European Parliament Youth Dialogue

Planting the Right Seeds: Are we on track for decarbonisation?

On October 27 we hosted the second European Parliament Youth Dialogue – Planting the Right Seeds: Are we on track for decarbonisation?

Members of the European Parliament and representatives of GCE discussed agriculture and food systems, with a special focus on the revision of the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) and the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) regulation under the EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ package.

The dialogue focused on 3 major topics:

1. An introduction to carbon emissions in the agricultural sector and the transition towards agroecology. 

2. A discussion on how to achieve decarbonisation of agriculture.

3. A look at carbon storage and the agriculture, forestry and other land-use sector (AFOLU) in the context of the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)

Live Sketch from the event

Watch the full event

Four members of the European Parliament joined GCE for the discussions: Ville Niinistö (The Greens/European Free Alliance); Juozas Olekas (The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats); Petros Kokkalis (The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL); and Martin Hojsík (Renew Europe).

Effort Sharing Regulation

Binding GHG emissions pathways at the Member State level.

LULUCF

Focusing on all possible reductions before promoting sequestration and new green business such as carbon farming. 

Removals of GHG emissions for the agricultural sector with its own target to avoid flexibilities with other sectors.

Sustainable Food Systems

Common Agricultural Policy aligned with the objectives of the Fit fo 55 Package and other European strategy especially the Commission Farm to Fork Strategy and EU Biodiversity Strategy.

Climate action in agriculture that integrates biodiversity issues, social issues and the multifunctionality of ecosystem services. 

Specific efforts on the livestock sector and shift towards more plant-based diets.