Resolution Booklet 1st Odesa International Forum of EYP - Ukraine
1 S T O D E S A I N TE RN A T IO N A L F O R U M O D E SA , 16-19 AUGUST 2012
M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON F OREIGN A FFAIRS The Durban agreement states that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change must negotiate a new climate agreement by 2015. What common European approach should the EU Member States develop for this next climate treaty? Submitted by:
Kristina Dimanova (BG), Vira Gembarska (UA), Alex Guzenko (UA), Anastasiya Kyrychok (UA), Valeriya Mashiro (UA), Diana Olendr (UA), Sofia Petterson (SE), Maciej Świder (Chairperson, PL)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Aware of the fact that the United Nations (UN) climate agreements are neither precise nor powerful enough, B. Fully alarmed about the UN climate change policies not being fully implemented nor supervised properly, C. Further noting the penalties for exceeding greenhouse gas emission limits being inadequate resulting in the prevention of the successful enforcement of the UN climate agreements, D. Noting with regret the gap between the first commitment period ending in 2012 and the next UN climate agreement planned for 2015, E. Deeply concerned by both insufficient international cooperation and the lack of commitment to combat climate change among the UN Members, F.
Further noting the lack of co-operation in terms of climate change among the major greenhouse gas emitters, such as the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of India,
G. Noting with satisfaction the positive influence of the European Union’s Emission Trade System (EU ETS) on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, H. Recognising the lack of governmental support in terms of providing incentives for green infrastructure within most of the European Union (EU) Member States, I.
Having examined the fact that the current usage of alternative energy sources is not enough to reduce GHG emissions sufficiently,
J.
Noting with deep concern the process of deforestation in the developing countries as the fastest and the easiest source of income under conditions of low economy level;
1.
Urges the UN 2015 climate agreement to meet certain criteria such as:
2.
a)
precision,
b)
strictness,
c)
consideration of each country’s capacities;
Calls for establishing an agency within the UN consisting of board members both from the UN and the national governments in order to provide a better supervision of the progress of combating climate change;
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Requests more severe penalties for the countries not meeting the requirements of the new climate agreement;
4.
Further invites the national governments to continue following their environmental commitments while absolved from the affect of Kyoto Protocol;
5.
Encourages an international cooperation by the means of: a)
multilateral diplomatic negotiations,
b)
combining efforts of two or more countries aiming to cut their total GHG emissions to the average level of their abilities;
6.
Emphasises the need of diplomatic negotiations between the biggest GHG emitters, such as the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of India, with the guidance of the EU;
7.
Recommends establishing the United Nations Emissions Trade System (UN ETS);
8.
Further recommends the allocation of the funds received from the penalties to the development of alternative energy sources;
9.
Calls for the establishment of the progressive taxation system within the EU for the enterprises disobeying the green legislation;
10. Calls upon the establishment of a programme run by the European Environment Agency, aimed at replacing fossil fuels with alternative sources of energy; 11. Supports the usage of the UN Green Climate Fund resources to aid developing countries in preventing deforestation.
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M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON F OREIGN A FFAIRS II Following the outcomes of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, held in June 2012, how should the EU further interact with the global society for putting the world economy on a more sustainable path? What measures should be taken to help people out of poverty, while protecting the environment? Submitted by:
Alena Kalodzitsa (BY), Daniil Lubkin (UA), Simone Martini (IT), Iryna Selska (UA), Olha Shvets (UA), Anna Trukhan (BY), Anton Verkhovodov (UA), Tetiana Korniichuk (Chairperson, UA), Valentina Mina (President, CY)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Recognising the sovereign right of nations to define their own internal polices and control the use of their natural resources, B. Bearing in mind the seven issues that were given priority attention during the preparation of Rio+20 outcome document “The Future We Want”, C. Noting with deep concern the insufficient international cooperation and the lack of political agreement between nations on a common path to sustainable development, D. Deeply concerned by the excessive use of non-renewable energy, E. Noting with regret the high level of pollution weakly regulated by legislation and the absence of adequate fines for companies not complying with their CO2 emission limits, F. Alarmed by the current instability of the global economy and high unemployment rates, G. Deeply disturbed by the scarcity of ‘green’ projects, H. Seeking to improve the level of education in developing countries, I.
Recognising the low level of ecological awareness in both developed and developing countries;
1.
Calls upon further implementation of the decisions of the Rio +20 Conference;
2.
