—

having regard to the Treaty on European Union, in particular Articles 3 and 21 thereof, to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), in particular Articles 4, 11, 173 to 178, 191 and 194 thereof, and to Protocol No 28 to the Treaties on economic, social and territorial cohesion,

—

having regard to the agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015 (the Paris Agreement), in particular Articles 7(2) and 11(2) thereof, which recognise the local, subnational and regional dimensions of climate change and climate action,

—

having regard to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015, and to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 on the European Green Deal (COM(2019)0640),

—

having regard to its resolution of 14 March 2019 on climate change — a European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy in accordance with the Paris Agreement (1),

—

having regard to its resolution of 28 November 2019 on the climate and environmental emergency (2),

—

having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal (3),

—

having regard to its resolution of 17 April 2020 on EU coordinated action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences (4),

—

having regard to the European Council conclusions of 11 December 2020 on climate change,

—

having regard to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on global warming of 1,5 oC, its fifth assessment report (AR5) and its synthesis report thereon, its special report on climate change and land, and its special report on the ocean and cryosphere in a changing climate,

—

having regard to the European Environment Agency Indicator Assessment on economic losses from climate-related extremes in Europe published on 20 December 2020,

—

having regard to the General Union Environment Action Programme to 2020 ‘Living well, within the limits of our planet’, the Commission’s proposal for the General Union Environment Action Programme to 2030 and its vision to 2050,

—

having regard to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity,

—

having regard to its resolution of 16 January 2020 on the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (5),

—

having regard to the Commission proposal of 4 March 2020 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 (European Climate Law) (COM(2020)0080),

—

having regard to the Commission proposal of 14 January 2020 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Just Transition Fund (COM(2020)0022) and to its amended proposal of 28 May 2020 (COM(2020)0460),

—

having regard to the Commission proposal of 28 May 2020 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the public sector loan facility under the Just Transition Mechanism (COM(2020)0453),

—

having regard to the Commission proposal of 28 May 2020 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 as regards exceptional additional resources and implementing arrangements under the Investment for growth and jobs goal to provide assistance for fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy (REACT-EU) (COM(2020)0451),

—

having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 (6),

—

having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Regional Development Fund and on specific provisions concerning the Investment for growth and jobs goal and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 (7),

—

having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Social Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1081/2006 (8),

—

having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on specific provisions for the support from the European Regional Development Fund to the European territorial cooperation goal (9),

—

having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1300/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the Cohesion Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006 (10),

—

having regard to the Commission proposal of 29 May 2020 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the InvestEU programme (COM(2020)0403),

—

having regard to Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (11),

—

having regard to the 2021 European Parliament study entitled ‘Cohesion Policy and Climate Change’,

—

having regard to its resolution of 13 June 2018 on cohesion policy and the circular economy (12),

—

having regard to Article 349 TFEU, as interpreted by the Court of Justice in its Mayotte judgment of 15 December 2015 (Joined Cases C-132/14 to C-136/14), which allows specific derogations to be adopted for the outermost regions of the European Union,

—

having regard to the Commission communication of 5 March 2020 on the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 (COM(2020)0152),

—

having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure,

—

having regard to the opinions of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development,

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Development (A9-0034/2021),

A.

whereas climate change is a challenge that transcends boundaries and requires immediate and ambitious action at global, European, national, regional and local levels to limit global warming to 1,5 oC above pre-industrial levels and prevent biodiversity loss on a massive scale; whereas urgent measures are required to ensure that the increase in the global average temperature is kept below 2 oC compared to pre-industrial levels as any loss of biodiversity will have a major impact, including on the quality of agricultural production;

B.

whereas an increase of 1,5 oC is the maximum the planet can tolerate; whereas, should temperatures increase further beyond 2030, humankind will face even more droughts, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people, the likely demise of its most vulnerable populations and, at worst, may risk its long-term survival altogether, as pointed out in the EU interinstitutional report entitled ‘Challenges and Choices for Europe’;

C.

whereas the European Environment Agency estimated that between 1980 and 2019 climate-related extremes caused economic losses totalling an estimated EUR 446 billion in the EEA member countries; whereas this is equivalent to EUR 11,1 billion per year and the cumulative deflated losses are equal to nearly 3 % of the GDP of the countries analysed;

D.

whereas recent studies show that the global warming potential (GWP) from fossil natural gas (methane — CH4) is significantly higher than previously assumed;

E.

whereas global warming may reach 1,5 oC above pre-industrial levels during the current programming period, necessitating immediate action to tackle the climate emergency, in accordance with the EU policies on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the European Green Deal, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Paris Agreement;

F.

whereas the transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050 at the latest poses both a great opportunity and a challenge for the Union and for its Member States, regions, cities, local communities, people, workers, businesses and industry; whereas a balance nevertheless needs to be struck between the ambitious climate objectives and preserving the competitiveness of the economy, without undermining the achievement of the 1,5 oC goal;

G.

whereas achieving this objective will require an overall transformation of European society and the economy as some sectors will experience an irreversible decrease in production coupled with a loss of jobs in economic activities based on the production and use of fossil fuels, while other sectors will succeed in finding a technological alternative;

H.

