IRU welcomes the joint committee vote in the European Parliament on the CountEmissions EU proposal. The committees’ report allows sub-contractors, which are mainly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to use secondary data. It also rightly puts an immediate focus on reporting based on the ISO standard, as it is too soon for a switch to a life-cycle approach.
In a joint vote yesterday evening, the European Parliament’s committees on transport and environment approved their report on the CountEmissions EU proposal.
CountEmissions EU aims to provide a uniform approach on measuring and disclosing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from EU passenger and goods transport services.
The Committees’ report allows for SMEs subcontracted by companies that fall under the regulation’s scope to use secondary data, even if they themselves must use primary data.
The Parliament is also proposing for large companies to be allowed to use their own internal calculation tools, as long as they are in line with the regulation’s methodology. This provides a uniform application of the regulation among all modes of transport.
IRU EU Advocacy Director Raluca Marian said, “We welcome the fact that the Parliament has not made CountEmissions EU mandatory for transport companies of all sizes.”
“For SMEs to not be overburdened by GHG emissions reporting, the Parliament had to factor in the financial and administrative restraints that most transport operators work under. We’re pleased that the Parliament’s environment and transport committees have recognised this, allowing SMEs to use secondary data in their reporting,” she added.
Life-cycle approach
The Parliament has also decided to postpone the immediate introduction of a life-cycle approach and instead opted for a well-to-wheel model, in line with the Commission’s proposal.
However, the European Commission has been tasked with developing a methodology for calculating all transport modes’ GHG emissions based on a life-cycle approach. The methodology would include emissions from the manufacturing, maintenance, and disposal of vehicles.
Raluca Marian concluded, “IRU is in favour of CountEmissions EU being fully aligned with the ISO 14083 standard, as it provides a reliable and widely recognised framework.
“The life-cycle approach is more comprehensive than the well-to-wheel and should be a priority in all transport decarbonisation discussions. However, within the CountEmissions EU regulatory context and given its complexities, it should only be considered at a later stage and only if this is done in parallel with the ISO standard.”
The Council has already adopted its position on the CountEmissions EU proposal. Trilogue negotiations will begin once the Parliament’s plenary adopts its version, which will most likely be finalised under the new Parliament.