Endorses international cooperation aimed at strengthening and stabilising the global economy;
3.
Recommends national governments to introduce stricter sanctions for companies overpassing their CO2 emission ‘cap’;
4.
Urges governments to provide: a)
economic incentives such as subsidies and social packages for enterprises which create ‘green jobs’,
b)
subsidies and public recognition for eco-friendly companies;
5.
Further invites national governments to organise and promote forums, trainings and conferences, for experts and CEOs of interested companies, thus providing platforms for the discussion of ways of sustainable operation, learning about new technologies and sharing best practices;
6.
Recommends the amendment of taxation systems aimed at flattening wealth redistribution;
7.
Encourages the improvement of the educational level in developing countries by:
1 S T O D E S A I N TE RN A T IO N A L F O R U M O D E SA , 16-19 A UG U S T 2012
8.
a)
endorsing state and private investments into education,
b)
supporting further development of experience exchange programmes;
Further recommends the improvement of ecological education through: a)
providing practical knowledge on ‘green’ ways of life for all ranks of society,
b)
increasing the number of ‘eco-lessons’ in educational institutions starting from elementary schools.
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M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON C ULTURE AND E DUCATION Today the majority of European countries have introduced environmental education systems for children and youth. What steps can European governments take to educate the adult population on environmental issues and to further motivate them to participate in various environmental projects? Submitted by:
Krystsina Kalbasnikava (BY), Vitaly Koshitsky (UA), Yana Makarskaya (BY), Olena Nikitenko (UA), Irina Sulima (MD), Vasyl Tsiktor (UA), Ege Tuvay (TR), Oksana Yaremenko (UA), Anna Suprunenko (Vice-President, UA)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Deeply concerned about the lack of awareness on ecological topics amongst adults, B. Taking into consideration scarcity of projects, events and programmes regarding environmental education for adults, C. Noting with regret adults’ indifference towards ecological problems caused by: i)
lack of time and motivation,
ii)
unwillingness to sacrifice comfortable lifestyle,
D. Fully alarmed by ineffective and deficient advertising of environmental issues, E. Aware of the fact that pursuing personal interests has higher importance in people’s lives than environmental conditions;
1.
Calls for the creation of an effective and innovative media campaign which will include: a)
organising flash mobs by NGOs and volunteers,
b)
social networks, TV channels and newspapers changing their logo once a month into green colour,
c)
the promotion of environmental issues by involving celebrities and public figures,
d)
advertising of ecological problems in public areas such as bus stops, public transportation and shopping areas,
e)
a collaboration with well-known magazines to dedicate a page on environmental education in their issues,
f)
presenting short educational videos before films in cinemas aiming to raise awareness on environmental issues;
2.
Recommends holding an open-air educational event with recreation zones which will provide free of charge training involving NGO experts;
3.
Encourages the implementation of educational projects on environment organised by students and designed specifically for their parents;
4.
Urges European governments to oblige state institutions and encourages private companies: a)
to have mandatory hours of environmental training for employees,
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b) 5.
to be eco-friendly by using public transport, riding a bicycle and participating in environmental projects;
Supports the implementation of penalties for harming the environment in the form of public service instead of fining.
1 S T O D E S A I N TE RN A T IO N A L F O R U M O D E SA , 16-19 A UG U S T 2012
M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON E MPLOYMENT AND S OCIAL A FFAIRS A strong focus on creating a green economy has been supported by the EU at the Rio +20 Conference. An important component of this strategy implies the replacement of fossil energy with renewable energy and stronger emphasis on energy efficiency. How can the EU and national governments ensure that the green economy provides renewed economic growth and job creation? Submitted by:
Gabriel Diaciuc (MD), Dmytro Kharchenko (UA), Anastasiya Malapura (UA), Evarist Ofoegbu-Ogbu (UA), Natalia Solovyova (UA), Maryna Zashyvaylo (UA),Veronica Zvarych (UA), Dawid Durejko (Vice-President, PL)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Defining green economy as one in which value and growth are maximised across the whole economy, while natural assets are managed sustainably, B. Realising the transition to a green economy requires a workforce with the right skills, C. Noting with satisfaction that the European Union (EU) strongly supported the creation of a green economy at the Rio +20 Conference, D. Keeping in mind the European Commission’s communication Europe 2020 ‘a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’, E. Recalling the Copenhagen Accord proclaiming that industrialised countries should reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by 80-90% of the 1990 level by 2050, F.
