P6_TA(2007)0151

Temporary committee on climate change

European Parliament decision of 25 April 2007 on setting up a temporary committee on climate change

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Rule 175 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the decision of the Conference of Presidents of 19 April 2007 to propose that a temporary committee on climate change be set up and its powers and composition defined,

- having regard to the urgent need to adopt concrete measures, at all levels, to confront climate change and the need for political leaders to activate that process,

- having regard to its resolutions on climate change, particularly those adopted on 16 November 2005 [1], 26 October 2006 [2] and 14 February 2007, [3]

- having regard to the need to collect and coordinate the opinions of the various committees concerned, so that the Parliament can play a key role in raising awareness and placing the challenge of climate change at the very top of the international agenda,

- having regard to the need to organise the temporary committee's work and structures accordingly, by granting, in particular, the additional resources needed to deal with that subject appropriately;

1. Decides to set up a temporary committee on climate change, vested with the following powers:

(a) to formulate proposals on the EU's future integrated policy on climate change and to coordinate the Parliament's position in the negotiations regarding the international framework for climate policy after 2012;

(b) to analyse and evaluate the state of climate change and propose appropriate measures, at all levels, accompanied by an assessment of both their financial impact and the cost of inaction;

(c) to draw up as comprehensive an inventory as possible of recent progress made and future prospects in combating climate change, in order to provide Parliament with the detailed analysis of those developments, which it needs in order to assume its political responsibilities;

(d) to study the environmental, legal, economic, social, geopolitical, regional and public-health impact of recent progress made and of future prospects;

(e) to analyse and evaluate the application, to date, of relevant Community legislation;

(f) to that end, to make the necessary contacts and hold hearings with the parliaments and governments of the Member States and third countries, the European Institutions and international organisations, as well as representatives of the scientific community, business and civil society, including the networks of local and regional authorities;

2. Decides that, while the powers of the Parliament's standing committees responsible for the adoption, follow-up and implementation of Community legislation on the subject shall remain unchanged, the temporary committee may make recommendations as to measures or initiatives to be taken;

3. Decides that the term of office of the temporary committee shall be 12 months, beginning on 10 May 2007, at the end of which it shall present a report to Parliament containing, as appropriate, recommendations as to actions or initiatives to be taken;

4. Decides that the temporary committee shall have 60 members.

[1] OJ C 280 E, 18.11.2006, p. 120.

[2] Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2006)0460.

[3] Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2007)0038.

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