On November 5th, Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement the CountEmissionsEU proposal. The aim of this regulation will be to allow a better comparability of greenhouse gas emissions in passenger and freight transport, by establishing one single methodology for emission calculation. It is not mandatory for companies to publish information on their GHG emissions, but if they do so they are obliged to use the methodology proscribed by the regulation.
The reference methodology for the calculation method will be the global standard EN ISO 14083: 2023 which departs from a well-to -wheel approach and considers fuel production as well as use by the transport service.
Mr. Thomas Danielsen, Minister for Transport of Denmark, said:
“Thanks to this agreement, citizens and businesses will have a clearer view on the greenhouse gas emissions emitted by the transport services they use. This will also benefit transport operators, as they now will be able to account for their emissions based on this single, globally harmonised standard.”
The methodology does not yet cover life-cycle emissions and therefore omits sources such as vehicle manufacturing, maintenance, use and end-of-life.
Following asks by the Parliament, the Commission commits to develop in the coming four years a public, free-of-charge calculation tool accompanied with a manual explaining how to use it.
Mr. Antonio Decaro (S&D, Italy), rapporteur on the file on behalf of the Environment Committee said: “With today’s agreement, we are introducing a new regulatory framework that represents an important step forward for the transparency and reliability of environmental data in the transport sector. By promoting the use of primary data, we are ensuring more accurate measurement of greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with Europe’s climate objectives. This also sends a strong signal to consumers, who will be able to make their choices in a more informed and transparent way.”
Mr. Norbert Lins (EPP, Germany), rapporteur on behalf of the Transport Committee, added: “The new rules will make it easier for businesses to report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accurately. The deal includes dedicated incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to apply the ISO standard without being burdened by excessive administrative tasks. SMEs will also get access to a free calculation tool, making it easier to participate in improved GHG measuring – including when opting to use primary data.”
Source: European Parliament and Council