Taking into account the limited supply of natural resources,
G. Alarmed by irrational water usage, air pollution and deforestation, H. Expressing its satisfaction regarding the decrease of Green House Gases (GHG) in many parts of Europe, I.
Having considered the existence of different sources of energy within European countries,
J.
Noting with regret the lack of free green technology flow within the EU,
K. Affirming overall employment in the so-called ‘eco-industries’, as defined by Eurostat, is estimated at 1-2% of the total European employment, L. Aware of the financial crisis in Europe, M. Fully alarmed that despite high unemployment within the EU, reaching 11,1% as of July 2012, 4 million job vacancies are reported to be available, N. Noting that the transformation of European economies from polluting economies to eco-efficient economies will lead to profound changes in production, distribution and consumption; this should be used as a chance to move towards true sustainability without endangering prosperity or jobs, O. Recognising that energy production in many Member States is dependent on fossil fuels, P. Aware of the fact that the replacement of fossil fuel energy with renewable energy is a long term process,
1 S T O D E S A I N TE RN A T IO N A L F O R U M O D E SA , 16-19 A UG U S T 2012 Q. Welcoming the fact that the renewable energy market doubles in size every 3 years;
1. Further reminds the agreement to reduce carbon dioxide emission, as declared within the Copenhagen Accord; 2. Expresses its hope for the national governments to cooperate with European institutions, especially with the European Environmental Agency, in order to become more sustainable and energy efficient; 3. Considers the financial crisis as an opportunity for sustainable growth based on eco-efficiency; 4. Encourages the Member States to support sustainable and eco-friendly businesses via green taxation such as: a) the waste tax which is imposed on companies producing waste, b) the emission tax which is imposed on companies emitting GHG; 5. Emphasises the need to further subsidise R&D projects in green technologies; 6. Calls for the development of the green economy, based on energy produced from renewable resources, which will allow the Member States to become independent from Russian fossil fuels; 7. Has resolved to the creation of the European Green Jobs Portal online as a complement to EURES; 8. Calls upon establishing a standardised common labelling system of European ecological products; 9. Recommends supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to provide the green economy with qualified labour.
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M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON E NVIRONMENT , P UBLIC H EALTH AND F OOD S AFETY I By signing up to a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol in Durban, the EU ensured that there is still a form of legally binding treaty to cut carbon dioxide emissions in place. What fresh measures can the EU take to meet these commitments and, therefore, combat climate change effectively? Submitted by:
Temo Basilaia (GE), Polina Budyanskaya (UA), Victoria Dodon (MD), Okechukwu Egbete (UA), Alina Popova (UA), Maksym Shcherbakov (UA), Olena Vyshnevska (UA), Oana Cotoară (Chairperson, RO)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Alarmed by the rapidly increasing temperature on Earth , notably 12 of the 13 hottest years on record occurred since 1995, B. Taking into account that the European Union (EU), currently responsible for 14% of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, has set the issue of climate change as one of its four main priorities, C. Viewing with appreciation the adoption of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which aims at combating climate change by cutting collective emissions through the flexibility mechanisms as the main tool, D. Noting with approval the implementation at EU level of the Kyoto Protocol flexibility mechanisms, i.e.: i.
emissions trading through the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS),
ii.
joint implementation,
iii.
clean development,
E. Deeply concerned about the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expiring in December 2012, leaving most states without any legally binding commitment, F.
Expressing its appreciation towards the common efforts of the EU-15 states and the individual efforts of the EU-12 states in reaching the set targets,
G. Recognising that a failure of any of the EU-15 states to achieve their individual targets would result in the EU as a whole failing to meet the established goal, H. Welcoming the desire of the EU to sign up to a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol during the 2011 Durban Climate Change Conference, despite the lack of support from other leading economies, I.
Taking note of several existing measures that have already proven to be efficient, such as: i.
supporting the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies to trap and store carbon dioxide emitted by power stations and other large installations,
ii.
developing a comprehensive adaptation strategy for the EU that strengthens the Member States’ resilience to climate change,
iii.
launching the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) in 2000,
1 S T O D E S A I N TE RN A T IO N A L F O R U M O D E SA , 16-19 A UG U S T 2012 J.
Seeking to widen the range of possible areas where improvements could be made in order to achieve the new 20% emissions cut commitment;
1.
Calls for the EU to support the United Nations in creating a Worldwide Emissions Trade System made up of continental sub-systems by the means of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), following the example of the EU ETS;
2.
