Speeches

Mr President, thank you very much. One year. This is the exception that Sweden has received to support renewable fuels. One year at a time, and that counts as an exception. This is what has allowed us to go from 5% ethanol in our petrol pumps to 10%. However, it is only an exception. Now we have the chance to redo and do the right thing when it comes to EU state aid rules. We need to be clear – renewables are better than fossils, and state aid should under no circumstances go to fossils. Nor can we punish renewables. Today we have high prices for petrol and diesel, but it will be impossible to switch, unless the renewable alternatives are competitive. I don't know how many of you have worked in companies or are entrepreneurs, but a year's time is far too short to make any investments. We must make renewables the rule, not the exception.

Madam President, thank you very much. EUR 0,07 per megawatt-hour. Minus €0.03 per megawatt hour. Minus €0.08 per megawatt hour. This is the system price for electricity in northern Europe from the last weekend. Why? Because wind power is pushing down electricity prices. And if you are serious about worrying about high energy prices in Europe, it is dishonest to lock households in fossil energy and stop the transition. Renewable energy has unbeatably the lowest prices, and that is why we need to phase out fossil fuels. It's expensive, it's dirty, and it's hurting our planet. The recent discussions, that the transition is due to the climate transition, is fake news. It is Russian gas and it is Putin who keeps energy prices up in Europe. This shows us that we need to stop subsidizing fossil energy. We need to strengthen emissions trading and we need to speed up the transition, because we need new energy in Europe.

Mr President, thank you very much. Dear colleagues, The IPCC report is a reminder that we have waited far too long and that we still have sectors where emissions are increasing. It's a reminder of what we had to do 20 to 30 years ago. As legislators, we must have courage. We need to do what it takes to stay below 1.5 degrees of warming. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) is Europe's most important tool for reducing emissions. It is an effective marketing tool to take us all the way. As Renew Europe's negotiator in charge, I pledge to do everything I can to ensure that we have the most effective tool possible. I know, however, that there are people in here who say that they want the best for the climate, but who at the same time say that they want to postpone the timetable, who at the same time say that it will be too expensive, who at the same time say that it will be too risky and who at the same time say that emission reductions will take place elsewhere. Colleagues, we have to be brave and do what it takes!

Mr President, dear colleagues, and Europe: this is the first time I speak to you in this Parliament. And I will address what concerns me the most: I will address climate change. With 73% of fossil energy in Europe’s energy system, this environmental action programme that we have in front of us today gives us a unique chance to end the fossil subsidies and end a fossil era. And I have a clear message to give to you today, and let me be very clear: (The speaker remained silent for 30 seconds.) No more words can save us now – we need climate action.