, the European Commission does not want to increase its climate targets and thus triggers a spiral of hesitation and hesitation internationally. Dear Mrs. von der Leyen, Dear Mr. Timmermans! Be brave! Increase your climate goals! Trigger an international spiral of determination for climate protection. My daughter's generation doesn't want to know who had the best excuses. She wants to know who took responsibility. (The speaker agreed to respond to an intervention under the blue card procedure.)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. I didn't think I'd stand here defending the financial industry. But that's how it is. Yesterday someone from the Federal Association of Public Banks told me that no one will take the green taxonomy seriously should nuclear power and gas be included. In other words: We have an excellent compass that is driving Europe's energy transition and are now punching it with our fist because ailing French nuclear power plants urgently need money for the renovation. Honestly: That's absurd. At the same time, those who vote for nuclear power and gas tomorrow will receive a letter of thanks from Vladimir Putin. He is already rubbing his hands because he will be able to sell his gas as sustainable in the future and will make even more billions. I appeal to Manfred Weber and to the EPP: Be reasonable! Don't destroy Europe's seal of approval for the financial sector, our seal of approval for Putin's energy independence!

Emma, let me recall what your friend next to you, Pascal Canfin, said here around two years ago: he said to Timmermans ‘I warn you, I warn you, don’t put an ETS tool’ – from the Renew Group. So I think you just have to calm down a little bit when you now put the blame on the Greens and S&D. But one thing is really important: we need to have a just climate transformation. Your idea is that we phase out fossil cars by making the price very high. That means rich people can still afford to pollute the climate, whereas poor people not. That is not fair. We need to have the end of the combustion engine for everybody. That is fair climate policy.

Mr President, dear Mr Manfred Weber, ladies and gentlemen of the EPP Group! The last time you were in the Bavarian Forest, did you see the many trees standing there dried up? I ask you: How do you explain to your voters that forests are dying on their doorstep and that tomorrow you will vote against a climate policy that will curb this? Mr Stéphane Séjourné, dear Liberals, Pascal, France has just survived the warmest and driest May since records began. Water bottles are bunkered to supply your citizens in case of an emergency. In France, nuclear power plants have to be shut down because of the lack of cooling water. How do you explain it to your voters when you vote against the climate emergency tomorrow, together with the Conservatives and Marine Le Pen's rights – the climate emergency we declared here almost two years ago after extreme droughts, after forest deaths, after temperature records? I urge you to: End the fossil alliance here in the European Parliament! Let's build European sovereignty, which we dream of together! Let's get rid of Putin's fossil shackles with Europe's latest climate technologies: Solar and wind power, battery factories and heat pumps. Emissions trading can do that. If CO2 has a strong price, then we can get out of coal by 2030. Let's modernise our European economy! Those who manage cleanly will be rewarded, and then the CO2 pollution party will finally end. Let's build the best electric cars and high-speed trains Made in Europe Let's define the framework for this: 2035 finally out of the burner! Don't protect what's gone by! Build what will bloom! Mr Weber, Mr Séjourné, tomorrow you will be on the right side of history! (The speaker agreed to respond to an intervention under the blue card procedure)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Putin's biggest fear is an energy-independent Europe. And with REPowerEU, a historic decision has been made: We use our European energy resources, solar and wind. We are moving towards 100% renewable energy. Our homes become our power plants, the solar obligation comes. 70 million solar roofs can replace all Russian gas imports. We will build solar panels in Europe. This is good for industry, for sustainable jobs and for independence from China. This has all worked thanks to many citizens. Thanks to your pressure, we are moving forward. But this success is on the brink of funding. They propose to finance the energy transition with more CO2 emissions. You can't be serious! We declared a climate emergency. We must be champions of the Paris Agreement on climate change. I urge you all to: Do not block ambitious climate protection!

Thank you very much. That was still a bit vague. I think you said we will do whatever it takes to bring solar energy production back to Europe so I hope that also means an IPCI. But I have another question. Currently, the Commission is proposing to go to 40% renewable energy by 2030. Our studies show that we can go to up to 57% and not be dependent on Russian oil and gas. So are you proposing to increase the renewable energy share for Europe for the year 2030?

Madam President, Commissioner, we are not free in Europe. We are clinging to Putin's fossil drip, and we need to move away from it, towards wind and solar power. Now, with REPowerEU, we have the opportunity – even a little late – to do so, which is why the specific question is: Are you proposing something like a European Solar Act, similar to the Chips Act? There must be three things in there: Firstly: Will you propose a European solar obligation? On every roof, where it goes, a solar system must come. Secondly, we need a lot more money for renewables. Suggest that we can finance renewables from the ETS Innovation Fund! And thirdly: We want to build so many solar systems in the next few years. It would be really stupid if we didn't produce them here in Europe. Suggest that we have an IPCEI, a solar industry settlement project in Europe! Thank you very much, and be courageous, to propose a European Solar Act before!