Urges the EU to create the ‘Black Sea Alternative Energy Supply’ in collaboration with Turkey, Ukraine and Georgia, based on extracting hydrogen sulphide (H2S) from the Black Sea and converting it into alternative energy;
3.
Supports the idea of tackling the issues of greenhouse gas emissions and of the constant increase of temperatures through: a)
Afforesting and maintaining forestry and agricultural land,
b)
The development of a mechanism for storing carbon dioxide and splitting it into carbon hydrates and oxygen through the process of artificial photosynthesis;
4.
Recommends the inclusion of other harmful industrial gases, such as Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), in a future agreement in addition to the list of greenhouse gases;
5.
Requests a decrease in the amount of allowances of greenhouse gases emissions for factories which are located in urban areas, in contrast with those located in neighbouring and rural areas;
6.
Encourages the European Environmental Agency (EEA) to create a European Green Fund Commission administered by the Agency and having representatives in all Member States, with the purpose of: a)
having a permanent budget for environmental issues,
b) ensuring rational, responsible and strategic distribution of funds amongst Member States.
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M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON E NVIRONMENT , P UBLIC H EALTH AND F OOD S AFETY II Since 2005 the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) has been a cornerstone of the European Union’s policy to combat climate change. The effectiveness of the ETS has been limited due to low carbon prices brought by excessive certificate allocation and the economic downturn. As Phase III of the EU ETS is approaching, what should the EU do to increase the effectiveness of the ETS and ensure that this mechanism works? Submitted by:
Liza Aleksandrovych (UA), Aleksandra Halicka (PL), Olga Ivanchenko (UA), Nadiia Telenchuk (UA), Artemis Triki (GR), Anastasiya Zinovieva (BY), Olena Vazhynska (Chairperson, UA)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Alarmed by the gap in economic development among the European Union (EU) Member States, B. Realising the lack of transparency in the mechanism of certificate allocation, C. Disturbed by the unlimited amount of ‘caps’ available for corporate purchase, D. Fully aware of substances, besides CO2, not being included into the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) list, E. Taking into account the diverse needs in certificate allocation for different industries, F.
Noting with regret some of the pollutants not being included into ETS, such as maritime and ground modes of transportation, aviation and the timber industry,
G. Deeply concerned about the unequal conditions that apply to large-scale businesses versus small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in terms of certificate allocation, H. Further noting the unstable prices of emission allowances, I.
Taking into consideration new technologies leading to price increases within the ‘cap’ trading market,
J.
Recognising the decrease of carbon emissions between 2009 and 2011 as a result of the economic downturn rather than of the successful implementation of Phase II,
K. Regretting that new ecological limitations lead to the creation of more off-shore companies and, as a result, decrease the number of work places within the EU;
1.
Authorises the creation of a general body responsible for a central planning and reporting mechanism to control the amount of caps allocated to the EU, which are issued according to each Member States’ production needs and the present economic situation;
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Proclaims the general body to set the price corridor for CO2 emission permits aiming at securing SMEs in case of economic downturn;
3.
Affirms the need to use the experience obtained during Phases I and II: a)
in certificate allocation while planning Phase III,
b)
in the distribution of ‘caps’ among countries aiming to avoid excessive certificate allocation;
4.
Calls for putting a limit on the amount of ‘caps’ one enterprise can buy to prevent the monopolisation of the market;
5.
Further recommends the development of national programmes with the mission of implementing green technologies and reducing CO2 emissions by the means of: a)
providing SMEs with loans in auspicious terms,
b)
decreasing taxes for large eco-friendly enterprises;
6.
Requests the inclusion of public transport in the emissions regulation list;
7.
Endorses carrying out obligatory and thorough technical examination of public transport;
8.
Urges to gradually reduce the usage of outdated vehicles;
9.