whereas sustainability should be seen as a balanced approach to bringing sustainable growth, social progress and environment together;

I.

whereas the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 (13) provides for an overall target of at least 30 % of the total amount of Union budget and European Union Recovery Instrument expenditure supporting climate objectives and a new annual biodiversity target of 7,5 % from 2024, with a view to reaching 10 % in 2026 and 2027;

J.

whereas islands, especially small islands, and the outermost regions are the EU territories most exposed and vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and must also tackle specific and additional challenges and costs during the transition; whereas climate change and its multiple impacts affect European regions in different ways, with different degrees of severity and in different timeframes, and the management of the transition will lead to significant structural changes; whereas citizens and workers will therefore be affected in different ways and not all countries will be affected equally or be able to respond adequately; whereas it is essential, when drawing up a long-term vision for rural areas in Europe, to emphasise the need to strengthen rural areas and make them attractive as places to live and work;

K.

whereas islands, outermost and peripheral regions have an enormous potential in the production of renewable energy and are strategic laboratories for implementing innovative policy measures and technical solutions to deliver the energy transition, reduce CO2 emissions and boost the shift towards the circular economy;

L.

whereas cohesion policy not only offers investment opportunities to respond to local and regional needs through the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds, but also provides an integrated policy framework to reduce developmental disparities between the European regions and to help them address the multiple challenges to their development, including through environmental protection, high-quality employment and fair, inclusive and sustainable development;

M.

whereas the economic, social and territorial disparities which cohesion policy has the primary goal of addressing may also be impacted by climate change and its long-term consequences, and EU climate policy measures should also support the objectives of EU cohesion policy;

N.

whereas cohesion policy is key to supporting less developed regions or areas that suffer from natural and geographical handicaps, which are often at the forefront of the impacts of climate change but have fewer resources to tackle it;

O.

whereas cohesion policy is a crucial tool in delivering a fair transition to a climate-neutral economy that leaves no one behind; whereas women and men may be differently affected by green policies tackling climate change; whereas the impact on vulnerable and marginalised groups should be also considered;

P.

whereas local and regional authorities, but also other relevant stakeholders, are key actors for implementing cohesion policy, delivering an effective response to the urgent threat of climate change; whereas they are responsible for one third of public spending and two thirds of public investment and it is therefore essential to create mechanisms such as the ‘Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy’, aimed at bringing together local and regional authorities responsible for implementing the EU’s climate and energy objectives;

Q.

whereas the climate crisis is closely linked to other crises such as biodiversity, as well as the health, social and economic crisis linked to the COVID-19 pandemic; whereas, while these have to be addressed in parallel, each must be handled differently and adequately;

R.

whereas, since its creation in 2002, the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) has been activated in response to more than 90 catastrophic events and has mobilised over EUR 5,5 billion in 23 Member States and one accession country; whereas, as part of the EU response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the scope of the EUSF has been extended to cover major public health emergencies and the maximum level of advance payments has been raised;

S.

whereas the transition to a climate-neutral, sustainable and circular economy must involve all stakeholders in society, particularly the private sector, social partners and citizens, together with elected officials, including local and regional authorities, and must be backed by robust and inclusive social measures to ensure a fair and just transition that supports businesses, job retention and job creation, particularly green and blue quality jobs;

T.

whereas Member States have adopted National Energy and Climate Plans and regions should submit regional plans accordingly in order to achieve emission mitigation and adaptation, with the aim of establishing a pathway towards climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest;

U.

whereas the transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050 at the latest can be achieved through a combination of public financing at EU and national levels and by creating the right conditions for private financing;

V.

whereas energy sources derived from fossil fuels, and particularly from solid fossil fuels, undermine efforts to achieve climate neutrality, and the European Union should thus provide a consistent regulatory framework to further promote the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar and biomass energy, rather than those derived from fossil fuels; whereas, in this regard, cohesion policy should guarantee the principle of ‘energy efficiency first’, which aims to improve the efficiency of energy supply and demand, and which should be applied and observed in all energy-related investments made under cohesion policy; whereas for many Member States the transitional use of energy sources based on natural gas until 31 December 2025 could be essential in achieving a fair energy transition that does not harm society and leaves no-one behind; whereas regional environment strategies should be linked with ambitious climate targets that may go beyond the overall target of achieving a climate-neutral EU by 2050 and should, by 31 December 2025, phase out fossil fuels, including gas infrastructure projects, support their substitution with sustainably produced renewable energy, materials and products, and promote resource efficiency and sustainable development in general, in line with the provisions of the ERDF-CF Regulation (14);

W.

whereas regional environment strategies should serve the pursuit of full and stable employment together with social progress and non-discrimination in order to better tackle the effects of climate change and fight the loss of biodiversity;

X.

whereas waste-management plans should follow the circular economy principles and form part of regional environment strategies;

Y.

whereas a multilayered European governance model built on an active and constructive partnership between the various levels of governance and stakeholders is key to the climate neutrality transition; whereas community and citizens’ initiatives can strongly support the ecological transition and combat climate change;

Z.

whereas EU macro-regional strategies can help identify key sectors and areas of cooperation between different regions facing common challenges such as climate change, climate adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity, transport, waste management, cross-border projects and sustainable tourism;

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