Madam President, the pictures of war atrocities in Bucha on innocent Ukrainian citizens are horrifying and at the same time, Putin is playing us with his coal, gas and oil. We must not be blackmailed by Putin. What we need for this is strong climate policies to move away from fossils and move to 100% renewables. I cannot understand those who call now for a stop or pause of Europe's CO2 trading scheme – our most powerful climate policy tool. Instead of stopping it, we need to strengthen it. Every euro we spend more on renewables is a euro will spend less for Putin's war machine. And he fears that. He fears an energy-independent Europe, so let’s build it. Freeing us from oil, coal and gas is regaining freedom. Climate policies must not fall victim to Putin's war.

Madam President, Yesterday I was able to speak to Ilies, a young refugee from Ukraine. He had a wish: Don't buy any more coal, oil or gas from Putin! Don't finance this war with your climate-damaged way of life! We transfer millions of euros to Putin every day for his war machine, and that's unbearable. But instead of all the energy now going towards expanding renewables towards lowering consumption, take your time. A solar strategy is not to come until May, Mr Dombrovskis. We don't have time. Refugees like Ilies don't have time. Please put me in crisis mode. Finally, turbocharge the expansion of renewable energies and the reduction of the consumption of coal, oil and gas. And don't start subsidizing Putin's oil and gas with billions of dollars in taxes.

Dear Mr President, Commissioner Simson! The year is 2021 and the climate crisis has arrived in Europe. We had 246 victims of the floods in the summer. However, 52 billion euros are still spent on fossil subsidies every year. This is actually a scandal. Citizens' money continues to fuel the climate crisis. We need this money for transformation, for low-income people to be able to insulate their homes so they have to spend less on energy, for solar energy to come on every roof. It creates jobs, it prevents energy poverty. This is where Europe's future must lie. We need to become world leaders in these technologies. Let us use citizens' money wisely and responsibly! It should allow the freedom of future generations and not destroy their future.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. After this climate conference, we have it black and white: We do not reach the climate targets of the Paris Climate Agreement, not the 1.5 degrees and not the 2 degrees. The European Union's climate targets are not enough either. Now the world has to sit down, now we have to sit down and present new climate targets at the climate conference in one year, so that we do not break the treaty. We can achieve this, the instruments are on the table: an early phase-out of coal in 2030, a massive expansion of renewable energies, a rapid end to the internal combustion engine and the end of fossil subsidies. We can do all this here in this House. I appeal to you. I recall the climate emergency we declared two years ago. Let's guarantee the freedom of our children by implementing the 1.5 degree goal! We all have it in our hands, proverbial.

Dear Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Six years after Paris, we are going to the climate conference with climate targets and measures that do not even meet the 2-degree climate target. This is simply disappointing. It doesn't help to point your finger at other countries and say: They don't do it anymore. Let's come to our own front door! If we really want to be a global leader, it means: no new fossil subsidies; then this also means an end date for natural gas, and it means joining the initiative of other states committing to a coal phase-out in 2030. The question to the Commission: Will we be part of this initiative? Our benchmark must be whether future generations can still live on this planet, can still enjoy the same freedoms as we do. This is what it is all about: around the 1.5-degree target. We Greens are arguing for the European Union to do just that and thus be a real pioneer in climate protection.

Madam President, Natural gas prices have increased tenfold in the last two years, and many are looking at winter with fear. The European Union must make the promise that no child will have to wake up in a cold room because parents can no longer afford the electricity and heat. In order to help people in need, immediate action is needed. For example, no one is allowed to turn off electricity or gas this winter. At the same time, it is also clear: For our children to grow up in freedom and in a world worth living in, more climate protection is needed. Do not make the mistake of sacrificing climate protection for social justice. Both only go together. We need to rapidly expand renewables. Energy from wind and solar power is already cheaper today than from fossils. The energy transition is good for the climate and for the wallet.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. Less than two years ago, we all declared a climate emergency. Unfortunately, this summer has shown that the climate emergency is a reality. We mourn hundreds of deaths in the EU, from floods and forest fires, from extreme heat. The report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has shown what a dramatic situation we are in. As early as 2030, the 1.5-degree limit can be exceeded. 1.5 degrees – that is what we are committed to, and that is what you are committed to, Mr Timmermans. But here I ask you: How can you suggest that only 40 percent of energy is renewable by 2030? Why do you want to allow tax breaks for aviation kerosene until 2032? And why do you still want to invest taxpayers' money in fossil gas? At the latest, the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has shown that the proposals are not enough to deliver on the promise of the Paris Climate Agreement – the promise that our children can enjoy the same freedom as we do. That is why I appeal to you: Let's be braver! Let's get out of coal... (The President withdrew the floor from the speaker.)