Encourages to impose a penalty upon Member States that fail to comply with the plan proposed by the general body;
10. Calls upon setting the same CO2 emission restrictions for the overseas production of EU-based enterprises; 11. Expresses its hope to involve expert groups to analyse the harmful effect of substances, apart from CO2, resulting in their inclusion in Phase III of the EU ETS; 12. Draws attention to the development of educational programmes to raise public awareness about the negative impact of CO2 emissions on climate change.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY The EU’s 20-20-20 targets require the re-configuration of the whole European electricity grid into a ‘smart grid’. How can these goals be achieved at an individual country level and what measures should be taken at EU level? Submitted by:
Ruso Dolidze (GE), Tihomir Nedev (BG), Nino Pridonishvili (GE), Yaroslav Rudenko (UA), Olga Solodkaya (BY), Marina Sulima (MD), Roman Vydro (UA), Jannis Kuhlencord (Chairperson, DE)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Fully alarmed by the current condition of the European electricity grid being inefficient due to: i)
the inflexibility to react fast to huge, unpredicted energy demands,
ii)
the lack of cooperation between regional electricity grids,
B. Noting with deep regret noticeable energy loss caused by overproduction occurring despite the fact that the European Union (EU) provides only 48% of its own energy demands and imports the further requested energy, C. Aware of the imprecise estimation of regional energy demands, causing unbalanced energy production, D. Taking into account that the re-configuration of the EU electricity grid into a ‘smart grid’ requires an active development of cutting edge technologies, E. Deeply disturbed by the lack of security in computer monitoring systems making them vulnerable towards influence and manipulation from outside, F. Convinced that current electricity supply shortages occur due to protectionism of the energy markets inside the EU;
1. Endorses the EU to establish additional grants, seminars, contests and prizes to stimulate innovation in the field of renewable energy and to boost energy efficiency; 2. Encourages the European Commission's Information System (SETIS) to further promote the idea of the ‘smart grid’ to potential stakeholders; 3. Recommends to provide easy, fast and free procedures for becoming a private household energy producer to local ‘smart grids’; 4. Requests the European Energy and Research Agency (EERA) and the European Industry Initiatives (EIIs) to further strengthen industrial participation in implementing the ‘smart grid’ technologies; 5. Further invites the energy suppliers to introduce price discrimination aiming at creating a stable energy consumption; 6. Urges Member States to reduce taxation for the consumers contributing to the ‘smart grid’; 7. Suggests the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) to be responsible for the ‘smart grid’ technology.
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M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON T RANSPORT AND T OURISM Harmonising the conditions for goods and passenger transport between the urban centres of the European Union and those beyond is a prerequisite for more seamlessness, in particular with a view to the growing traffic flows between Europe and Asia. What approaches should be taken to improve seamlessness in transport without threat to security or harm to the environment? Submitted by:
Olga Bubenova (UA), Iulian Doni (MD), Ndubueze Egbulefu (UA), Viktoria Fokina (UA), Kristina Gavryliuk (UA), Ilya Koshytsky(UA), Joanna Lickiewicz (PL), Maris Rutkis (LV), Maryna Tuzhanska (UA), Mathilde Pascal (Chairperson, FR)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Recognising the potential threats to security in a seamless transport network, B. Fully alarmed by transport being the second largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting sector, C. Emphasizing the lack of effective methods for environmental protection with regards to the increasing traffic flows, D. Deeply concerned by the inequalities in the infrastructures and policies of the European Union (EU) Member States regarding seamlessness, E. Realising that the high costs of new eco-friendly technologies may discourage current purchasing as well as further investment, F.
Keeping in mind the cost of transport and storage accounts for 10 to 15% of the product’s selling price,
G. Aware of the necessity to lower the prices of public transport, H. Noting with regret the lack of public awareness on the subject of transport and ecology;
1.
Advises EU governments to develop intermodal transport hubs in order to connect different modes of transport in one station;
2.
Encourages western EU countries to provide financial aid to the development of railways used for trade in eastern EU countries;
3.
Supports the development of the toll highways network;
4.
Requests EU governments to increase the number of checkpoints at every single custom location;
5.
Urges the European Commission to create a framework of security standards for international airports, railway stations, bus stations and ports requiring an appropriate: a)
qualification of security guards,
b)
number of security guards,
c)
equipment quality,
d)
number of CCTV cameras;
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Calls for the implementation of a ‘sin tax’ on the most polluting modes of transport on the EU level;
7.
Further requests EU governments to subsidise eco-friendly transportation within their borders;
8.
Recommends the introduction of border-crossing and taxation benefits for investors in large-scale ecological projects, such as the Masdar city;
9.
Trusts TEN-T EA to add a new initiative through their programme that requires freight vehicles with high amounts of GHG emissions to install filters;
10. Invites the Ministries of Education and Science of the Member States to introduce: a)
a mandatory ecological subject including eco-friendly transport education,
b)
an advertisement of EU-wide contests on innovation and transport.